‘Power Down Your Summer Electricity Costs’Awareness Campaign

Overview
PowerStream’s distribution rates, the portion of the electricity bill that is related to PowerStream and which represents only 21% of the total charges found on the bill, are amongst the lowest in Ontario. Over the past three years, PowerStream has been able to lower distribution rates for its York Region customers by 5% and, since its merger with Barrie Hydro on January 1, 2009, lower distribution rates for customers in Barrie and Simcoe County by 14%. However, there are several factors beyond PowerStream’s control, occurring almost simultaneously, which are expected to increase total bill amounts for customers going forward, especially during the summer period.

The factors that are expected to impact all electricity customer bills in the province and how they specifically relate to PowerStream customers are:
• On May 1, 2010, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) increased electricity prices for all Ontario residential and small business customers on the Regulated Price Plan (RPP). Coupled with the seasonal change in the pricing structure, this increase will add 6% to PowerStream bills.
• The recently implemented Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will add another 8% to all customer utility bills across the province.
• A small ‘Regulatory’ charge that has been added as required by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MEI) to cover the cost of provincial conservation initiatives.
• Increases in water and wastewater rates charged by municipalities (where applicable, e.g. Barrie, Markham, Vaughan and Bradford West Gwillimbury) and collected by PowerStream on their behalf.
• A projected hotter than average summer.

What are distribution rates (charges)?
Distribution rates (charges) are the only portion of customer bills PowerStream, as a local electricity distribution company, has control over. Embedded in the “Delivery” line of the bill along with Hydro One transmission charges, distribution rates cover the costs for PowerStream to deliver electricity to homes and businesses in its service territory. It includes administrative costs (meter reading, billing, customer service, maintenance of accounts) as well as costs to build and maintain infrastructure (wires, hydro poles, transformers, etc.).

The RPP and why the OEB increased electricity prices?

Both tiered and time-of-use (TOU) prices form part of the OEB’s Regulated Price Plan (RPP). The RPP is designed to ensure the price that residential and small business RPP customers pay for electricity recovers the payments made to generators that supply the electricity customers consume. RPP prices are set by the OEB to recover the total cost of that supply, regardless of which price structure (tiered or time-of-use) is used to bill for the electricity consumed by customers. RPP prices, reviewed and set semi-annually by the OEB, are reflected on the “Electricity” line of all residential and small business RPP customer bills in Ontario, representing about half of the total bill.

Customers who buy their electricity from a retailer pay the commodity price set out in their contracts and are not affected by changes in RPP prices. Retail contract customers have a separate line item on their bills listed as the “Provincial Benefit” (or “Global Adjustment”), while customers of PowerStream and other local electricity distribution companies in the province have the Provincial Benefit already factored in the RPP prices. The Provincial Benefit accounts for the difference between the market price of electricity and rates paid to regulated and contracted generators. On May 1, 2010, the OEB increased electricity prices for all RPP customers in the province as follows:

Tiered Pricing- 6.5 cents per kWh up to and including 600 kWh each month (750 kWh for small business customers) from 5.8 cents per kWh.
- 7.5 cents per kWh from 6.7 cents per kWh for monthly consumption above 600 kWh (750 kWh for small business customers) TOU Pricing
- Off-peak price to 5.3 cent per kWh from 4.4 cents per kWh
- Mid-peak price to 8.0 cents per kWh from 8.0 cents per kWh (no change)
- On-peak price to 9.9 cents per kWh from 9.3 cents per kWh

Primary factors contributing to the overall increase in RPP prices included:• Payments going to renewable generation projects, gas plants, as well as conservation and demand management (CDM) programs;
• New contracts for existing generation, including support payments for fossil fuel plants and for existing generation; more

• Recovery of the RPP variance account managed by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), which tracks the difference between what RPP customers have paid versus what has been paid to generators that supply their electricity as well as the costs associated with certain CDM programs.

What impact will the HST have on electricity bills?
On July 1, 2010, the Ontario Government implemented a change to the Provincial tax system with the HST replacing the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and Provincial Sales Tax (PST). This will have an impact on the bills of all electricity customers in Ontario.

Prior to July 1, PowerStream customers, along with all other electricity customers in the Province, were only charged 5% GST on their electricity consumption in accordance with the previous tax regulations and were exempt from paying the 8% PST. Now electricity customers will no longer have to pay the GST but will be charged the 13% HST in line with the Province of Ontario’s new tax system.

Details and information explaining the rationale for the HST is available on the Ontario Ministry of Revenue's website at www.ontario.ca/taxchange or by calling the government’s hotline at 1-800-337-7222.

What is the charge being added to bills as required by the MEI?
A small increase in “Regulatory” charges was added recently to the bills of all electricity customers in Ontario, as required by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MEI)I, to recover the costs relating to two MEI conservation programs – the Home Energy Savings Program and Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Initiative.

For residential customers, this charge amounts to approximately $4 per year or 33 cents per month. For small business customers, the estimated costs are approximately $400 per year or $33 per month.

Will we have a hot summer?
As late as June 21, 2010, Environment Canada’s senior climatologist David Phillips stated that the forecast for summer 2010 was for it to be “hot and dry”.
“The latest models indicate this will be a summer for wheat farmers, swimming in the lake and having a beer on the backyard patio,” Phillips said.

What is the ‘Power Down Your Summer Electricity Costs’ awareness campaign?
PowerStream is rolling out the ‘Power Down Your Summer Electricity Costs’ awareness campaign across its service territory in an effort to achieve the following objectives:
• Inform customers early enough in the summer of the changes to their bills so that they can adjust their consumption patterns and behaviours accordingly.
• Provide customers with information on how they can better manage their electricity costs over the summer months.
• Ensure that customers are made aware of the various factors contributing to the increases on their bills.
• Educate customers as to what they are paying for on their bills, including distribution rates and how PowerStream’s are amongst the lowest in Ontario.
The campaign includes the use of television, radio and newspaper advertising, a media tour, news releases, email blasts, bills and bill envelopes messaging, internet as well as several other communications strategies to deliver the campaign’s key messages to PowerStream’s customers.

The Government of Canada supports accessibility for all Canadians

Canada’s Economic Action Plan improves access to facilities, activities and services
BARRIE, ONTARIO)— Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today invited organizations to apply for grants of up to $75,000 for projects that will improve accessibility for people with disabilities that will enable them to participate fully in their communities.

“Our government supports Canadians with disabilities and their families. Through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, we are improving access to facilities, activities and services,” said MP Brown. “Year Two of Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on the success of this program by increasing investments that remove barriers for Canadians with disabilities.”

Organizations can submit proposals until September 10, 2010, under the Fund’s Small Projects component. Small projects may include renovation, construction and retrofitting of buildings, modification of vehicles for community use, or enhancements to make information and communication technologies more accessible.

The Enabling Accessibility Fund was originally announced in 2007 as a three-year, $45-million program to support community-based projects across Canada. Since the first call for proposals in 2008, over 300 organizations have been awarded funding to improve accessibility in their communities.

The Government of Canada makes a number of investments annually to help address the needs of people with disabilities through such programs as the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Disability component of the Social Development Partnerships Program, the Disability component of the Canada Pension Plan, the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities, and post-secondary education assistance measures for students with disabilities.

Canada’s Jobs and Growth Budget has a number of additional measures to support people with disabilities, including enhancing the Registered Disability Savings Plan to provide Canadians with disabilities and their families with more flexibility when saving for the future, and providing $5 million annually for five years to the Canadian Paralympic Committee to build on the successes of our Paralympians and continue to encourage persons with disabilities to actively participate in sport.

To find out how to apply for funding or for further information about the Fund, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/disability or call 1-866-268-2502.

Shawn Bubel running for Deputy Mayor of Essa

Shawn Bubel (pronounced Bew-bell) is a lifelong resident of Simcoe County and long-time resident of Essa. Bubel lives in Ward 2 with his wife and six year old daughter.
Bubel has years of work experience in government operations, commercial real estate and as a small business owner. He is currently special assistant to Patrick Brown, the Member of Parliament for Barrie.

Shawn is troubled by the number of acclamations in recent Essa elections but does not think it means people don’t care. “Basically, it’s been seven years since the people of Essa have had any say in who represents them. There are great people living in Essa. We are people who care about our community, we care about our environment and we care about our future. If voters are given the choice of moving in a new direction or simply settling for more of the same, I think they will respond optimistically”. – Shawn Bubel

Bubel believes he can make a difference for the residents of Essa as their Deputy Mayor and he is launching a positive campaign focused on transparency, better communication with residents and improving the way of life for his neighbours.

“Over the next few months, I look forward to meeting with voters, hearing the issues that matter to them and talking about how we move Essa forward”. – Shawn Bubel

Bubel encourages people to visit his website and have their say.

City of Orillia Signs on as Supporter of Jazz Festival

The City of Orillia today announced a $2,000 grant in support of the Orillia Jazz Festival. Now in its 20th year, the Jazz Festival is programmed in venues throughout the community on October 22, 23 and 24.

“The Committee is pleased to add the City of Orillia to the Festival’s roster of supporters”, says Maureen Way, president of the 2010 Orillia Jazz Festival Committee. “It has been a trying year in both the private and public sectors and the Committee appreciates the generous financial assistance of local businesses and the City of Orillia”.

A diverse selection of cultural events adds to the quality of life for Orillians. But further than that, it is important to recognize that any investment the City of Orillia makes in local festivals and events has a positive economic benefit to the community. The Jazz Festival is especially vital to Orillia due to its longevity and its shoulder season scheduling. It is important to create activity in between our major seasons to assist in keeping local business busy.

The City of Orillia joins other sponsors and supporters such as Sleeman, Richards Goldsmithing, Davenport Suburu, Downtown Orillia Management Board, Orillia Pro Net, Paul Blanche, Jazz FM, The Dock 104.1, The Packet & Times, Orillia Today, Hawk Ridge and Stone Gate Inn.

During the event, music can be enjoyed at venues throughout Orillia including Sixteen Front, Brewery Bay, Era 67, Fern Resort, Apple Annie’s,
McCabe’s, Grape & Olive, Portage Italian Bistro, Tux II, Zat’s and St. Paul’s United Church,

A special kick-off event is scheduled for October 21st at Hawk Ridge Golf and Country Club. Check our website for all the updates and information.

The Committee thanks the City of Orillia and looks forward to seeing everyone at the Jazz Festival venues throughout the weekend.

Repatriation Motorcade for Canadian Soldier Brian Collier

­­­­Midhurst/ July 23, 2010 – On Friday July 23, 2010 a repatriation motorcade for 24 year-old Sapper Brian Collier of Bradford, Ontario will travel along the Highway of Heroes from Trenton to Toronto.

Residents of Simcoe County are encouraged to pay tribute to Brian Collier and all the troops by lining the overpasses along the Highway of Heroes. The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will be providing transportation to the 401/ McGowan Road overpass at no cost. Buses will be departing from the Bradford Community Centre at 2:30 PM.

“We owe it to this Canadian hero to honour him when he returns home” stated Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Doug White.

Collier served with the 1st Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group out of Canadian Forces Base Edmonton.

“The County of Simcoe is saddened to hear of the death of Sapper Brian Collier, a dedicated soldier and young man who gave his life for our country," said Warden Cal Patterson. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to Sapper Collier’s family, friends and community.”

The visitation and funeral will take place at Holy Martyrs Church as per the family’s wishes. Details for these services are not known at this time.

County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.