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INSIDE:
• Two More Hours for customers
on Time-of-Use prices
How will my smart meter and Time-of-Use
prices affect my Cottage bill?
First, once your meter is switched from manual
to automated meter reading, instead of
receiving three quarterly estimated bills with
an annual “true up”, your bills will be based
on your actual consumption for the billing
period under normal conditions. So if you use
your cottage in the summer months and don’t
use it during the other months of the year, your
fall bill will be higher and your three
remaining bills will be lower.
Second, once we have switched you to
Time-of-Use (TOU) prices, you’ll have the
benefit of lower off-peak electricity prices
on weekends and holidays when many of
our customers enjoy life at the cottage.
Third, once you’re being billed on TOU prices,
you’ll be able to log in to “My Account” at
www.HydroOne.com/MyAccount and
view your hourly electricity use. This is a good
way to check on how much electricity you’re
using at the cottage when you’re not there,
and to take action to reduce this usage to help
manage your costs.
Visit www.HydroOne.com/TOU to learn
more about how you can make TOU prices
work for you.
Why is my seasonal bill higher than expected?
There may be a number of reasons why your
bill may be higher than usual. Many of our
seasonal customers have been switched to
automated meter reading. As a result, your
bills are now based on your actual usage for
the billing period and you’ll no longer receive
estimated bills under normal circumstances.
As of May 1st, you’ll be paying more for
electricity as the OEB has raised Regulated
Price Plan (RPP) Time-of-Use and Tiered prices.
Also, in order to maintain a safe and reliable
distribution system we raised delivery rates
as of January 1, 2011. For more information
on high bills and ways to save, go to
www.HydroOne.com/HighBill or call us.
If you would prefer more balanced bill
payments, you may want to enrol in our Budget
Billing Plan. As payments are spread out over
the year, being on the plan is a good way to
moderate any payment fluctuations. The plan
is especially helpful for our seasonal customers
who only use their cottage during the summer
months, as their fall bill will be higher than their
other bills. Customers who use most of their
electricity in the winter months will also
benefit from the plan. To enrol go to
www.HydroOne.com/MyAccount or call us.
Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET
For power outages and emergencies 1-800-434-1235
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
1-888-625-4401
web:
www.HydroOne.com
Partners in Powerful Communities
Hydro One Networks Inc.
PO Box 5700, Markham, ON L3R 1C8
© Copyright of Hydro One Networks Inc., 2011
Page 4 • Staying Connected • Summer 2011
• saveONenergy Coupons
• No-cost cooling tips
• Register for My Account
• Don’t need your return
envelope?
me r
Su m
• Our readers write
201
1
What’s n
ew from Hyd
r o O n e N e t w o r k s I n c.
Two More Hours
for customers on
Time-of-Use prices
Don’t forget you have
two more off-peak
hours each weekday
evening, making it
easier to shift your
electricity use to lowerpriced times of the day.
Off-peak hours now
start at 7 p.m. instead
of 9 p.m. on weekday
evenings.
Power lines are very much a part of
the landscape, so much so that it's
easy to forget they're there. Just
a moment of inattention can
have tragic consequences.
Machinery, tools and leisure
equipment do not actually have
to touch power lines for fatal
results – power lines are dangerous
if you or your equipment moves too
close to them.
Customer Communications Centre 1-888-664-9376
fax:
mail:
• saveONenergy Heating
& Cooling Incentive
5.9¢
Off-peak
8.9¢
Mid-peak
10.7¢ On-peak
Summer Weekdays
(May 1 - October 31)
Look Up, Look Out
how to reach us
call:
• Look Up, Look Out
06/11
• What is the risk – aluminum ladders, or
ladders with metallic parts, will act as
conductors of electricity if they are brought too
close to or contact overhead power lines.
• How to avoid the risk – Look Up!
Always be aware of overhead power
lines when using ladders around the
house. Carry ladders horizontally
when moving them from point A to
point B – and look up before raising.
Stay safe and always Look Up, Look Out
before you start work or any recreational
pursuit. It could save your life. For more
information, go to www.powerlinesafety.info.
Staying Connected • Summer 2011 • Page 1
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Page 2
saveONenergy Heating & Cooling Incentive
With as much as 60% of your yearly
electricity costs going toward heating and
cooling your home, it makes sense to look
for ways to reduce your usage. With the
saveONenergy Heating & Cooling Incentive
you can receive up to $650 by replacing
your old system with an energy-efficient
central heating and cooling system.
• Use fans to make your home feel more comfortable.
• Use shades, awnings or sunscreens on windows to block
summer light.
• Open windows in the morning to let the cool air in and close them during the day.
Your home will retain much of the cool air.
buying a cooling system, go to
www.HydroOne.com/heatingandcooling
or call us.
• Lights, appliances and home electronics use a lot of power and give off heat. During
the summer, it’s more important than ever to turn them off when you aren’t using them.
Use a power bar for computers and televisions.
• For the average Ontario home, three well-placed trees can cut air conditioning needs by
40 per cent. Plant trees to keep the sun out and your home cool.
If you need to run your air conditioner, set it a few degrees higher than you normally would
and turn it off when no one is home. Making wise use of your air conditioner will have the
biggest impact on your summer energy bill.
saveONenergy Coupons
saveONenergy coupons can help you save
money throughout the year when you
purchase and install energy-efficient
products for your home at participating
retailers, such as Canadian Tire, Sears,
Home Hardware, Home Depot, Walmart,
and RONA to name a few.
tips
As temperatures rise in the summer months, many of us will
want to make our homes comfortable by turning on the air
conditioner. Ontario has just one peak period in the summer
– weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – during which many of
us turn on our air conditioners to cool the hotter daytime
temperatures. Before thinking of air conditioning, try these
passive cooling approaches.
Incentives are available for residents in
Ontario who have an existing central air
conditioner and replace it with the
purchase and installation of an Energy Star
qualified system through a participating
contractor. These trained contractors will
help you choose the energy-efficient system
that’s best for your home and meets your
specific needs.
Installation must be complete by December 31,
2011. To learn more such as finding a
participating contractor or our checklist on
No-cost cooling
The coupons provide instant discounts on
a wide range of lighting products, lighting
controls, power bars, ceiling fans, outdoor
clotheslines and umbrella stands, outdoor
timers and more. To download the coupons or
find the complete list of participating retailers,
go to www.HydroOne.com/coupons.
For more tips on energy efficiency, visit www.HydroOne.com/SaveEnergy.
Register for My Account
MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT ONLINE
– 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK –
Register to:
• View your electricity use (Time-of-Use
customers only)
• Get your current balance or payment
history
• Sign up for Pre-Authorized Payment
• Open and close an account
Save throughout 2011 on
energy-efficient products for your home.
See inside for valuable coupons.
Page 2 • Staying Connected • Summer 2011
• Make service requests like tree trimming,
temporarily disconnecting your power or
locating and marking underground cables
Visit us online at
www.HydroOne.com/MyAccount to
register today. You’ll need a copy of your
electricity bill to get started.
Don’t need your return envelope?
Call us and we’ll be happy to stop sending you a return envelope with your bill.
Or even better, why not sign up for paperless billing today? Go to
www.canadapost.ca/hydroone to register.
Staying Connected • Summer 2011 • Page 3