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Background Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (THESL) has had considerable success with its conservation programs, including the first-in-Canada 2006 Summer Challenge for residential customers. Approximately 29 per cent of eligible residential and small commercial customers reduced their electricity use by at least 10 per cent, compared to the previous year. In return, they received an additional 10 per cent credit on their fall electricity bills, effectively doubling their savings. A second successful Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) program is peaksaver®. Upon registration, a peaksaver® switch is installed near the central air conditioning unit at the customer’s home or business. When the load-control switch is activated remotely by THESL during heat waves, the unit will “cycle down” by 50 per cent, reducing the load on the electricity system for several hours. Currently, THESL is able to reduce demand by up to 45 MW when peaksaver® is activated. More than 46,000 customers have enrolled in the program. In 2007, the peaksaver® program won international recognition from the prestigious Platt’s Global Awards for Energy Efficiency. peaksaver® and the Summer Challenge received provincial recognition when the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Energy announced they would be rolled out province-wide for 2007 by the Ontario Power Authority. 
Our Approach to Introducing New Conservation Ideas THESL conducted its third Annual “Peak Out Poll” to determine Torontonians’ views on what really bothered them, or “peaked” them out, about inefficient electricity use. The survey revealed that respondents felt businesses were not doing enough to conserve electricity and that nearly two-thirds of Toronto workers would support “no suit jacket required in the office” to reduce air conditioning. More than six-in-ten workers would support “no tie required” and the same number would support short sleeves for men in the office during summertime. Though businesses are only 20 per cent of THESL’s customer base, they account for up to 80 per cent of electricity use in the City. In an effort to promote load reductions in commercial buildings, THESL kicked off a new summer conservation campaign for 2007.
The “Fashion Thrills Without the Chills” show, staged in a downtown Toronto office tower, was the official launch of the Summer Challenge for Business. The promotion rewarded business customers with a 10 per cent credit on their fall bills if they reduced consumption by 10 per cent between July and August, compared to the summer before. All commercial customers were eligible. The Summer Challenge for Business marketing materials, building on the theme “Do The Right Thing Toronto,” featured testimonials from many businesses that are taking the challenge and made a commitment to conservation. The integrated campaign involved direct mail, elevator door wraps, newspaper advertising inserts and radio commercials. The efforts these companies have made, and details about their operations, were featured through a variety of media including radio and print advertisements, THESL’s Web site, customer newsletters, and weekly “conservation customer of the week” press releases. For the past three years, THESL has worked with the City of Toronto and Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) to hold Festive Light Exchanges in neighbourhoods across Toronto. LED lights use up to 95 per cent less electricity than traditional incandescent seasonal lights. The program has grown over the years from four Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) participating in 2005 to 18 BIAs and five additional community events in 2007. The Business Incentive Program (BIP), launched in 2007, provides financial assistance to commercial customers to encourage energy-efficient retrofits and improvement projects. Results: Highlights from the 2007 Conservation Campaigns
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