TVs can be the biggest energy hog, officials say
May 26, 2009 - 12:35 PM
Reka Szekely
Big-screen TVs and their add-ons can be one of the biggest energy hogs in a home, Veridian wants residents to know as the company prepares to launch new pricing guidelines this spring.
Veridian officials rolled out their new campaign asking consumers to keep an eye on their TVs' energy consumption.
"Our goal is to help residents make smart choices so they can conserve energy, save money and reduce greenhouse gases," said Diana Hills-Milligan, manager, executive office and public affairs for Veridian.
She pointed out that in some homes TVs and their add-ons use more electricity than refrigerators. Veridian is sending a flyer to all customers on how to reduce consumption. This can include purchasing Energy Star high-efficiency TVs and plugging in all the components to a power bar that can be switched off when residents aren't home. That can save families as much as $100 per year.
Veridian is set to move to time-of-use pricing in spring 2010.
Veridian customers currently pay 5.7 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 600 kilowatt hours they use and 6.6 cents for every kilowatt hour after that. Under the new pricing system approved by the Province, the fee is 9.1 cents per kilowatt hour during peak times from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the summer, 7.6 cents during mid-peak times and 4.2 cents during off-peak, which currently begins at 10 p.m. and runs until 7 a.m. It will begin at 9 p.m. starting in November. Weekends and holidays are off-peak.
"We plan to start in some of the smaller communities in Durham Region, communities in Brock Township, Uxbridge and Port Perry," said George Armstrong, manager of regulatory affairs and key projects for Veridian.
"Over the course of about 12 months we'll have the majority of our customers moved over to time-of-use rates."
Mr. Armstrong said Veridian was one of the early adopters of smart meters and that's why the company can move forward with the new pricing plan. He said the goal isn't to bring in more revenue, but to reassign costs.
"Time of use rates more closely mimic what it costs to produce electricity."
Veridian plans an extensive education campaign before moving to time-of-use pricing.
"We will be giving them the tools so there's no need to complain when they receive their bill because it won't be a surprise to them," Mr. Armstrong said.
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