Category: News Alerts

Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. warns of phone scam targeting small businesses.

OPUCN would like to caution our customers to be aware of a scam which involves calls originating from an 800-number and involves targeting small businesses almost exclusively asking customers to purchase pre-paid cards to make payment to avoid disconnection of hydro service.

OPUCN notifies customers of outstanding balances ONLY through an automated phone call or hand delivered notice and customers are given time to make overdue payments.

  • OPUC Never asks you to pay by pre-paid credit card or wire transfer over the phone.
  • We NEVER threaten to disconnect you right away
  • If someone calls and threatens to disconnect you if you don’t make a payment right away by pre-paid credit card or wire transfer, SAY NO and HANG UP!
  • Never give your personal financial Information.

If you receive a call report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. This agency collects information on fraud and works closely with police to solve these crimes. You can also contact the Durham Regional Fraud Unit at 905-579-1520.

OSHAWA – Oshawa households and businesses can take credit for positive results in this past weekend’s Earth Hour event. Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. holds the distinction of being one of the few utilities that celebrated an increase in Earth Hour participation this year. Compared to the consumption leading up to Earth Hour Oshawa realized a 4.4% reduction in usage which equates to 6.03 megawatts of electricity savings. This is an increase from the 3.1% reduction in 2016.[/gdlr_column]

These results further display Oshawa’s active participation in energy conservation initiatives. We are proud of our customer’s effort to contribute to Earth Hour and demonstrating our collective commitment to increasing energy awareness and its impact on climate change. Thank you Oshawa.

Click here if you would like to get more information on energy conversation.

Ivano Labricciosa
President & CEO
Oshawa Power & Utilities Corporation
“Proudly Serving Oshawa With A Lifetime of Power”

On March 2, 2017, the Government of Ontario announced several measures it will be implementing as part of a relief plan to lower electricity bills for Ontario residential customers by an average of 25%. The measures announced will also benefit many small businesses.

Referred to as Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan, it includes:

  • the 8% rebate that came into effect on January 1, 2017;
  • increases in funding amounts for eligible participants in the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP);
  • the establishment of an Affordability Fund to help further support energy-efficiency initiatives; and,
  • holding electricity price increases over the next four years to the rate of inflation.

Initial changes to take effect on May 1, 2017 will be reflected on customer bills starting this summer. More details are expected as new legislation is introduced in the weeks ahead. We will keep you informed of the changes.

For additional information on the Fair Hydro Plan announcement, read the Government of Ontario news release at https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/03/ontario-cutting-electricity-bills-by-25-per-cent.html

Oshawa Power encourages customers to be prepared in the event of power outages

OSHAWA, ON – Monday, January 17, 2017 – The weather forecast from Environment Canada for Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. is includes the possibility of Freezing Rain accumulation of 2 to 5 mm on untreated surfaces for the Oshawa service area starting on Tuesday morning continuing through to Wednesday morning. Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. will continue to monitor storm models and weather forecasts and is preparing for the forecasted branches or electrical wires that could break under the weight of ice, by ensuring line crews and staff are available to respond. Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. will optimize the electrical distribution system prior to the Freezing Rain as a mitigation strategy. Our Emergency Response Team has met to prepare for possible outages in Oshawa.

Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. is encouraging customers to be prepared for power outages before the power goes out. Emergency Management Ontario and local emergency responders recommend that residents prepare and plan to be self-sufficient for 72 hours in an emergency situation. Please make sure that you have flashlights and batteries available.   Do not use charcoal or a gas barbecue, camping heating equipment or portage generators indoors as they produce deadly carbon monoxide gas. Down hydro lines are considered live, contact our 24/7 telephone number (905) 723-4623 and refer to outage maps on our website at www.oshawapower.ca/outages. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook @oshawapower for updates.

Before you leave home, please do a walkthrough of your home or business just as you would when going on vacation and make sure all appliances are turned off such as stoves, ovens, coffeemakers, etc.

Stay safe and informed

Just like you, we’re keeping a close eye on the weather. We’re ready to respond if it causes damage and outages in the Oshawa area. Whenever severe weather threatens, it’s important to stay safe and informed.

Quote from Roger Ersil, Manager Metering and Operations, “Our systems have been checked and we are ready to detect and respond to power outages.”

In the event of a power failure, our outage notification system will call you during the allowable telecommunication hours set out by the Government of Canada (CRTC).  The recorded message will let you know that we are aware of a power outage at your home or business and that crews have been dispatched.  Please provide OPUCN with your most up to date contact information if you would like to receive a call.  This can be done by contacting us or by calling 905-723-4623.

Oshawa, ON…On November 14, 2016 the City of Oshawa experienced a power outage that affected approximately 18,000 customers in the north east quadrant of the City. The outage started at approximately 6:00 p.m. and Oshawa Power crews worked tirelessly throughout the evening to safely restore power to all customers by 11:15 p.m.

“The Oshawa Power crews pulled together and did not stop working until power was safely restored to every customer affected by the outage”, said Ivano Labricciosa, President and CEO of Oshawa Power. “It is tremendous efforts like this one that show our commitment to the residents of Oshawa.”

The root cause of the outage was a 44,000 volt overhead conductor splice failure that caused a live power line to come down at the corners of Mary Street and Taunton Road. In the process of making the site safe and restoring power, we experienced a second event as a 44,000 volt switch failed on an adjacent circuit at the main Wilson Substation at Rossland Road extending the duration of the outage.

Oshawa Power has implemented new customer facing technology solutions such as an on-line website customer portal, live outage reporting and tracking map and a twitter social media account that provide timely 24 hour customer information. During the outage, there was a significant spike in Oshawa customers seeking real-time updates on the status and restoration time for outages with over 50,000 impressions from these various communication channels.

About Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation
Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (Oshawa Power) is the holding company for a diversified group of four subsidiaries involved in energy distribution, telecom ventures, clean power generation and solar energy generation. Through its subsidiaries OPUC provides: safe, reliable and efficient electricity distribution services to over 57,000 customers; develops, constructs and operates clean and green energy generation assets in Ontario; and provides a reliable dark fibre optics communications network within Oshawa and the Region of Durham. OPUC is wholly owned by the Corporation of The City of Oshawa.

Media Contact:
Nadeige Carter
905-439-1917; ncarter@opuc.on.ca
www.oshawapower.ca

Oshawa PUCN’s network relies on approximately 11,000 poles to provide power to our customers. Over time these poles can weaken due to poor weather conditions, insects, birds and wildlife. In order to maintain the reliability and safety of our poles and network, OPUC has contracted PoleCare International to perform a city wide inspection of all of our poles. These pole inspections are planned to be completed by the fall.

Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. encourages customers to be prepared in the event of power outages

OSHAWA, ON – Monday February 29, 2016 – The latest weather forecast from Environment Canada for Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. is indicating the possibility of 15 to 30 cm of heavy snow, with the possibility of ice pellets and freezing rain for the Oshawa service area starting on Tuesday evening continuing through to Wednesday. Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. will continue to monitor storm models and weather forecasts and is preparing for the forecasted weather, by ensuring line crews and staff are available to respond. Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. will optimize the electrical distribution system prior to the weather system moving in as a mitigation strategy.

Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. is encouraging customers to be prepared for power outages before the power goes out. Emergency Management Ontario and local emergency responders recommend that residents prepare and plan to be self-sufficient for 72 hours in an emergency situation. Please make sure that you have flashlights and batteries available.   Do not use charcoal or a gas barbecue, camping heating equipment or portage generators indoors as they produce deadly carbon monoxide gas. Down hydro lines are considered live, contact our 24/7 telephone number (905) 723-4623 and refer to outage maps on our website at www.oshawapower.ca for updates.

Before you leave home, please do walkthrough of your home just as you would when going on vacation and make sure all appliances are turned off such as stoves, ovens, coffeemakers, etc.

Stay safe and informed

Just like you, we’re keeping a close eye on the weather. We’re ready to respond if it causes damage and outages in the Oshawa area. Whenever severe weather threatens, it’s important to stay safe and informed.

Consumers have alerted the Ontario Energy Board that individuals, representing themselves as Ontario Electricity Support Program employees, had called them to request access to their homes. In two incidents last week, consumers were contacted about the OESP and notified that a home inspection was a condition of the program.

If you are contacted by anyone who has received a similar request, please assure them that the OESP application and approval process does not require anyone to visit their home. The OESP will not perform home inspections, conduct tests or install equipment.

The Ontario Energy Board is taking these reports very seriously and is investigating further. In addition to notifying the OESP Contact Centre, Intake Agencies and Utilities about these incidents, we have also released a Consumer Alert to the public: ow.ly/XBZwJ

Consumers with questions or concerns about any sales calls or door-to-door experiences they have had are encouraged to contact the OEB:

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
1-877-632-2727 (toll-free within Ontario)
416-314-2455 (within Greater Toronto Area or from outside Canada)
Fax: 416-440-7656
ConsumerRelations@OntarioEnergyBoard.ca
OntarioEnergyBoard.ca