Taking the Power Pledge

COBOURG, ONTARIO - Residents and business owners can take part in the Power Pledge campaign now underway to mark the blackout that hit much of Ontario and the U.S. lakeside states seven years ago.

Cobourg has already signed on to the newly named provincial competition, says Eric Campbell of Go Green Together, adding Cobourg Mayor Peter Delanty will be challenging Port Hope to do the same. At this time, the only other county participant is the Municipality of Brighton, he added.

But even if individual county municipalities don't sign on, individuals and business operators can still participate. The various utilities will monitor electricity use and compare them, Campbell said in an interview.

Here's how you can take part: just use as little electricity as possible between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. this August 11. Contact Go Green Together at 905-377-9217 to sign up, in advance, if the participant is a business, or at www.powerpledge.ca if you are a residential electricity user.

"As added incentive, the first 150,000 Ontarians to make the pledge receive 20 Air Miles Reward Miles... 10,000 renewable energy awards will go to communities with the highest participation rates and that achieve the most conservation on Aug. 11," a media release states.

Although the actual date of the blackout was August 14, 2003, the anniversary falls on a Saturday this year which is a time when electrical use is less, Campbell said.

The challenge day was moved to August 11 "so it can be properly reflective of blackout day," he said.