Category: News Alerts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2019

OSHAWA POWER AT AUTOFEST FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE EDUCATION

OSHAWA, ONTARIO– In August 2018, Oshawa Power introduced their E-Mission Project to the residents of Oshawa at Autofest. This Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy is aimed at preparing our infrastructure, community, and customers for the electrification of transport.

As a kick off to the E-Mission strategy in 2018, Oshawa Power gathered and analyzed local EV usage and adoption data. Residents of Oshawa who owned an EV were encouraged to share their data and given a $25 credit on their Utility bill, (the average cost of charging an EV for one month), for participating in an online survey. 100% of EV owners surveyed by Oshawa Power reported that they would buy an EV again for their next vehicle purchase.

After 2 years at Autofest, Oshawa Power has been able to personally engage our community and gain valuable information for use in the planning of public charging and infrastructure planning.

By partnering with the EV Society, Oshawa Power was able to give residents an up-close look at several different makes and models of modern EVs. eCAMION Inc. provided an example of a charger by loaning us their newest “Jule” fast charging station for display. Volunteers from Oshawa Power and the EV Society were on hand to answer any questions about EV ownership and any potential impact to our power grid.

Oshawa Power volunteer, Lori Dafoe said, “Autofest has been a great venue for Oshawa Power to meet with car enthusiasts and educate them about electric vehicles. Many people are very surprised at the variety of EVs available in today’s market, everything from a small compact to a large SUV.”
Ministry of Transportation data indicates that electric vehicle purchases in Oshawa are growing substantially – almost tripling in the pasts 18 months!
To learn more about EVs, or to fill out the Oshawa Power survey visit: www.oshawapower.ca/e-mission today.

Autofest Press Release

August 16, 2019 – The employees at Oshawa Power believe in giving back to the community where they live and work. For the second year in a row, employees got together to have a BBQ lunch as a fundraiser for Simcoe Hall Settlements House’s 2019 Backpack Program. Employees then brought in a backpack or cash to pay for their lunch.

Employees say, “It is a great cause right here in our community and that’s important to us. Simcoe Hall Settlement House does a great job organizing this, and we want to help them make sure that all children have the tools they need to learn”.

President and CEO, Ivano Labricciosa said, “The staff of eighty employees donated the food, volunteered their lunch hour to cook and serve their fellow employees and when it was all done, they collected 67 backpacks, several lunch bags, and $276.80 in cash to donate to the cause. I am extremely proud of the staff here at Oshawa Power, who willingly give back to the community by volunteering their time and/or making donations to help others. When called upon to help, employee response is always tremendous, and truly from the heart – they are an asset to the community”.

Community

It has been reported that Toronto Hydro customers have been receiving text messages from an entity posing as Toronto Hydro asking them to accept an e-transfer.

Please be aware that these are not genuine and if you receive a text like this, report to Canadian Anti-fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (quote file #844396) & to Toronto Hydro using their online form:

Currently, we have had no reports of this happening to Oshawa customers.

Notice To all Customers:

As part of our commitment to provide the highest quality customer service we are upgrading our customer information systems beginning Friday June 28, 2019 at 4pm. The new system will improve our service and system reliability to you.

The upgrade will impact the availability of some of our self service functions in eCare, and our IVR system. Services not available during this migration are:
• Access to your online account
• Automated balance and payment history inquires through our phone system
• Time of Use Graphs will not populate

Upgrade Time Frame

Start: Friday June 28, 2019 at 4pm EST
Finish: Tuesday July 2, 2019 at 8:30am EST

We appreciate your patience during our technology upgrade and we look forward to continuing to service you in the future.

If you need to make a credit card please visit this website.

Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend. Happy Canada Day!

June 24, 2019 – OSHAWA – Oshawa Power held their annual general meeting on June 13, 2019. In attendance were Oshawa Power staff, board members, Oshawa city and regional Councillors, City of Oshawa staff, and Mayor Dan Carter.

“We are Oshawa Power” was the ongoing theme throughout the 2018 summary. Oshawa Power proudly displayed their accomplishments in the community, innovation, reliability, customer service and growth areas.

“Every day, Oshawa Power goes the extra mile to safely and reliably deliver electricity and energy-related services; provide the lowest residential distribution rates for power in Durham Region; grow the value of our company; and maintain a steady stream of revenue that our shareholder, the City of  Oshawa (the City), uses in delivering the services and infrastructure that make Oshawa a vibrant community.” Quoted from the annual report.

Oshawa Power declared an annual dividend payment for the City of Oshawa of $2.5 million, an increase from 2017’s $2.3 million.  An outstanding accomplishment considering recent government and regulatory changes. Oshawa Power is committed to maintaining its excellence customer service, exceptional value, and to continue being a truly great company.

Oshawa Power invites you to read their 2018 annual report and AGM Presentation 2019.

If you have any inquiries please reach out to Sheila Risorto 905-723-4626 extension 5243 or srisorto@opuc.on.ca.

 

SCAM ALERT! We have received reports from our customers that they have received calls from 1-800-948-5608 and the company represents themselves as Oshawa Power demanding payment.

This is NOT us – Oshawa Power does not have a 1-800 number. Do not engage with this company. Do NOT provide any personal information. If you are in doubt please call us at 905-723-4623.

If you receive this type of call please notify Durham Regional Police at 1-888-579-1520 or the Canadian Anti – Fraud Centre 1-888-495-8501 .

Respect the Power: Powerline Safety Awareness Week

May 11-17, 2019 urges Ontarians to be mindful of powerlines

Powerline Safety Awareness Week in Ontario is a time to be reminded of the importance of staying clear of overhead and underground powerlines, particularly when working, doing household chores or having fun outside.

Tragically every year people in Ontario are killed or critically injured from contact with powerlines and electrical utility equipment,” said Scott Saint, ESA’s Chief Public Safety Officer. “We need everyone to recognize and respect the power and take some simple, yet life-saving safety precautions.”

“As the Victoria Day long weekend approaches, I urge all Ontarians to take a moment to increase their own and their family’s powerline safety knowledge,” said David Orazietti, Minister of Government and Consumer Services. “Taking the time to learn more now can prevent a tragedy later.”

Five Ways to Respect the Power

    1. Locate the lines. Before starting any outdoor job whether at work or at home, first look up, look out and locate. Then keep track of where they are as you move around so you’re always mindful of the powerlines.
    2. Keep yourself and equipment a safe distance away. For the kind of powerlines that connect a house to the poles on the street, keep yourself and any equipment (ladders, pruners, tall vehicles, etc.) at least one metre away.  For the higher voltage lines that run down streets, stay at least three metres away.  Not only is making contact very dangerous but even coming close to the line can cause the electricity to jump or ‘arc’ through the air and contact you or your equipment.
    3. Never attach or drape anything on a powerline. Never brace a ladder against a line or near its point of contact to a building. Don’t run other lines like antennas or cables on or near powerlines. And never grab a line for balance when working at heights.
    4. <Carry equipment horizontally. Carry ladders, pruners and other long equipment on their side, not vertically as they could connect or attract arcing from an overhead line.
    5. Plant trees away from overhead powerlines. If your trees have grown into or close to powerlines, contact your local utility. Do not trim trees around powerlines yourself. And call before you dig to ensure underground cables and other utility equipment are located and marked.

    For more tree trimming and landscaping tips, visit esasafe.com.

    Test your Electrical Safety Knowledge with the below Myths& Facts:

    MYTH:  I’m just trimming tree limbs, I won’t be using a ladder so I don’t need to worry.

    FACT:   Anything that touches a powerline – a pruning tool, the tree limb or your hand can give you a shock, burn or kill you. Better idea: call an arborist or your local electric utility and have one of their trained arborists trim the tree for you safely.

    MYTH:  I’m just digging a couple of feet into the ground. I don’t need to worry about underground lines.

    FACT:  The lines may be closer than you think or a grading change may have occurred over time. Better to be safe than sorry. Call before you dig — it’s the law! Call Ontario One Call to get a cable locate.

    MYTH:  If a powerline falls on my car, I should get out and run to safety right away.

    FACT:  The car and the ground around it may be electrified and you could be killed if you get out of the vehicle. Stay inside until the utility workers tell you it’s safe to get out. Tell everyone to stay back 10 metres or 33 feet.

    MYTH:  To get a shock or burn, I need to actually touch a powerline.

    FACT:  Just getting too close could cause you to receive a severe shock, burn or even kill you. Electricity can jump or ‘arc’ through the air to you or an object that gets too close. Always stay at least three metres or 10 feet away from powerlines.

    MYTH:  I can use a wooden stick to prop up a powerline or to knock down a toy that’s tangled in a powerline.

    FACT:  Even wood can conduct electricity. Never touch or come close to a powerline. Contact your local utility if you need assistance.

    MYTH:  A powerline that’s been knocked down doesn’t have electricity flowing through it, so it’s safe to be near it or move it out of the way.

    FACT:  Always assume a downed powerline still has electricity flowing through it, even if it isn’t sparking. Stay back at least 10 metres or 33 feet (that’s about the length of a school bus), call 911 and the local utility.

    For more Myths & Facts & other Powerline Safety connect to the following:

    https://www.esasafe.com/consumers/safety-and-security/powerline-safety/myths-and-facts

    https://www.esasafe.com/business/powerline-safety/

    How dangerous are overhead power lines? – Lucky the Squirrel learns the hard way how dangerous overhead power lines can be, in the below link to ESA’s video.

    #RespectThePower #PowerlineSafetyWeek

     

     

     

This Saturday May 4, 11 AM- 3 PM Oshawa Power will be at the McLaughlin branch of Oshawa Public Library with a fun interactive booth that will include our Hazard Hamlet, public safety handouts including a handy vehicle safety infographic to keep in your car, financial assistance brochures and giveaways!

So come on by and meet some Oshawa Power staff and learn about powerline safety!
McL-FAM-JUN11

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) announced there will be little change to electricity prices on May 1, and that summer time-of-use (TOU) hours come into effect.

Customers who pay tiered prices will see no change to their electricity prices, but the tier threshold that applies in the summer period will come into effect on May 1.

For residential and small business customers that buy their electricity from their utility, the new TOU prices set by the OEB for May 1, 2019 under the Regulated Price Plan (RPP) are shown in the table below. The table also shows the hours to which those prices apply.

On March 22, 2019, the Ontario government introduced changes to the approach the OEB is required to follow when setting RPP prices for the May 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019 period. The revised regulation requires that prices are set so that the monthly bill for a proxy customer increases by the rate of inflation relative to the bill on May 1, 2018.

The proxy customer’s bill is determined by calculating a weighted average of provincewide delivery and regulatory charges, assuming consumption of 700 kWh/month and a TOU usage profile of 65% used in off-peak, 17% in mid-peak and 18% in on-peak. The new RPP prices will mean a monthly total bill increase of $1.63 for the proxy customer.

For more information please visit the OEB website.

The new RPP prices will be in effect until October 31, 2019.

Oshawa Area Telephone Soliciting

Oshawa Power has received reports in our Customer Service department that some local customers have received fraudulent phone calls claiming to be calling from Oshawa Power.  The calls are from a 1-800 number and a representative threatens disconnection unless payment is completed by credit card.

Oshawa Power can confirm that we are not executing any outbound phone calls to our customers at this time and this third party is misrepresenting themselves.

If you have any question please do not hesitate to contact us at 905-723-4623 or emailing us here .