Barrie Hydro conserving power

Several of Barrie Hydro Distribution Inc. (Barrie Hydro) conservation programs have resulted in impressive results. The programs - created to reduce energy consumption and peak demand - provided customers with various means to reduce their consumption during summer peak, throughout the year and into the future with ongoing energy savings.

This past summer, Barrie Hydro and the Ontario Power Authority asked residential customers to take the challenge of reducing their consumption by 10 per cent over the months of July and August through the Summer Savings Program.

"We are pleased to report that over 21 per cent of eligible customers reduced consumption by at least 10 per cent compared to last summer. The average customer rebate, as a result of these energy savings, was $18.95. The conservation efforts of these customers resulted in a reduction in consumption of more than four million kilowatt hours and we certainly applaud them for their commitment to conservation" said Mark Henderson, president and CEO of Barrie Hydro.

Customers have also disposed of 497 refrigerators, 209 freezers and 18 window air conditioners through the Refrigerator Roundup program. This is in addition to over 800 refrigerators collected during Barrie Hydro's Refrigerator Retirement pilot program run in 2006, representing approximately 986,000 kWh in customer savings annually.

Barrie Hydro has also helped replace 857 old inefficient refrigerators and 27 dishwashers in various Barrie Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation residences throughout the last two years.

It is estimated that BMNPHC and their tenants could see combined savings of as much as 650,000 kWh per year because of this initiative. Working with the City of Barrie, Barrie Hydro has assisted in funding the conversion of the traffic signal lights throughout the city to new, more efficient Light Emitting Diode technology. These LED signals not only last longer, reducing maintenance costs, but there is also a large savings in the amount of power they consume. Based on the conversions to date, the Barrie expects to save 1.1 million kWh annually with the new lights. This represents a savings on their energy bill of approximately $100,000 annually.

Barrie Hydro continues to be a leader in conservation initiatives and this is demonstrated by their interest in solar thermal water heating, a source of renewable energy. The residential scaled panel installed at their 55 Patterson Road office location in February 2007, complete with an interactive LCD display panel in their main lobby, has produced the equivalent of 4,242 kWh of renewable energy since last March.

The energy produced is essentially equal to the water heating energy needs of a family of four.

"This demonstration has been designed to provide our customers with quantifiable data about the types of savings available to them through the application of this technology," said Henderson. "Our conservation efforts are part of an overall provincial initiative to create a culture of conservation, to meet the supply challenges we face in the future. We thank our customers for their support as we continue working together to achieve this goal."

For more information, call 722-7222 or visit www.barriehydro.com.