Safety First Don’t be in the dark about fire safety during a power outage.
Winter 2016
Struggling with your hydro bill? These 3 programs could provide relief.
Review these important reminders to help keep your family safe until the power returns.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms electrically connected to your home’s power supply will not work when the electricity is off, unless they have battery back-ups. Test your smoke alarms regularly to find out if they work. • Have a family fire safety plan and conduct regular safety checks of each room. • Have at least one telephone (not cordless) that works during a power failure. • Check that all electric stove elements, ovens, kettles, frying pans, clothes irons and hair appliances are turned off or unplugged to prevent fires from starting when the electricity is restored. • Use flashlights or chemical light sticks instead of candles or lanterns to reduce fire risks. • Use only portable space heaters that have been designed for indoor residential use.
• Keep all heaters at least 1 meter away from combustible materials including drapes, carpeting and furniture and turn them off when you are not in the room and before going to sleep. • Have chimneys checked regularly by a professional. If you have not used the fireplace or woodstove for a long time, the chimney may be blocked or damaged, which could cause a fire or a build-up of carbon monoxide inside your home. • Propane and charcoal barbecues and portable generators should only be used outdoors. Story written with content from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. For additional safety tips, please visit www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca.
Questions? Contact our Customer Service Centre at 1 Greendale Drive, Caledonia, ON N3W 2J3 Tel: 905-765-5211 • Toll Free: 1-877-872-2570 Fax: 905-765-8211 • Email: info@hchydro.ca
www.haldimandcountyhydro.ca Twitter: @HCHydro
Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) If your household meets the income and number of people residing in your household, you may be eligible to receive monthly OESP credits towards your bill. A range of factors are used to determine the credit eligibility, including level of income, number of people in your household and type of heating. Find all the details at ontarioelectricitysupport.ca
Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) This program can provide low-income households a one-time grant towards electricity if they are temporarily unable to make ends meet in an emergency situation. In addition, eligible customers also qualify for special rules, including the waiving or refunding of security
payments, and adjustments to billing periods. Salvation Army Community and Family Services in Dunnville manages the application process for this program for Haldimand County Hydro customers, but as a first step customers should contact the Haldimand County Hydro office.
Home Assistance Program (HAP) The Home Assistance Program (HAP) provides income-eligible homeowners, residents and tenants with free home energy upgrades to replace inefficient equipment, including light bulbs, powerbars, refrigerators and freezers, home insulation and more.
To learn more call 1-877-872-2570 or visit www.haldimandcountyhydro.ca.
AIR IT OUT Letting your dishes air dry instead of using the heat-dry option will save you up to 50% of your dishwasher’s energy consumption.
Inside this issue > Heating & Cooling Incentive, Coupon Event, Power Outage Fire Safety
Conservation Community
“
Incentive Amount Received
$1,050 .00
Receive
for replacing old livestock waterers with more efficient units to save 2,940 kWh per year at their beef cattle operation.
for an ENERGY STAR® Central Air Conditioner (CAC).
Visit our website for more information and a list of participating contractors.
Motor (ECM).
$400 for CEE “Tier 2” level CAC.
”
PROJECT DETAILS
Did you know you may be eligible to receive up to $650* toward installing an ENERGY STAR® qualified heating and cooling systems† through a qualified contractor? Act now to save energy and money during the hot summer months.
$250 Receive $250 high efficiency furnace with an Electronically Commutated
a Retrofit Success Story
It’s wonderful for farmers to be able to take advantage of this incentive program. It made replacing the waterers an easy choice!
Improve your home’s heating and cooling systems to save
Receive
Clay Creek Farm
Andrew Phibbs, Owner of Clay Creek Farm
2015 saveONenergy RETROFIT Review
30
customer applications
ENERGY STAR® qualified lED bulbs can last up to 30x longer than incandescent bulbs.
indoor motion sensors, dimmer switches and timers help reduce your energy consumption.
ENERGY STAR® qualified indoor light fixtures use up to 75% less electricity.
up to 20% of household electricity use is wasted on phantom power. plug electronics into a power bar with an integrated timer or auto-shutoff.
PAID IN INCENTIVES
1,625,000 kWh
Save up by powering down this spring Get your saveONenergy coupons in-store at participating retailers or online at saveONenergy.ca/ coupons from April 1 - 30, 2016.
$169,000
OF ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS
YOU COULD BE HERE
Project ideas
Become a RETROFIT Success Story in 2016
• install LED bulbs, • replace compressors & chillers • upgrade HVAC units Find out how the Retrofit and High Performance New Construction programs can help your business at saveONenergy.ca or call us at 1-877-872-2570.
Let us help you! Tel: 905-765-5211 Toll Free: 1-877-872-2570
Email: info@hchydro.ca
Web: www.haldimandcountyhydro.ca
Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca. Subject to change without notice. †Incentives are available for installation of eligible equipment completed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 and submitted no later than Feb. 1 of the following calendar year. Equipment must be purchased from and installed by a participating contractor. Funded by the Independent Electricity System Operator and offered by Haldimand County Hydro Inc. OM Official Mark adopted and used by the Independent Electricity System Operator. Used under licence.
Twitter: @HCHydro
Customer Web Portal
ON1CALL: 1-800-400-2255 www.on1call.com HCH 2016.02
Safety First Don’t be in the dark about fire safety during a power outage.
Winter 2016
Struggling with your hydro bill? These 3 programs could provide relief.
Review these important reminders to help keep your family safe until the power returns.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms electrically connected to your home’s power supply will not work when the electricity is off, unless they have battery back-ups. Test your smoke alarms regularly to find out if they work. • Have a family fire safety plan and conduct regular safety checks of each room. • Have at least one telephone (not cordless) that works during a power failure. • Check that all electric stove elements, ovens, kettles, frying pans, clothes irons and hair appliances are turned off or unplugged to prevent fires from starting when the electricity is restored. • Use flashlights or chemical light sticks instead of candles or lanterns to reduce fire risks. • Use only portable space heaters that have been designed for indoor residential use.
• Keep all heaters at least 1 meter away from combustible materials including drapes, carpeting and furniture and turn them off when you are not in the room and before going to sleep. • Have chimneys checked regularly by a professional. If you have not used the fireplace or woodstove for a long time, the chimney may be blocked or damaged, which could cause a fire or a build-up of carbon monoxide inside your home. • Propane and charcoal barbecues and portable generators should only be used outdoors. Story written with content from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. For additional safety tips, please visit www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca.
Questions? Contact our Customer Service Centre at 1 Greendale Drive, Caledonia, ON N3W 2J3 Tel: 905-765-5211 • Toll Free: 1-877-872-2570 Fax: 905-765-8211 • Email: info@hchydro.ca
www.haldimandcountyhydro.ca Twitter: @HCHydro
Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) If your household meets the income and number of people residing in your household, you may be eligible to receive monthly OESP credits towards your bill. A range of factors are used to determine the credit eligibility, including level of income, number of people in your household and type of heating. Find all the details at ontarioelectricitysupport.ca
Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) This program can provide low-income households a one-time grant towards electricity if they are temporarily unable to make ends meet in an emergency situation. In addition, eligible customers also qualify for special rules, including the waiving or refunding of security
payments, and adjustments to billing periods. Salvation Army Community and Family Services in Dunnville manages the application process for this program for Haldimand County Hydro customers, but as a first step customers should contact the Haldimand County Hydro office.
Home Assistance Program (HAP) The Home Assistance Program (HAP) provides income-eligible homeowners, residents and tenants with free home energy upgrades to replace inefficient equipment, including light bulbs, powerbars, refrigerators and freezers, home insulation and more.
To learn more call 1-877-872-2570 or visit www.haldimandcountyhydro.ca.
AIR IT OUT Letting your dishes air dry instead of using the heat-dry option will save you up to 50% of your dishwasher’s energy consumption.
Inside this issue > Heating & Cooling Incentive, Coupon Event, Power Outage Fire Safety