Can anyone enroll in peaksaver?
Any Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("Toronto Hydro") customer (residential or commercial) that has central air conditioning is eligible for peaksaver. Business customers are eligible if your air conditioners and water heater are approximately the same size as used by residential customers. If you do not own your home or building, and have your landlord or property manager's approval to participate, please have them contact us to enroll.
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Can I really make a difference by participating?
Yes. By participating, you and thousands of others will allow us to reduce the strain on the electrical system during peak periods. By doing your part, you are making a significant contribution to conserving electricity and improving our environment.
We expect that when activated, peaksaver will reduce the demand on the electrical system by approximately 1 kilowatt per home. That's the equivalent of turning off ten-100 watt light bulbs. This means we will need to import less electricity at higher prices, and delay the need to build additional power plants - that saves everyone money.
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How does peaksaver work?
During peak periods, Toronto Hydro will send a signal to your air conditioner or water heater to interrupt power to the appliance for a short time. Air conditioners are cycled off for 15 minutes out of every 30 minutes.
Water heaters are turned off for the entire load management period - this time will not exceed 4 hours.
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What if I don't own the house or business property? Can I still enroll?
Yes. All you need to do is have your landlord notify us and give us permission to install the peaksaver device.
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I live in a town home, am I eligible?
If your unit has a separate central air conditioning unit, you are eligible for peaksaver.
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Why does Toronto Hydro have peaksaver?
We are always looking for ways to help our customers and our province conserve electricity to ensure a continual supply of electricity. peaksaver helps everyone in the long run by reducing the need to import electricity and reducing the pressures on our distribution system.
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Which of my home appliances are eligible for peaksaver? Who chooses this?
To qualify for peaksaver, you must have central air conditioner. Residential and business customers can also volunteer their electric water heaters too.
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Won't I/my employees/my customers be uncomfortable if you cycle my air conditioner off, especially when it's hot?
Typically, most people do not even notice that the device is being controlled. With peaksaver, your air conditioner fan will continue to run during the control period even though your A/C unit is being cycled down for a short time. Your water heater will be cycled off for the whole peak period, but since it has a reserve of hot water you should have plenty of hot water during that brief time.
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Will there be a power surge when it comes back on?
No, because the technology takes this into account. The remotely controlled peaksaver device reduces the electricity usage but doesn't turn off the air-conditioners.
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Will it cost me anything to participate?
It will not cost you anything to participate and there is no maintenance cost.
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How much money could peaksaver potentially save me?
You may not see savings, but keep in mind that the times that peaksaver will be activated falls into the On-Peak period under Time-of-Use rates when electricity prices are higher. Therefore your air conditioner is running less during this time.
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How do I request that my equipment not be controlled for a particular date?
If you would like to opt out on a particular date, please call 1.877.487.8574 and someone will be able to answer your questions and schedule the exemption.
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If I am unhappy with peaksaver, can I stop participating?
Yes, if for whatever reason you are not satisfied, please call our peaksaver call centre at 1.877.487.8574 to speak to a representative.
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Is peaksaver only available in Toronto?
It started in Toronto and now other utilities in Ontario are offering peaksaver.
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How many homes and businesses are part of peaksaver?
So far, over 50,000 homes and businesses have signed up. This represents Toronto Hydro customers only.
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Will load control eventually become mandatory for all homes?
No, peaksaver is voluntary and allows the customer to play an active role in conserving electricity and improving our environment.
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I'm the owner of an apartment building - how is load control different for apartments?
At this time, we are trying to enroll customers with a central air conditioning unit such as those found in a typical residential homes or businesses with roof top air conditioning units.
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Are condos and apartments eligible?
Not at this time. peaksaver is geared to air conditioning units in residential homes and businesses.
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What happens if I'm using the air conditioner or water heater during the time it will be cycled down?
You will not need to do anything. The only difference may be a very slight difference in temperature - most people will not notice a change at all.
Your water heater will be cycled off for the whole activation period, but since it has a reserve of hot water you should have plenty of hot water during that brief time.
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Do I have to adjust my thermostat or change any other settings?
No, participating in peaksaver is easy and requires no effort, time or investment.
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Is peaksaver just for residential customers or can businesses participate too?
Any Toronto Hydro customer (residential or business) that has central air conditioning is eligible for peaksaver. If you own your home or building, or have your landlord or property manager's approval to participate, have them contact us to enroll.
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Who do I call when I have questions or problems?
Any questions can be directed to the peaksaver call centre at 1.877.487.8574.
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I have a room air conditioner; can I participate in peaksaver?
No, the technology only works on central air conditioning systems and electric water heaters. But if it's time to recycle an old, inefficient room or window air conditioner, you may want to inquire about the Keep Cool program in June or our year-round appliance retirement program.
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Do I have to participate in peaksaver?
No. The program is entirely voluntary.
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Will you have access to any other systems in my house? Will you be able to control my whole house?
Absolutely not. We will only have access to your central air conditioning unit and, if acceptable, your electric water heater which you opt to have included.
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Do I have to be home when the device is installed?
You will only need to be home if there isn't a disconnect switch located outside next to the air conditioner compressor or if you are also adding a peaksaver device to your water heater.
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What if the installers break my central air conditioning unit or electric water heat? Will they pay to fix it?
The installation will be done by qualified installers working on behalf of Toronto Hydro. They are well trained and will carry appropriate liability insurance.
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