PowerStream Named CanSIA 'Game Changer' in Energy Management

VAUGHAN, ON--(Marketwired - May 17, 2016) - The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), a national trade association that represents solar energy companies in Canada, has named PowerStream as a 'Game Changer' in smart energy management for its residential solar storage pilot program, 'POWER.HOUSE.'

The award, which was presented to PowerStream at the 2016 CanSIA 'Game Changer Awards' held Monday evening at the Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario, acknowledges successful efforts to integrate solar into a holistic energy management environment.

The award honours PowerStream for its innovative approach in implementing cutting-edge technologies as energy management solutions for its customers. POWER.HOUSE forms part of PowerStream's strategy to embrace the future of grid modernization -- a future that sees fewer large, central generating assets and more distributed generation resources, including solar, at the "grid edge."

Funded by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), POWER.HOUSE is Canada's first virtual power plant using an aggregate fleet of 20 residential solar and battery storage systems located at customer homes, which can be autonomously controlled through intelligent software to simulate a single, larger power generating facility. The technology being used is a combination of rooftop solar PV panels and a lithium-ion battery installed behind the meter at a customer's home.

Customers benefit from generating their own clean, renewable energy and displace a portion of their energy consumed from the provincial grid. From a utility's perspective, leveraging carbon-free generating resources and fast-responding energy storage assets play a pivotal role in several grid supporting functions.

QUOTES

• "PowerStream thrives on providing its customers with the tools required to better manage their electricity costs while having a positive impact on the electricity grid and the environment," said Maurizio Bevilacqua, PowerStream Board Chair and City of Vaughan Mayor. "We plan to continue to build on solar and other energy management technologies as we move forward."

• "We are thrilled to receive another award from CanSIA," said Brian Bentz, President and CEO, PowerStream. "It is indeed an honour to be recognized by our Canadian industry peers and associates in this manner as we continue to work with many of them to build additional energy management solutions."

BACKGROUND

• CanSIA recognized PowerStream as 'Solar Developer of the Year' in 2012 and Brian Bentz as 'Solar Industry Leader' in 2015.

• The CanSIA Game Changer Awards recognize the excellence of the many individuals and organizations that have helped the solar energy industry mature by pursuing the path that will lead us to an even brighter future.

ABOUT CanSIA

The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) is a national trade association that represents the solar energy industry throughout Canada. Since 1992, CanSIA has worked to develop a strong, efficient, ethical and professional Canadian solar energy industry with capacity to provide innovative solar energy solutions and to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable, clean-energy future.

ABOUT POWERSTREAM

PowerStream is a community-owned energy company that provides power and related services to more than 380,000 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.

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