PowerStream Joins the CEA in Celebrating National Electricity Month

Digitaljournal.com
June 16, 2014

PowerStream is joining the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) and other utilities across Canada in celebrating June as National Electricity Month to encourage Canadians to learn more about how the electricity system works and recognize the value electricity brings to their everyday lives.

Electricity is the backbone of the Canadian economy; it powers everything from household appliances to medical technology, smart phones, computers, bank machines, businesses and stores. It has become essential in modern life as most Canadians depend on reliable, affordable and sustainable power.

In 2013, PowerStream distributed 8,437,622,927 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity to more than 365,000 customers in Ontario's York Region and Simcoe County, with the average residential customer consuming 8,658 kWh, and the average commercial customer consuming 147,469 kWh.

To ensure customers have access, PowerStream provides energy services to customers through the use of: 2,535 kilometres of overhead circuit wires, 5,034 kilometres of underground cable, 11 transformer stations, 54 municipal substations, 43,722 transformers, 1,825 switchgears and 41,005 poles and pole structures.

In addition to delivering safe and reliable power, PowerStream offers customers conservation and demand management programs to help them save energy and associated costs.

PowerStream is also at the forefront of innovating new technologies that will help ensure reliability and reduce costs for future generations, including Smart Grid, electric vehicles, renewable generation and Micro Grid.

For more information on the CEA and National Electricity Month visit www.electricity.ca. For additional information on the electricity system and how it works visit http://powerforthefuture.ca/.

QUOTE
"We are committed to providing our customers with safe, reliable and efficient services," explained Maurizio Bevilacqua, PowerStream Board Chair and Mayor of the City of Vaughan. "As June is National Electricity Month, we encourage our customers to learn more about the electricity system and why we need to invest in infrastructure renewal and emerging technologies in order to serve them better now and in the future."

BACKGROUND
The CEA and its nearly 100 members held the first National Electricity Month in June 2013.

ABOUT POWERSTREAM
PowerStream is a community-owned energy company that provides power and related services to more than 365,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario. It is jointly owned by the Cities of Barrie, Markham and Vaughan.

ABOUT CEA
Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) members generate, transmit and distribute electrical energy to industrial, commercial, residential and institutional customers across Canada every day. From vertically integrated electric utilities, independent power producers, transmission and distribution companies, to power marketers, to the manufacturers and suppliers of materials, technology and services that keep the industry running smoothly -- all are represented by this national industry association.