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News ReleaseAugust 19, 2009 - For Immediate ReleaseCommunity Challenge Day Raises Awareness of Energy Conservation and the Power of Collective Action
Local Electricity Distributors: Promoting Energy Conservation Awareness, Inspiring Action and Creating a Culture of Conservation Among Ontarians
Toronto – The results are in and the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA) and its over 80 local electricity distribution companies want to congratulate the City of Kingston and Sioux Lookout for their commitment to energy conservation and being named winners of the province-wide August 14th Count Me In! Community Challenge Day. The winners were announced today at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) annual conference in Ottawa.
“Understanding the power of collective action and the accumulative effect that individual conservation actions can have, will help us reduce our environmental footprint and ensure a more sustainable energy future for all Ontarians,” said EDA Vice Chair, Brian Bentz who was on hand for today’s winning announcement in Ottawa. “Nothing is more inspiring than grassroots community action. What better way to promote conservation awareness than through a friendly Mayoral challenge and a good natured competition that brings out the best in community pride.”
The City of Kingston has been awarded the distinction of the community with the highest percentage drop in electricity consumption with a drop of 7.8%. Kingston is serviced by Kingston Hydro Corporation. Sioux Lookout has won in the highest per capita participation (at 11.4%) as part of the Count Me In! pledge drive. Sioux Lookout is serviced by Sioux Lookout Hydro Inc.
Ontario’s electricity distributors are committed to working with provincial and community partners to help educate, promote and deliver effective energy conservation activities and programs to their local customers.
“Local distributors have been proud participants alongside their local communities and have worked with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to ensure the accurate and orderly collection of consumption data for the Challenge,” said Charlie Macaluso, EDA President and CEO. “Ontario’s Electricity Distributors remain committed to creating a culture of conservation among Ontarians - delivering electricity conservation and demand management programs that give electricity consumers the tools they need to conserve not just for one day, but for each and every day of the year.”
The Community Challenge takes its name from the Count Me In! theme of Energy Conservation Week and is a joint initiative of the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), the City of Woodstock (which has led a municipal Blackout Day Challenge for the past several years), the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA), the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).
The Electricity Distributors Association (EDA) is the voice of Ontario’s local electricity distributors, the publicly and privately owned companies that safely and reliably deliver electricity to over 4.5 million Ontario homes, businesses and public institutions. The EDA provides members with advocacy and representation in the legislative and regulatory environment and the electricity market in Ontario.
Find out more about electricity distributors’ ongoing efforts to create a culture of conservation in Ontario by visiting the EDA website at www.eda-on.ca.
For more information, contact the EDA’s Manager of Communications and Media Relations, Christine Hallas at (905) 265-5322.
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