Author: Josh McCulloch

Oshawa Power and Lakefront Utilities have announced a new partnership, with Oshawa Power providing electric distribution operational leadership assistance and support to Lakefront Utilities in Cobourg and the Village of Colborne. This collaboration aims to enhance efficiency, service reliability, and overall utility management for customers in both regions.

The agreement includes various services, such as capital construction oversight, operations and maintenance oversight, coordination of field staff and subcontractors, and health and safety. The partnership is expected to benefit ratepayers by improving services at a cost-effective rate, while positioning Oshawa Power and Lakefront Utilities as leading energy partners.

This partnership underscores both companies’ dedication to customer service, safety, and operational excellence. As this partnership continues to expand and evolve, we remain steadfast in our values of safety, stewardship, and customer focus.

“I am excited for the partnership and collaboration of our two utilities. It reflects a forward-thinking approach, focusing on sustainable and mutually beneficial outcomes for the regions involved.”

– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power

“We deeply appreciate the dedication, hard work and ability of our teams quickly collaborating and creating efficiencies for the customers of the City of Oshawa, Cobourg and the Village of Colborne.”

– Dereck Paul, CEO, Lakefront Utilities

“Flexing our skills as Powerline Technicians and Supervisors keeps our knowledge current, and expanding our scope of operations will support the developmental growth of both of our teams.”

– Kent Fulling, Manager, Distribution Construction, Oshawa Power

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

About Lakefront Utilities

A regulated utility through which we distribute electricity and promote energy conservation to approximately 11,500 customers in the Town of Cobourg and Village of Colborne.

Media Contact

communications@oshawapower.ca

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Beginning on October 28, 2024, your monthly electricity bills are getting an updated look to match our new branding and make electricity charges easier to understand.

The bill redesign is part of Oshawa Power’s effort to simplify the customer experience and provide customers easy access to their electricity data. Designed to be easy-to-read and understand, the new bills feature all the information customers are used to seeing in a new, simpler format.

“In re-assessing our current bill design after many years in market, we realized the opportunity to simplify our bills and present our customers with a more transparent and easier to understand snapshot of their monthly electricity charges. We believe that a well-informed customer is better equipped to make decisions about their pricing plan and electricity usage that will align with their lifestyle and help manage electricity costs”

– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO

Bills will feature detailed usage graphs showing energy used in each Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing period, Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) pricing period, or usage Tier depending on the customers chosen pricing plan, a clear indication of the current amount owing, a full breakdown of charges, and much more.

Understanding Your Bill

To help customers understand their new bill, we have developed an Understanding Your Bill resource. This webpage breaks your bill down in sections to explain exactly what you will see on your bill.

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

Media Contact

communications@oshawapower.ca

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Oshawa Power is proud to announce that our organization was presented the Innovation Award at the 29th Annual Business Excellence Awards Gala by the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. This award recognizes some of our organization’s core values, the pursuit of Innovation and the Courage to Act.

Through our pursuits of digital transformation, grid automation, and low-carbon solutions, Oshawa Power is working to position our organization as a future-focused utility. Throughout 2023, these pursuits led to outcomes that improved service for the more than 63,000 homes and businesses we serve across the City of Oshawa.

Oshawa Power Team Receives Innovation Award

“We are honoured to receive this award from the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, highlighting our pursuit of innovation, one of our core values. The Innovation Award is a testament to the continuing efforts of our team to become a leader in the electrical distribution industry. As we move forward through the accelerating energy transition, we understand that we must remain focused on preparing our grid for the future to enable growth and development in our community, while maintaining and improving on the level of service that our customers expect.”

– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO

These efforts include the expansion of our industry-leading SmartGrid in order to enable improvements in automation and remote control, leading to a reduction in outage frequency, duration, and response times. By expanding our SmartGrid and integrating additional infrastructure with our FLISR system, our team can pinpoint potential or existing faults in our system instantly, isolate problem areas, and restore power to customers, minimizing disruptions in our local power grid.

Innovation will also help us to build a more sustainable community for the future. In 2023, we worked to expand our EV charging network, increase awareness around transportation electrification, and entered a strategic partnership with Durham Region Transit to pilot electric buses across our region. These projects are aimed at modernizing our local transportation infrastructure, reducing fuel consumption, and lowering emissions.

Thank you to the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce for hosting the 29th Annual Business Excellence Awards Gala recognizing the many great organizations across our city.

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

Media Contact

communications@oshawapower.ca

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Oshawa, ON – Oshawa Power and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 636 ratified a new three-year collective agreement. The collective agreement was not set to expire until February 2025 and was negotiated in advance. The new collective agreement provides union members with generous wage increases, as well as increases in benefits, premiums and allowances.

“This new three-year agreement was achieved in a collaborative and collegial manner and in keeping with our value of Care for People. I am equally grateful for our management teams and union representatives that worked together to reach a harmonious deal.”

– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power

Quick Facts

  • Oshawa Power and IBEW negotiations began on July 8, with meetings concluding on August 14.
  • New contract is set to start November 1, 2024 and will run through to November 1, 2027.
  • The IBEW represents approximately 38 Oshawa Power employees.

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

Pictured (left to right): Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter, Oshawa Power President & CEO Daniel Arbour, The Honourable Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries, and Chair of the Economic & Development Services Committee Tito-Dante Marimpietri.

Oshawa, ON – This afternoon Oshawa Power welcomed The Honourable Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries, Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter, and Chair of the Economic & Development Services Committee Tito-Dante Marimpietri to 2072 Thornton Rd. N to announce plans for Oshawa Power’s new facility in North Oshawa.

This investment will consolidate all operational, administrative, and storage needs into one complex, allowing the local utility to overcome the logistical challenges of having departments spread across multiple buildings and storage yards and improving organizational efficiency. The new 6.5-acre site will feature a modern two-storey office complex of approximately 30,000 square feet, along with an equipment storage yard, warehouse, and vehicle garage.

Following a comprehensive needs assessment and site search, 2072 Thornton Rd. N was chosen for its proximity to Oshawa’s largest growth area and the site’s suitability to meet the utility’s operational needs. Construction is scheduled to commence no later than 2026, with completion and relocation from the current site at Metcalfe St. and Simcoe St. S anticipated in early 2027.

Oshawa Power is collaborating with a local architectural firm to ensure the building design meets accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability goals. Preliminary renders have been developed, with final designs subject to further refinement during the design and construction phases.

Quotes

“We are thrilled to begin the process of moving to a new facility that will better accommodate our fleet, consolidate operations, and allow us to continue providing Oshawa with safe and reliable electricity for decades to come. We look forward to enhancing our service capabilities, fostering innovation, and supporting our community from our accessible, state-of-the-art facility.”

– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power

“This investment will enhance Oshawa Power’s logistical efficiency, allowing for better management and delivery of electricity as the city grows and energy demands increase. The Ontario government is committed to ensuring that all parts of our energy delivery system are efficient and ready to provide sustainable, reliable, and affordable power to our communities now and into the future. I am pleased to be here today to celebrate this important step toward a more resilient local energy infrastructure.”

– The Honourable Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries

“Our community has benefited greatly from a dedicated local electric utility over the past 130 years. As our economy and city continue to grow, Oshawa Power will play a critical role in supporting the development of the necessary infrastructure and capacity required for increased electrification. This new building is an exciting step forward.”

– Dan Carter, Mayor of the City of Oshawa

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

Oshawa Power is warning customers to remain aware of an increase in scams targeting local electricity customers after the company has been notified of increasing fraudulent activity.

In this new scheme, customers are contacted by a number claiming to be a representative from Oshawa Power and threatening immediate disconnection of service unless payment is made. The fraudsters have set up a return number that mimics Oshawa Power’s automated phone system and will encourage customers to make payment immediately via direct e-transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash deposit.

Customers are reminded that Oshawa Power will not accept payment through direct e-transfer, cryptocurrency, cash deposit, or gift card. To learn more about available payment methods, click here.

Oshawa Power is also committed to working with customers to avoid disconnection and arrange a payment plan. To learn more about the disconnection process, click here.

If you receive a suspicious call from an individual claiming to be an Oshawa Power representative, you are encouraged to hang up immediately and contact Oshawa Power’s Customer Service Centre by phone at (905) 723-4626.

If you have been a victim of fraud, you are encouraged to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

To learn more about energy scams and how to avoid them, please visit the Ontario Energy Board’s Energy Scams resource.

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

For Oshawa Power updates, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

communications@oshawapower.ca

In 2023, Oshawa Power experienced 141 unplanned sustained outages due to various factors such as motor vehicle accidents, inclement weather, and loss of supply. Approximately 13% of these incidents, totaling 18 outages, were attributed to tree contact.

Tree-related outages occur when branches interfere with our overhead primary lines. The mechanism is straightforward: adverse weather conditions or other external factors can dislodge tree limbs, causing them to fall across our lines. If the branch spans multiple lines, this contact allows electricity to track across the foreign object, resulting in a fault. This fault triggers an upstream breaker or fuse to open, leading to power interruptions for a number of customers serviced by that supply. To preempt such disruptions, proactive maintenance plays a pivotal role.

How Tree Contacts Cause Outages Explainer

Tree contacts spanning two conductors will cause a fault that results in a power outage.

Our Tree Trimming Program exemplifies this proactive approach. We segment our service territory into three regions, systematically patrolling primary lines to identify areas where local vegetation poses potential risks to our electrical infrastructure. Collaborating with utility arborists, we prioritize one region each year, ensuring comprehensive vegetation management across a three-year cycle.

“Given our extensive infrastructure weaving through densely vegetated areas across Oshawa, managing tree limbs near our power lines is critical. Our consistent Tree Trimming Program and thorough assessment of nearby trees and vegetation preemptively mitigate outage risks, fortifying grid reliability year-round—especially during severe weather conditions prone to limb breakage.”

– Kent Fulling, Manager, Distribution & Planning

Trimming operations commence annually in January, aiming to conclude major activities before foliage reaches peak growth. Often, seemingly innocuous vegetation can unexpectedly cause issues once fully leafed out. Even after completing scheduled trimming, our vigilance continues.

Our teams promptly address reported concerns from both our crews and customers, swiftly responding to mitigate potential hazards before they escalate into outages.

Recently introduced, our Issue Reporting Tool empowers customers to alert us to infrastructure concerns, including requests for tree trimming.

Issue Reporting Tool

Our new Issue Reporting tool will allow you to report issues with transformers and request tree trimming and pest control. If you notice an issue with our electrical grid, please click below to report it to our team.

Each year, our crews and certified arborists diligently trim hundreds, sometimes thousands, of branches to proactively prevent disruptions. As a cornerstone of our preventive maintenance strategy, the Tree Trimming Program exemplifies our commitment to enhancing reliability for residences, businesses, and critical institutions across Oshawa.

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

Media Contact

communications@oshawapower.ca

Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date!

The Group, comprised of Oshawa Power, EnerFORGE and Durham Broadband is pleased to announce the launch of its new Strategic Direction emphasizing partnership – with our customers, community, and service delivery partners and their impact to the sustainability of the grid; as well as a renewed focus on our vision, mission and values. As an organization, we honour our core values of safety, stewardship, innovation and customer focus. Every day we demonstrate care for people by working to earn the trust of our customers, staff and shareholder through consistently delivering value with reliability and affordability. We take pride in having the courage to act.

Vision: Be a trusted partner and leader in the energy sector today and tomorrow.

Mission: Empowering customers to thrive through the evolving energy transition.

Values: Safety, Care for People, Stewardship, Courage to Act, Innovation & Customer Focus.

“As we look to the future, we understand that our industry is experiencing a period of unprecedented change and to keep pace with the rapid evolution, we must consistently revisit our organizational strategy to ensure we are delivering services that meet the evolving needs of our customer base and shareholder. We are confident that our new strategy will help strengthen our organization and position the Oshawa Power Group of Companies as a trusted leader in the energy transition. We remain focused on delivering safe and reliable electricity to the residents and businesses that call Oshawa home while pursuing opportunities to not only strengthen our local grid, but develop new and innovative solutions that will help power a more sustainable tomorrow.”

– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO

The strategic plan reflects the Group’s response to several pivotal issues, intersecting trends, and pressure points in the operating environment. It means the organization must be deliberate and intentional with its focus and execution going forward.

They leverage our foundational strengths, including distribution expertise, innovation and collaborative approach. They also embrace an active role in the energy transformation, four our community and beyond, by creating conditions for success and building on traditional strengths with our sustainable advisory and energy solutions. Highlighted below are our four GRID Strategic Priorities:

  • Growing Green Energy Generation and Services
  • Realigning Priorities to achieve Consistent Stakeholder Value
  • Investing in Civil and Infrastructure Services
  • Delivering Through a High Performance Environment

To view the full strategic plan, click here.

Summer is right around the corner and Summer Time-of-Use (TOU) and Tiered Pricing is here!

For customers on TOU and Tiered Pricing Plans, Summer Hours & Tiers are take effect today, Wednesday May 1st, 2024. Customers enrolled in the Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) Pricing Plan will see no changes.

Electricity pricing will remain unchanged. Summer Hours & Tiers will be in effect until November 1, 2024 when Winter Hours & Tiers will return.

Summer Time-of-Use Hours:

For Time-of-Use (TOU) customers, On-Peak hours now run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and Mid-Peak now run from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

TOU Pricing Chart

Summer Tiers:

For Tiered Pricing customers, the threshold to reach Tier Two pricing is now reached at 600kWh of monthly electricity consumption.

Tiered Pricing Chart

Ultra-Low Overnight Pricing:

Customers enrolled in the new Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) Pricing Plan will not see any changes. ULO pricing periods remain the same year round.

ULO Pricing Chart

Electricity pricing will remain unchanged. Summer Hours & Tiers will be in effect until November 1, 2024 when Winter Hours & Tiers will return.

To learn more about about our pricing and the Pricing Plans available to you, visit our Rates & Billing page.

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

Media Contact

communications@oshawapower.ca

Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date!

At Oshawa Power we remain dedicated to delivering on our promise of providing a safe and reliable supply of electricity to customers across Oshawa.

As we develop our next 5-year plan to upgrade and maintain Oshawa’s local electrical grid, our decisions are based primarily on meeting the evolving needs of our customers. In mid January, we connected with our customer base to better understand the changing priorities of our customers. By marrying the priorities of our customer base with our approach to strategic engineering, we can support our community, maintain equipment and keep our fleet and resources in good working order – for the growth and sustainability of Oshawa.

Our Customer Priority survey was available to all of our more than 63,000 customers, and was sent directly via email to nearly 30,000 customers who have provided email addresses. We received feedback from over 1,600 customers, or approximately 2.5% of our customer base – predominantly from our residential customers and a small number of commercial customers.

2024 Customer Priority Survey Summary


Insights include:

  • Customers are advocating for fair rates. While we at Oshawa Power are at the end of the line, the bill is shared between several players. Here is a great explainer of how your bill is broken down.
  • Customers who have an EV are energy smart – charging at home and during off-peak hours.
  • Some feedback includes advocating for more subsidies for Level-2 home chargers and free installation by Oshawa Power.
  • Some customers are requesting that Oshawa Power consider text messaging for outages. We can confirm that this is in our work plan and will be introduced in late 2024.
  • Depending on costs and technology, some customers would consider solar panels in the future.
  • Some customers cited that the average homeowner does not know when the system needs to be altered. Oshawa Power has created a project page to be able to discuss projects and address questions that may come up from the community.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in this survey. We are committed to listening to our customers, sharing project information about current and future planned projects, why they are important for the system and the community, and being available to answer questions!”

– Jen McHugh, Director, Communications & Customer Success

About Oshawa Power

Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

Media Contact

communications@oshawapower.ca

Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date!