PowerStream’s York Region customers’ electricity bills to decrease
Ontario Energy Board approves utility’s 2009 distribution rate application

YORK REGION, ON – Effective September 1, PowerStream customers in York Region will see a decrease in their electricity bills following the recent approval by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) of the utility’s 2009 distribution rate application.

Due to adjustments to distribution charges, which are part of “Delivery” costs and account for approximately 20 percent of the total bill, the typical residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month will pay approximately $1.49 or 1.3 percent less on their total bill each month.

A typical business customer, with electricity demand level of less than 50 kW and who uses 2,000 kWh in a month will see a decrease of $4.02 or 1.7 percent on their total bill. Business customers with a demand level greater than 50 kW and a monthly electricity consumption of 80,000 kWh will save $111.09 each month or 1.5 percent on their total bill.

The distribution charges on customer bills are subject to the approval of the OEB. These charges represent the only revenue retained by PowerStream to cover the company’s operational costs for distributing power to homes and businesses in its service territory. Other charges on customer bills such as “Electricity” and “Regulatory” are collected by PowerStream for, and on behalf of, other electricity market participants such as generation companies and regulatory agencies.

“We continuously look to find efficiencies in our operations which will save money and thereby reduce the upward pressure on customer distribution rates,” Brian Bentz, PowerStream’s President and CEO explained. “For that very reason, PowerStream customers continue to enjoy low distribution rates when compared to other distribution companies in the province.” Bentz’ comment was related to a 2008 review which showed that delivery charges for PowerStream customers were among the very lowest in comparison to the other local utilities located in the GTA and Central Ontario.

The distribution rate adjustments will apply to all PowerSteam customers in York Region regardless of whether they are on two-tiered, time-of-use or spot market commodity pricing. The new charges do not apply to PowerStream customers in Barrie and Simcoe County whose distribution rates were previously approved by the OEB based on an application submitted by the former Barrie Hydro.