Save money! Conservation Tips from Entegrus

Summer is upon us and as the temperature rises, so can your electricity bill. Entegrus customers can reduce their electricity use and save money by taking advantage of the various conservation programs the company offers.

“Cooling your home can account for up to 60 percent of your summer energy costs, and can cause electricity bills to spike in the summer months,” said Erin Bourdeau, Conservation Program Manager for Entegrus. “We know that our customers are looking for ways to stay cool for less money and we have a number of programs that can help them do that.”

Bourdeau said one of the easiest ways that customers can reduce their electricity usage is by participating in one or more of the following saveONenergy programs offered by the company, in partnership with the Ontario Power Authority.
• Heating & Cooling Incentive – Receive up to $650 in incentives on eligible replacement central heating systems and ENERGY STAR® qualified central cooling systems purchased from and installed by a participating contractor.
• peaksaver PLUS™ – Receive a FREE Energy Display to help you see and manage your electricity use when you have peaksaver switch installed on your central air conditioning unit. The switch is activated on peak summer days and cycles the air conditioner compressor in half hour intervals. The program helps the province reduce peak demand while saving you money on cooling costs.
• Home Assistance Program – Helps qualified homeowners, tenants, and social or assisted housing providers increase the energy efficiency of their homes, manage energy costs and improve home comfort. The program includes a detailed in home energy assessment, professional installation of energy savings measures, and advice on steps that can be taken to save even more energy.
• Fridge & Freezer Pickup – Save up to $125 a year on your electricity costs by having your inefficient fridge or freezer removed for FREE.
• New Home Construction – Incentives are available to home builders and renovators to reduce the initial cost of installing energy efficient equipment and technologies. These measures can reduce electricity costs for the homeowner and maximize the energy efficiency of the home.
Customers can find out more information on these and other efficiency programs for their home or business by visiting www.entegrus.com/conservation.

In addition to taking advantage of the programs, homeowners can try these tips:
• Not using it, turn it off – Lights, appliances and home electronics use a lot of electricity and give off heat. Turning them off can help you save.
• Program your thermostat – A properly set programmable thermostat can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10%. During the summer, set your thermostat to 25 ºC when you are home and 28ºC when away.
• Close the blinds/curtains – Curtains and window coverings act like insulation by keeping the cool air inside and blocking out the sun, which can significantly raise the temperature in your house.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter – When the filter is dirty your system has to work harder to keep you cool. At a minimum change the filter every 3 months, and check it often during the heating and cooling season.

About Entegrus

The Entegrus Group directly operates and maintains electricity distribution systems for over 40,000 customers in Southwestern Ontario. In addition, Entegrus provides general administrative services, namely in the areas of customer care, billing, call centre operations and collection services for companies focused on the areas of electricity supply, transmission and distribution, energy and renewable energy, and water supply. Entegrus is committed to operating safe, reliable and cost effective distribution systems while providing high levels of service to its customers, partners and the communities it serves.

About the Ontario Power Authority

The Ontario Power Authority is responsible for ensuring a reliable, sustainable supply of electricity for Ontario. Its key areas of focus are planning the power system for the long term, leading and coordinating conservation initiatives across the province, and ensuring development of needed generation resources. More information about the OPA and the saveONenergy suite of energy-savings programs can be found at www.powerauthority.on.ca.