News Release - Help Manage Your Electricity Costs with a Peaksaver Thermostat

Summer Hydro Bills have arrived, and to help lower costs, Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. is offering the Peaksaver program to all residential and small commercial customers. Participants will receive a $25 on bill credit and a chance to WIN an Energy Star LG Frontload Washer & Dryer (Contest expires October 31, 2010).

It has been a much hotter than average summer, and Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc.’s customers are looking for ways to lower their monthly bills. Using a Programmable thermostat is a great way to monitor, and control electricity usage and upgrading to Peaksaver has many advantages, including:

    * $25 on bill credit

    * A Free ENERGY STAR® qualified thermostat

    * Free installation

    * The option to manage thermostat settings online  

    * Touch screen display

    * Automatic entry into the Washer & Dryer Giveaway.

Once a Peaksaver thermostat is installed in a home or business, it can be remotely activated by Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. to slightly reduce a Central Air Conditioner’s electricity demand. Activations would only occur on hot summer afternoons when air conditioners are running at maximum, but never on weekends or statutory holidays. Typically, air conditioners are cycled off for 15 minutes out of every30 minutes. The fan continues to operate and circulate cooled air, so most customers will not notice a change in temperature or comfort.

When activated, Peaksaver will reduce the demand on the electrical distribution system by approximately 1 kilowatt per home. That's the equivalent of turning off 10, 100 watt light bulbs.

Join thousands of households and small businesses in Ontario who are participating in the Peaksaver program by signing up today.

For online registration of the Peaksaver program, please visit 
http://www.ccmanager.ca/peaksaver.asp?u=329

For more information on other conservation programs offered by NIagara Peninsula Energy Inc. please visit http://npei.ca/conservation-and-safety/conservation-programs.

Customer Alert

Things you need to know about electricity use this summer

Distribution rates cover the costs incurred by Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. (NPEI) for delivery of electricity to homes and business in our service areas. Across Ontario the average distribution rate represents 22 percent, of the total charges found on the bill.  However, there are several other factors, beyond NPEI’s control, which are expected to increase total bill amounts for customers going forward, especially during the summer period.

The chart below shows the percentage breakdown of the related electricity charges found on NPEI’s bills. Only 22% is controlled by NPEI.

Take charge of your electricity bill now!

The factors that are impacting your electricity bills are:

• The Ontario Energy Board increasing electricity prices for all Ontario residential and small business customers, coupled with the seasonal change in the pricing structure, which will add 6% to NPEI bills.
• The recently implemented Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will add another 8% to all customer utility bills across the province.
• A small ‘Regulatory’ charge that has been added as required by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to cover the cost of provincial conservation initiatives.
• A projected hotter than average summer.

In order to minimize the impact these factors will have on summer electricity bills, NPEI encourages customers to take advantage of various conservation initiatives and programs. What you do now can save you money when your bill arrives.

Beat the Peak

Sign up for peaksaver®

Beat the Peak 2010 - Information and Contest Rules

By having a free peaksaver® programmable thermostat or switch installed, your central air conditioning (CAC) system can be automatically adjusted when demand for electricity is highest. This may happen occasionally in summer, but only on weekdays during the middle of the day. You likely won't notice a difference in the comfort of your home since the temperature will only change by 1 or 2ºC at most and only for brief periods. Last summer peaksaver was activated 4 times, and in the summer of 2008, only 5 times. You will be helping to reduce the strain on our electricity system, plus you’ll be helping the environment.

Register for peaksaver and receive a free programmable thermostat or switch, and have it installed for free too. After your installation you will receive a one-time $25 on-bill credit (subject to program terms and conditions). Sign up for peaksaver before October 31st , 2010 & you will automatically be entered into a draw to win a LG Front load Washer & Dryer

Contest eligibility: No purchase necessary. Contests are governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. Entrants that enroll in the Peaksaver program between January 1, 2010 and October 31, 2010 will be automatically entered in the contest. In order to be eligible to win the contest Peaksaver control device installation must be completed prior to November 20, 2010. Contest open to Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. residential and small business account holders in good standing only. Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Prizes are non-transferable, non-refundable, have no cash value and must be accepted as awarded. The odds of winning depend on how many eligible entries are received.
Draw will take place by computer generated random selection and winner notified by November 30, 2010. Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. will not be responsible for telephone, technical, network, online, electronic, computer hardware or software failures of any kind, misdirected, stolen, incomplete, garbled or delayed Internet/e-mail computer transmissions on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer relating to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this contest. Prizes must be claimed by December 30th, 2010. Personal information collected is for Peaksaver program enrollment, installations, draw purposes and redemption only. Winner must agree to have their name and photo published for promotional purposes. All other personal information will be kept strictly confidential. Model may not appear exactly as shown. Extended warranty available for purchase at time of transfer of prize, cost is the responsibility of the winner.

Funded by the Ontario Power Authority and offered by Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. OMOfficial mark of the Ontario Power Authority. peaksaver ® is a registered trademark of Toronto Hydro Corporation. Used under license.* Subject to program terms and conditions.

Notice to All Niagara Falls NPEI Customers

Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. (NPEI) has made some changes to their billing system in response to their customers’ suggestions.

Beginning in May, 2010, Niagara Peninsula Energy is transitioning all customers who were formerly billed bi-monthly to monthly billing. Providing 12 smaller bills instead of 6 larger bills makes it easier for customers, especially those on fixed incomes, to include the costs in their monthly household budgets.

Monthly billing provides customers with more frequent and timely information about their usage. This benefits customers. It allows customers to adjust their usage habits if they feel they are consuming too much. Conservation is in your hands.

If your last bi-monthly electric reading was taken in April, your first monthly bill will occur in May. If your last bi-monthly electric reading was taken in May, your first monthly bill will occur in June. Your due date will remain to be 16 days from your bill date.

Reading schedules will not change. Your meter will still be read bi-monthly. Therefore, every other bill will be an actual reading.

Watch your bill to follow changes to our payment, collection and deposit policies due to the monthly billing. We are listening and working with you to make your bill more convenient and affordable to pay.

Download Notice to All Niagara Falls NPEI Customers in PDF Format

NOTE: If you have received your monthly bill and would like to make payment
arrangements, it is important that you contact us at least 7 business days prior to the due date on your Niagara Peninsula Energy statement.

For more information, call us:
Toll Free: 1-877-270-3938
Head Office: 7447 Pin Oak Drive Box 120
Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2E 6S9
T: 905-356-2681 E: info@npei.ca

Due to the volume of calls, some delays may occur. For your convenience, voicemail will be available, simply leave a message and we’ll return your call. Or if you prefer, email us at: info@npei.ca.

Call Before You Dig

Effective July 15, 2009 Niagara Peninsula Energy Inc. will use ON1CALL (Call Before You Dig) for locates of underground electrical wires throughout the Fonthill, Lincoln, and West Lincoln areas.

Ontario One Call Ltd. or ON1CALL is a private corporation which receives excavator (including home owners) locate requests. Customer Service representatives at the call centre will take the necessary information regarding the excavation plans and will notify member utilities with underground facilities in your area. There is no charge to the excavator for this service.

ON1CALL is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ON1CALL accepts locate requests by telephone, e-ticket or Fax. They can be reached by Telephone (toll free) 1-800-400-2255 or Fax (toll free) 1-800-400-8876.

Businesses can find more information in our Cable Locates and Digging section of our site here and residents can find more information here.

For additional information, visit the ON1CALL website here.