PowerStream Encourages Customers to Participate in Earth Hour 2013

Energy Services Company Marks Sixth Year of Involvement in Annual Global Awareness Event


VAUGHAN, Ontario, March 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PowerStream, a community-owned energy services company committed to the environment and sustainable growth, is once again encouraging its customers to join the company in participating in Earth Hour 2013 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

The utility, which serves several communities in York Region and Simcoe County, will be participating in Earth Hour by powering down the lights at its four work locations in Vaughan, Markham and Barrie, as well as reporting municipal power consumption reduction totals throughout its service territory during Earth Hour. PowerStream further demonstrates its commitment to the environment by sponsoring Earth Hour Vaughan 2013 Lantern Walk and Energy Exhibit.

Earth Hour activities at the Vaughan Civic Centre will include displays showcasing PowerStream's energy conservation programs and incentives available to customers as well as the company's solar generation and electric vehicle initiatives.

In Collingwood, Collus PowerStream, the utility which serves customers in that area, will be hosting a "Lights Out" ceremony at the Collingwood Public Library.

QUOTES

  • "Earth Hour is a perfect and easy way that shows we can all contribute to energy conservation. PowerStream customers reduced energy usage by a remarkable 7.8 per cent during Earth Hour last year," explained Frank Scarpitti, PowerStream Chair and Mayor of the City of Markham. "It's also an great opportunity for families to participate together and share conservation conversations with children, and all ages, to raise awareness."
  • "PowerStream was one of the first companies in Canada to participate in Earth Hour back in 2008," added Brian Bentz, President and CEO, PowerStream. "We are pleased to be participating in Earth Hour for the sixth consecutive year and to be offering our customers with programs consistent with the goals this global awareness event on climate change."

BACKGROUND

During last year's Earth Hour event, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March 31, 2012, PowerStream's System Control Centre reported a service territory-wide electricity reduction of 7.8 per cent.
More information related to Earth Hour can be found at www.earthhour.org.

ABOUT POWERSTREAM

PowerStream is a community-owned energy services company providing power and related solutions to more than 355,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario. It is jointly owned by the municipalities of Barrie, Markham and Vaughan.

ABOUT EARTH HOUR

Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 23, 2013 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. In 2013, Earth Hour's I Will If You Will concept invites individuals and organisations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2012 involved hundreds of millions of people in 152 countries across every continent, receiving reports as 'the world's largest campaign for the planet'.

LET'S CONNECT!

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CATEGORIES – Community, Conservation, Solar

KEYWORDS – PowerStream, Earth Hour, World Wildlife Fund, CDM, Solar, Vaughan

The Powerstream logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=16713



            

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