PowerStream Joins CEA in Celebrating National Electricity Month

VAUGHAN, ON--(Marketwired - June 01, 2015) - PowerStream is joining the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) and other utilities across Canada in celebrating June as National Electricity Month, an initiative aimed at encouraging Canadians to learn more about how the electricity system works and to consider the value electricity brings to their everyday lives.

Electricity is the backbone of the Canadian economy -- it powers everything from household appliances to medical technology, smart phones and computers to bank machines, businesses and stores. By allowing consumers to see how the system works first-hand, the CEA hopes to foster a national conversation on the value of electricity and the choices that need to be made today if Canada is to maintain a reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity grid.

Consumers are encouraged to learn about Canada's vast electricity infrastructure by visiting the Virtual Open House and taking online tours of more than 30 of Canada's generation, transmission and distribution facilities and projects including: a virtual tour of Ontario Power Generation's Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, a facility that meets about 20 per cent of Ontario's electricity needs; a fly over of BC Hydro's Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Project, a new 247 kilometre, 500 kilovolt transmission line; and a behind the scenes look at the PowerStream System Control Centre.

Throughout the month of June, CEA members will also be hosting live open house events across Canada. On Saturday, June 20, 2015, PowerStream will be showcasing its Micro Grid Demonstration Project at the company's head office in Vaughan. Visitors will have the opportunity to see first-hand how Micro Grids will be an integral part of Canada's energy future. Not only are Micro Grids changing the way electricity is distributed, they also provide an innovative solution to the challenge of asset renewal in large-scale electricity delivery systems, and demonstrate how renewable energy helps to address the growing demand for electricity.

QUOTES

• "We are committed to providing our customers with safe, reliable and efficient services," explained Maurizio Bevilacqua, PowerStream Board Chair and Mayor of the City of Vaughan. "As June is National Electricity Month, we encourage our customers to learn more about the electricity system and why we need to invest in infrastructure renewal and emerging technologies in order to serve them better now and in the future."

• "It is our hope that during National Electricity Month, by allowing consumers to see how the system works, we can foster a national conversation not about the cost of electricity, but about the value it brings to our daily lives, to our businesses, to our industries, and to our national and provincial economies," said The Honourable Sergio Marchi, President and CEO, Canadian Electricity Association.

BACKGROUND

• The CEA and its nearly 100 members held the first National Electricity Month in June 2013.

ABOUT POWERSTREAM

PowerStream is a community-owned energy company providing power and related services to more than 375,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario. It is jointly owned by the Cities of Barrie, Markham and Vaughan.

ABOUT CEA

Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) members generate, transmit and distribute electrical energy to industrial, commercial, residential and institutional customers across Canada every day. From vertically integrated electric utilities, independent power producers, transmission and distribution companies, to power marketers, to the manufacturers and suppliers of materials, technology and services that keep the industry running smoothly -- all are represented by this national industry association.

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