Be a Neighbourhood Power Star… Superstar!
My husband Doug wants us to sign up for the peaksaver program so we can become – as our local utilities company, Horizon, says – “neighbourhood power stars.”
So he calls them up and places an order to join the program which, in effect, does this:
FREE Programmable Thermostat Worth $350
Someone installs a $350 programmable thermostat – for FREE – at our home which lets Horizon Utilities and the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) send a wireless signal that alters our central air conditioner’s compressor cycle to 15 minutes on, then 15 minutes off for 4 hours (with no disruption to our comfort, we are assured).
If we want, we can also allow them to add a switch to our electric hot water tank so that, at times, the utility company and OPA can turn off power to the electric water heater for up to 3 hours.
Not Natural Gas? You’re Facing a Wait List
The peaksaver rep calls me to set it up, but when he finds out it’s forced air oil heating, he says there is a waiting list since not many of their technicians are trained in that type.
Turns out, we actually have natural gas heating (you’d think I’d know, eh? I knew that the gas fireplace and BBQ uses it, but not the dryer, so got confused) – so the peaksaver folks could have come out and hooked us up right away!
And – as usual in our race to get eco-friendly while cashing in all we can – there is a time limit to this, if we want monies back. In the next 2 weeks, to get the full $50 rebate, we need to:
- Have the programmable thermostat installed in our home by Nov. 30, 2009
- Give proof that we’ve had our furnace cleaned sometime in 2009
I dunno if we have to cash in on every single rebate! I mean, we automatically get a $25 rebate just for signing up for peaksaver. Do I need to rush another service appointment – admidst the contractors starting to arrive at our doorstep – to get our furnace cleaned, for a measly $25? (Don’t ask my husband; I know the answer 
Too “Big Brother” for You?
Meanwhile, one of my friends and fellow resident of Dundas, Ontario, is adamantly against the whole notion behind the program: letting the government turn on and off your power when they see fit. Too controlling for her, she says.
I dunno. What is the big deal if, as they say in their policy…
“A peaksaver activation event could take place up to 10 times between May and Sept. between 12 p.m. and 10 p.m. but never on weekends or holidays…”
What do you think? Would it creep you out to have someone else cranking down your A/C and/or water heater during the hot months?
Sandy Manners-Horizon Utilities
21 Nov, 2009
Hi Heather,
As the Director of Corporate Communications for Horizon Utilities, I’m pleased to see you signed up for peaksaver. If you are switching from one of those old dial thermostats, your new programmable peaksaver thermostat is liable to save you up to 10% on your energy bill (gas & electricity) over the course of a year. Keep an eye on your bills and see what happens. Also, don’t forget the other benefit of peaksaver – it provides the ability to control your thermostat over the Internet. For example, let’s say you have your thermostat programmed to go down during winter days when everyone is at work or at school. However, you decide to knock off at 2:00 p.m. on a Friday afternoon and head home early. Before leaving the office, you can go on-line and adjust your thermostat so that the house is toasty when you arrive home. In the summer, you can do the same thing with your air conditioning. Cool!