Major urban electricity utilities help social housing keep energy costs affordable

Rising energy costs trouble many of us, but those with low or fixed incomes feel the pinch the most. Now, under the name "powerWISE(TM)", several large electricity distribution companies in the province are supporting a pilot program to help those in social housing reduce their energy consumption - and their costs.

The utilities are supporting a unique new energy management program being piloted by the Social Housing Services Corporation (SHSC), which helps social housing landlords identify energy saving opportunities and fund energy management solutions in their buildings.

"The SHSC program is a great fit for powerWISE," says Brian Bentz, President and CEO of PowerStream Inc., one of the four utilities who are working with SHSC on this project. "We want to help consumers reduce their electricity use in a sustainable way and keep their hydro bills affordable, and we know that affordability is especially important for lower-income Ontarians."

PowerWISE is a multi-year initiative of six large utilities: Enersource Hydro Mississauga, Hamilton Utilities Corporation, Hydro Ottawa Limited, PowerStream Inc., Toronto Hydro-Electric Systems Limited, and Veridian Connections. The initiative promotes energy conservation to residential consumers in their communities, who represent approximately 40 percent of the electricity customers in Ontario.

Funding of $50,000 from the participating utilities will help pay for the key first step - energy audits of 1,000 units in six social housing buildings from Hamilton, Mississauga, York Region, and Ottawa. The audits will identify all possible ways to reduce energy - everything from simple changes like low- energy light bulbs to more complex work like installing a new high-energy furnace.

"We're delighted that large utilities, through powerWISE, are getting involved in the energy management program at this early stage," said Gordon Chong, Chairman of SHSC. "By supporting energy conservation initiatives now, they are helping shape a program that will benefit tens of thousands of lower- income tenants across the province. I commend Enersource, Hamilton Utilities, Hydro Ottawa, and PowerStream for their early investment in this project."

SHSC's Energy Management Program is the first coordinated energy management initiative for social housing in Canada. It brings together social housing projects with utility companies, government agencies, and energy management experts to take advantage of all possible energy conservation opportunities. The program will also provide tools and education to help both landlords and tenants reduce their energy use.

SHSC is an independent corporation created in 2002 to support social housing in Ontario. SHSC offers services to help municipalities and social housing landlords manage their housing.