Oshawa Power introduces Agent 360 and Customer 360 AI solutions.
Category: News Alerts
Reliable electricity starts behind the scenes, in the equipment that keeps power flowing across Oshawa. This fall, Oshawa Power is completing upgrades at Municipal Substation #7 (MS7) with advanced eHouse switchgear technology, a key investment that will strengthen the reliability and safety of our city’s power supply for years to come.
The new eHouse was delivered mid-October. Full installation and integration is expected to be complete in December.
Why Substations Matter
Municipal Substations are the backbone of Oshawa’s local grid. They receive high-voltage electricity from Ontario’s provincial system and convert it to lower voltages for safe delivery to homes and businesses.
MS7, located at Simcoe Street North and Taunton Road East, has been serving customers for nearly six decades. Like any essential infrastructure, its electrical equipment reaches a point where replacement is necessary to maintain reliability and avoid unplanned outages.
What’s Changing at MS7
Oshawa Power’s new eHouse switchgear represents the next generation of electrical infrastructure:
- Modular and prefabricated: Built off-site, tested, and delivered ready for plug-and-play installation.
- Compact and efficient: Fits seamlessly into the existing substation footprint.
- Enhanced safety: Provides better protection for staff and equipment.
- Future-ready: Designed to integrate with digital monitoring and smart grid technologies.
Work on MS7 began in 2025 and will be completed by December. This marks the second of four planned switchgear replacements under Oshawa Power’s long-term Capital Rebuild Plan.
The Bigger Picture
This project is part of Oshawa Power’s proactive Municipal Substation Switchgear Replacement Program. By replacing aging infrastructure before failure, we reduce outage risks, improve reliability, and prepare the grid for future energy needs including electric vehicles, distributed generation, and smart grid expansion.
“These upgrades are part of our commitment to maintaining a strong, modern, and resilient power system for Oshawa. Investing in infrastructure today means greater reliability and fewer disruptions tomorrow.”
– Peter Petriw, Director, Engineering & Operations
What It Means For You
For customers fed by MS7 and even across the rest of our grid, this upgrade means:
- Fewer unplanned outages
- Greater grid stability during extreme weather
- Long-term reliability as the city continues to grow
Oshawa Power continues to invest in critical infrastructure that keeps your lights on, your devices powered, and your city moving forward.
Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date!
Oshawa Power has appointed four new members to its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will play a key role in advancing the organization’s 2025 to 2030 strategic plan, supporting priorities in green energy, long-term value creation, infrastructure services, and building a high-performing team.
Key Highlights:
- Four new directors appointed: Paul Kwasnik, Charles Mongeon, Mika Unterman, and Tova White
- Added leadership capacity across energy, technology, sustainability, and HR
- Stronger governance support for Oshawa Power’s strategic plan.
Meet Our New Directors
Paul Kwasnik, BA, MBA
Paul brings more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector, including nine years as CEO and President of Brantford Energy Corporation. His work focused on modernization, operational efficiency, regulatory strategy, asset management, and customer service.
Charles Mongeon
Charles is a technology executive and governance professional with over 30 years of experience across energy, telecom, and retail. His background spans enterprise resilience, digital transformation, and IT governance.
Mika Unterman
Mika is known for her systems thinking and commitment to circular economy solutions. She currently serves as Director of Sustainability Capabilities and Planning at The Coca-Cola Company in Canada and has led projects across consumer goods, education, and technology.
Tova White, MSc., C. Dir
Tova brings over 25 years of experience in human resources leadership across retail, financial services, and consumer packaged goods. Her work includes major transformations at Giant Tiger, Coca-Cola Canada, Chapters, Indigo, and BMO.
“We are pleased to welcome the new directors to the Board and are confident their diverse experience and governance expertise will be instrumental as we advance our five-year strategic plan. Their contributions will enhance the Board’s oversight and support our commitment to delivering sustainable value for our stakeholders.”
– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO
Thank You to Outgoing Board Members
Oshawa Power extends sincere appreciation to departing board members Denise Carpenter, Grant Buchanan, Terry Caputo, and Donna Kingelin. Their leadership helped move the Board from an operational model to a skills-based governance structure.
Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date!
Each fall since 2017, Oshawa’s downtown core takes on a deeply meaningful display to commemorate heroes from our community. The Veteran Banner Program, a collaboration between Oshawa Power, the City of Oshawa, and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43, raises banners across Downtown Oshawa honouring the service and sacrifices of local veterans.
“This program reflects Oshawa’s deep connection to our Armed Forces. Every banner tells a story of service, sacrifice, and community. We are honoured to help bring these stories to
light each year and I am incredibly proud of Oshawa Power’s support of this program.”– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power
What you’ll see
- 133 banners prominently located atop Downtown Oshawa lightposts.
- Each banner features the portrait, name, and service details of an Honoured Veteran from our local community.
- A display timeline from late October through November in support of Oshawa’s Remembrance Day Parade.
Why it matters
These banners provide more than just decoration for Oshawa’s streets. They:
- Give local families an opportunity to share the stories of their beloved family members.
- Recognize the service and sacrifice of those who put their country above all else.
- Offer a tangible way for residents and visitors to pause and reflect.
- Strengthen Oshawa’s ties to our Armed Forces and develop a local culture of respect and remembrance.
How you can take part
- Walk the banner route and take time to read each tribute.
- Share your photos and reflections on social media using #OshawaRemembers.
- Consider visiting with children or students to teach our youth the importance of Remembrance Day.
We offer our sincere gratitude to the brave individuals who fought for our freedoms and for the great nation of Canada. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
To honour a veteran through the Veteran Banner Program, please visit our Community page or access the application form.
Honoured Veterans
- Doris (Dolly) Arsenau
- Thomas Bruce Baird
- Eleanor Beck
- Shawn Bowe
- William Ernest Boyce
- Eric C. Branton
- Winnifred A. Branton
- Ronald George Brent
- Elam Brinson
- S/Sgt. Alfred C. Brisebois
- Ed Brisebois
- Jack (Fuzz) Brisebois
- Ken Brisebois
- Nancy C.M. Brisebois
- Arthur Norman Samual Broad
- George Brocanier
- Orval Earl Brock
- Gordon James Brown
- Harry Arthur Brown
- Norman Edward Brown
- Violet Brown (nee Taylor)
- William Robert Brown
- Frank Buller
- Earl K. Campbell
- Frederick Edmond Carey
- WO2 Don Chapman
- Leslie W.B. Childerhose
- Sgt. Ray Eugene Cowan
- Edward J. Crawford
- George Hayward Crawford
- James Convery
- John Thomas Dalby
- John Thomas Dalby Sr.
- Ken Davies
- Archie S.D. Dean
- James Essex
- George Elmer Ferguson
- Kevin Ferguson
- Harry L. Ferneley
- D. Craig Finney
- Douglas J. Finney
- Roy Foster
- (Gunner) John Fox
- Henryk K. Fraczek
- William Roy Gillman
- Edward Gingereski
- John Gingereski
- Frederick Ernest Goodwin
- John (Jack) F. Goulding
- Robert Gow
- Edward C. Halcomb
- Thomas Hopkins Hammond
- Francis Charles Hannan
- William Thomas Harding
- Joseph Hart
- Carson John Heard
- Henry J. “Chick” Hewett
- John H. Hodgson
- Norman Roy Hodgson
- Ben Jacklin
- William Henry Kellar
- Ted Kelly
- George W.B. Kingsland
- Lt. Alan Edward King
- Bernard Kinlin
- James Kinlin
- Lawrence Kinlin
- Thomas Kinlin
- William Kinlin
- Gordon H.E. Kitchen
- Malcolm W. Knocker
- Jack Kucher
- Bill Kurelo
- Norman Cy Lang
- Henry Samuel Lee
- William James Lee
- Leonard Levandoski
- Elmer Eirra Lewis
- Victor P. Lockie
- Sgt. John A. Lowry M.M.
- Terry Macdonald
- William “Sam” Magee
- John Manning
- Glen Wm. Maunder
- Ted McComb
- James Claude McPhee
- Ronald W. McTague
- Daniel D. Normoyle
- Gregory Francis Normoyle
- Patrick J. Normoyle
- Robert D. Normoyle
- Robert James Normoyle
- Harold H. Nugent
- WO1 Fred Palmer
- John Edward Parr
- Major Zane Piekenbrock
- Bill Pierson
- Henry Hatton Price
- Harold Power
- Maurice Bruce Proctor
- Alexander Reid
- Calvin Cecil Reid
- James Reid
- Ronald F. Rice
- Allen W. Robinson
- James M. Scott
- George James Simmons
- Cecil Henry Smith
- William James Somerville
- Gordon Thomas Stacey
- Evan Strait
- Charles William Taylor
- Frederick Charles Taylor
- Frederick George Taylor
- George Henry Taylor Sr.
- Walter Taylor
- Bedford David Thomson
- Davey Thompson
- Private Nelson Train
- Albert Turner Jr.
- Harry A.C. Turner
- Kenneth Bertram Twaites
- Alex Walker Jr.
- Albert Edward Wallis
- Charles Alfred Wells
- Bethel West
- Luke Edward White
- Gren Williams
- Fredrick William Willis
- Earl “Bus” William Wilson
- Robert E. Woodward
- Bishop Alfred Woolcock
- The Unknown Soldier
Starting November 1, 2025, new electricity pricing from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) will come into effect across Ontario.
These changes will affect the the ‘Electricity’ line of your bill and will have no impact on ‘Delivery’ or ‘Regulatory’ charges. To learn more about the charges that make up your monthly electricity bill, visit our Understanding Your Bill page.
Alongside the OEB’s rate changes, November 1 will mark the shift to the Winter Schedule for customers on the Time-of-Use (TOU), Tiered, and Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) pricing plans.
The Winter Schedule will remain in effect until May 1, 2026 when customers will see the return of the summer pricing schedule.
New RPP rates and usage schedules for each pricing plan are outlined in the following charts:
November 1, 2025 Electricity Rates
| Pricing Period | Schedule | Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-Peak | Weekdays 7 p.m. – 7 a.m., all day weekends and holidays | 9.8 ¢/kWh | +2.2 ¢/kWh |
| Mid-Peak | Weekdays 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | 15.7 ¢/kWh | +3.5 ¢/kWh |
| On-Peak | Weekdays 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. | 20.3 ¢/kWh | +4.5 ¢/kWh |
| Pricing Period | Schedule | Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Residential – first 1,000 kWh/month Non-residential – first 750 kWh/month |
12.0 ¢/kWh | +2.7 ¢/kWh |
| Tier 2 | Residential – usage above 1,000 kWh/month Non-residential – usage above 750 kWh/month |
14.2 ¢/kWh | +3.2 ¢/kWh |
| Pricing Period | Schedule | Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-Low Overnight | Every day 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. | 3.9 ¢/kWh | +1.1 ¢/kWh |
| Weekend Off-Peak | Weekends and holidays 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | 9.8 ¢/kWh | +2.2 ¢/kWh |
| Mid-Peak | Weekdays 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. | 15.7 ¢/kWh | +3.5 ¢/kWh |
| On-Peak | Weekdays 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. | 39.1 ¢/kWh | +10.7 ¢/kWh |
For a full schedule of past electricity pricing, visit the OEB’s Historical Electricity Rates page.
Ontario Energy Rebate (OER) Increasing
To help residential and small business customers offset the cost of this rate increase, the province has announced an increase in the Ontario Energy Rebate (OER) from 13.1% to 23.5%.
This rebate is applied as a pre-tax rebate and will show up as a single line item on your electricity bill. For an average residential customer using about 700 kWh of electricity per month, the rebate will be approximately $36, up from about $17 before the OER increase.
| Previous Rebate | New Rebate (As of Nov. 1, 2025) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 13.1% | 23.5% | +10.4% |
Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date!
Oshawa Power’s 2024 Electricity Distributor Scorecard is now available.
Download the 2024 Scorecard PDF or view the Ontario Energy Board’s Electricity Distributor Scorecards page for details.
Oshawa Power employees rallied together on Friday, June 27, for the organization’s inaugural charity golf tournament, raising $20,000 in support of Hearth Place, a local cancer support centre providing compassionate care to individuals and families navigating the cancer journey.
“Care for people is one of Oshawa Power’s core values, and this event marks a significant demonstration of that commitment. Cancer affects us all, whether directly or through someone we love. Helping Hearth Place continue their vital work ensures that no one has to face these challenges alone. We’re humbled and proud to support their mission.”
– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power
Hearth Place offers support at every stage, from the initial diagnosis, through treatment, to grief counselling and recovery services for families. The funds raised will go directly toward these programs, providing much-needed comfort and care to those in our community impacted by cancer.
The success of the event was made possible thanks to the overwhelming generosity of employees, community members, and corporate sponsors. Special thanks to EnerFORGE for their sponsorship, as well as to Westmore, Brass Inc., Optima, and Jubb, and many others who contributed through sponsorship, prize donations, and active participation in the day’s events.
Our employees further demonstrated their commitment by engaging in silent auctions, making personal donations, and taking part in fundraising activities throughout the day, all in the spirit of giving back.
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 Hearth Place
Hearth Place is a cancer support centre located in Oshawa, Ontario. It offers a wide range of services to individuals and families dealing with cancer, including peer support, counselling, education, and wellness programs—all at no cost to clients.
Oshawa Power Group of Companies is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Tang as Chief Financial Officer, effective April 1, 2025.
Amanda brings extensive expertise in performance and risk management, transformation execution, and team development. As a seasoned strategic business partner and advisor, she has played a key role in shaping the vision and strategy of both established organizations and high-growth start-ups, particularly across the Real Estate, Energy/Utility, and Financial sectors. In her new role, Amanda will support Oshawa Power in enhancing financial and operational performance, mitigating risk, and solving complex business challenges.
Before joining Oshawa Power, Amanda held progressively senior roles in finance and risk management, most recently serving as SVP, Finance, Strategy, and Risk at Blackstone Energy Services. Her career also includes leadership positions at Fidelity Canada and major financial institutions such as BMO, CIBC, and National Bank Financial.
Amanda holds an Honours Bachelor of Mathematics and a Master of Accounting from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).
Oshawa, ON – Oshawa Power supports the call for Canadian goods and materials, prioritizing procurement from domestic suppliers and vendors.
Serving one of Canada’s fastest-growing municipalities, Oshawa Power supplies electricity to more than 63,000 residential and commercial customers. Committed to a “local first” purchasing philosophy, the company invests over 95% of its budget with Canadian suppliers and vendors.
As part of its commitment to resource stewardship and advocacy, Oshawa Power is strengthening its procurement process to further prioritize Canadian vendors where possible. The company’s upcoming capital investments will focus on enhancing safety and reliability through projects designed to enhance our smart-grid technology.
“Strengthening our domestic supply chain will continue to be a priority during these uncertain times.”
– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power
By adopting a “Canada-first” approach, Oshawa Power is reinforcing its commitment to a resilient supply chain while delivering safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to its customers. We encourage all of our partners to use Canadian made components in their supply chain where possible.
For more information, please visit our Supply Chain 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
Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date!
As our community continues to grow and electrification increases energy demand, Oshawa Power is committed to ensuring a more reliable, resilient, and efficient electrical grid to power our city’s future. Our investments in SmartGrid technology, integrating automation and realtime analytics, has led to significant improvements in outage duration and frequency and better service for customers across Oshawa.
A Smarter, Stronger Grid for Oshawa
Traditional power grids were designed decades ago and relied on manual intervention to detect and fix outages. Today, with the implementation of Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) technology, we’ve made significant advancements in how we respond to power disruptions. Integrating automation, sensors, and data-driven insights, our SmartGrid allows us to identify faults quickly, reroute power, and restore service faster than ever before.
How FLISR Works
FLISR technology improves grid performance by:
- Automatically detecting faults and voltage losses and isolating affected areas.
- Rerouting electricity to minimize the number of customers impacted and reducing many outages to momentary ‘flickers’.
- Providing realtime monitoring that enables faster response times through more accurate fault locating.
With this technology in place, Oshawa residents benefit from a more responsive and reliable grid that keeps the lights on and businesses running smoothly.
The Impact: Measurable Improvements in Reliability
Our investment in FLISR integration has already delivered impressive results:
- 78% reduction in yearly average customer downtime (System Average Interruption Duration Index – SAIDI) from 88 minutes to 19 minutes since 2022.
- 72% decrease in yearly outages per customer (System Average Interruption Frequency Index – SAIFI) from 1.04 to 0.28 since 2022.
- Faster outage response times, reducing downtime for homes and businesses.
- Improved communication during outages through our live Outage Map and social media channels.
Enhancing Our Service & Supporting Electrification
Our grid modernization efforts aren’t just about reliability. We are focused on meeting the needs of our customers and preparing for a more sustainable, increasingly electrified future. Through realtime monitoring and predictive maintenance, Oshawa Power can optimize load distribution to meet our community’s needs while minimizing disruptions.
Key benefits include:
- Customers receive faster, more accurate outage notifications.
- More sustainable energy management in preparation for increases in adoption of renewable energy sources like solar and battery storage.
- Support for electric vehicles as adoption grows and electricity consumption shifts.
What’s Next?
Since launching with 8% of our grid integrated in December 2021, our FLISR system has expanded to cover 40% of our local electrical grid. As part of our Strategic Asset Management Plan, every new build, rebuild, and capital project will be integrated with a goal of 100% integration, ensuring continuous improvement in service reliability and grid resiliency.
Our journey toward a smarter, more reliable local SmartGrid is just beginning. By combining automation, data analytics, and a customer-focused approach, Oshawa Power is striving to set a new benchmark for electricity reliability in Ontario.
