PowerStream Recognized as "Best Smart Grid Solution Provider"

VAUGHAN, ON--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - Energy CIO Insights, a magazine produced by an international publishing company that focuses on the latest technologies, concepts and practices in the power and energy field, has listed PowerStream as one of the ten best smart grid solution providers in North America.

The list was published recently as part of a special smart grid edition in the magazine's June 2016 issue. Energy CIO Insights recognized ten organizations who are at the forefront of providing smart grid solutions for the energy sector that is impacting the marketplace. Selection was based on a number of criteria including adaptation to current industry trends, current and future business plans, as well as what differentiates an organization from its competitors.

PowerStream was selected based on its innovative approach in implementing cutting-edge technologies and its 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". The utility's current portfolio includes battery storage, microgrids, residential energy storage, solar generation and a number of other customer-facing programs that reduce the strain on the grid while helping customers to save money.

Included in this was a residential energy storage pilot initiative recently launched by the community-owned energy company, referred to as "POWER.HOUSE", which involves 20 customers within its service territory who live in areas that are historically at a higher risk for outages. POWER.HOUSE is Canada's first virtual power plant, which uses its aggregate fleet of solar and battery storage systems that can be autonomously controlled through intelligent software to simulate a single, larger power generating facility.

The utility has also partnered with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to develop a utility scaled microgrid which has been constructed in Penetanguishene, Ontario and has the ability to provide backup power supply for hundreds of commercial, institutional and residential customers. In addition to outage mitigation, the Penetanguishene Microgrid also reinforces the power grid by optimizing operational flexibility. This project will be officially launched later this month and is expected to be used as a template for other utilities within North America.

QUOTES

• "It is an honour for PowerStream to be included in this list and recognized for its various smart grid endeavors," said Maurizio Bevilacqua, PowerStream Board Chair and City of Vaughan Mayor. "We pride ourselves on being an innovative organization and will continue to build on solar and other energy management technologies as we move forward."
• "PowerStream is committed to demonstrating and implementing new technologies. This is consistent with our vision of leading the way into the future with boldness, innovation and best-in-class performance to establish PowerStream as Ontario's premier integrated energy services provider," said Brian Bentz, PowerStream President & CEO. "We continue to recognize community needs and find innovative solutions to better serve our customers."

BACKGROUND

• PowerStream has received multiple accolades for its smart grid and environmental initiatives in 2016. These include being recognized as one of 'Canada's Greenest Employers' by Media Corp Canada; named 'Game Changer' in energy management by CanSIA; and receiving the 'Innovation Excellence Award' from the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA).
• PowerStream offers customers a number of energy saving programs to customers including its Retrofit Program, Advantage Power Pricing, POWER.HOUSE and the Residential Energy Management (REM) program.

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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