PowerStream Reports 4.8% Less Electricity Used During Earth Hour 2014
YORK REGION AND SIMCOE COUNTY, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Mar 29, 2014) - Earth Hour 2014 saw thousands of PowerStream customers, in the nine municipalities served by the electric utility, indicate their willingness to help fight climate change by turning off their lights for 60 minutes to reduce electricity consumption.
PowerStream's System Control Centre reported a service territory-wide 4.8 per cent electricity consumption reduction between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday*. This was a slight decrease from the five per cent reduction achieved collectively last year by customers in PowerStream's service territory during Earth Hour 2013.
The 2014 results represented a total savings of 48.9 megawatts (MW) in peak demand, or enough electricity to power 1,480 average-size homes over a 24-hour period. The reductions achieved per municipality in 2014 were as follows:
| Municipality | % Reduction* | MW Reduction* |
| Aurora | 7.7 | 3.98 |
| Barrie | 3.4 | 4.62 |
| Bradford West Gwillimbury | 7.8 | 1.68 |
| Essa (Thornton) | 14.0 | 0.15 |
| Markham | 4.7 | 13.23 |
| New Tecumseth | 7.9 | 2.04 |
| Penetanguishene | 6.2 | 0.74 |
| Richmond Hill | 5.0 | 7.56 |
| Vaughan | 4.5 | 14.88 |
| PowerStream Service Territory | 4.8 | 48.88 |
| * (in comparison to a typical consumption pattern normally experienced on a similar type of day, taking into consideration hour of the day, time of year and weather). |
PowerStream also supported Earth Hour 2014 in several other ways. In addition to powering down the lights at its four work locations in Vaughan, Markham and Barrie, as well as reporting municipal power consumption reduction totals throughout its service territory during Earth Hour. PowerStream further demonstrates its commitment to the environment by sponsoring Earth Hour Vaughan Lantern Walk Event as well as Markham Earth Hour at the Cornell Community Centre. At both events, PowerStream had displays showcasing the energy conservation programs the company offers both residential and business customers.
QUOTES
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"Earth Hour is a symbolic event for residents to show their support to help fight climate change and shed light on how we can all make a difference by reducing our electricity consumption," said Maurizio Bevilacqua, PowerStream Board Chair and City of Vaughan Mayor. "We are pleased with our customers' response as participants in this global event."
BACKGROUND
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In 2008, PowerStream was one of the first companies in Canada to participate in Earth Hour. That year, the company hosted the Ontario Electric Utilities Employee Hockey Tournament and made arrangements to have all games suspended and arena lights turned off during Earth Hour.