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peaksaver ® - Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the peaksaver® program?
- Can I enroll in the peaksaver® program?
- How does the program work?
- When will the program launch?
- Do I receive anything for participating?
- How will I get my money?
- Will it cost me anything to participate?
- How much money could the peaksaver® program potentially save me?
- Can I really make a difference by participating?
- What do I do if I don't own the house or business property? Can I still enroll?
- Will it be sweltering when I get home?
- Will there be a power surge generated by a load control switch attached to my A/C unit?
- I live in a town home, am I eligible?
- Businesses must use much more electricity than residential customers? Why are you asking regular homeowners to take these measures?
- Do I have to participate?
- Will you have access to any other systems in my house? Will you be able to control my whole house?
- Do I have to be home when this is installed?
- I don't want strangers in my house. How will I know if the people who arrive are legitimate?
- What if they break my system? Will they pay to fix it?
- What about other damage to my home such as too much dryness? Who is liable?
- What does the environment have to do with it?
- Couldn't we still have brownouts or blackouts anyway? Does this really make a difference?
- Why do the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and Norfolk Power have this program anyway?
- Which of my home appliances are eligible for peaksaver®?
- If I am unhappy with peaksaver®, can I stop being part of the program?
- What happens if I'm using an appliance during the time it will be shut off?
- Do I have to adjust my thermostat or change any other settings?
- Who do I call when I have questions or problems?
- I have a room air conditioner; can I participate in the peaksaver® program?
- I already have a high-efficiency AC system should I bother participating in this program?
- Can I ask that the AC not be turned down on a certain day, for a certain event?
- What is the Ontario Power Authority?
- Are there other programs to save electricity that are available to homeowners now?
1. What is the peaksaver® program?
Norfolk Power with support from the Ontario Power Authority, are making it simple for Ontarians to do their part to conserve energy and ease the strain on the electricity system during summer peak demand times. Ontarians can sign up for the peaksaver® program and help reduce the strain on the power grid during peak demand times This program is being offered to you because you reside in an area where electricity usage is higher in summer than in winter.
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2. Can I enroll in the peaksaver® program?
For Residential Customers: Any Norfolk Power customer who has central air conditioning is eligible for the peaksaver® program. You must own the home or building or have written permission from your landlord (see FAQ #10). You will be required to provide your:
- full name and electricity account number
- information about your central air conditioner, electrical water heater, etc.
- full address, daytime phone, and evening phone number
For Business customers: Business customers are eligible if your air conditioners are approximately the same size as those used by residential customers. If you have your landlord or property manager's approval to participate, have them contact us to enroll in the program.
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3. How does the program work?
As an eligible customer, you would give Norfolk Power permission to install a device that would allow Norfolk Power to briefly reduce the central air conditioning electricity usage during peak demand times. These times are typically weekday afternoons during the hottest days of the summer, and it is highly unlikely to occur on holidays or weekends. Over the course of a summer, its anticipated that the system would be activated about five times.
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4. When will the program launch?
Customers can begin booking appointments as of June 16, 2009. If you want to start being a power star right away, here are three ways you can reduce the strain on the electricity system during peak times (weekdays between noon and 8 PM):
- Delay using major appliances like clothes dryers, washing machines and dishwashers until after 8pm.
- Turn up your air conditioning thermostat higher than 24 degrees Celsius (use fans instead to stay cool)
- Turn off all unnecessary lights (use compact fluorescent light bulbs for essential lights – they use 75% less electricity).
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5. Do I receive anything for participating?
Apart from saving electricity and benefiting the environment, a $25 incentive will be provided to customers who sign up for the peaksaver® program and have the device installed.
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6. How will I get my money?
Your $25 credit will either show up as a credit on your bill or a cheque will be mailed to you after the device has been installed. The $25 credit is a one-time credit given to a person based on the location. If you move to a new property and receive a new account number then you have the opportunity to resign for the peaksaver program and receive the $25.00.
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7. Will it cost me anything to participate?
It will not cost you anything under the warranty period (please read the Terms & Conditions of the Norfolk Power peaksaver® program) to participate and there is no maintenance cost. Just for signing up and having the device installed, you will receive a $25.00 credit on your bill after the device has been installed.
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8. How much money could the peaksaver® program potentially save me?
You may not see savings directly on your bill, but this program will save everyone money by keeping the cost of electricity lower in the future by reducing the need to import electricity.
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9. Can I really make a difference by participating?
Yes. By participating, you and thousands of others will allow Ontario to reduce the strain on the electrical system during peak periods. By doing very little on your part, you are making a significant contribution to conserving electricity and helping to improve our environment.
We expect that the peaksaver® program will reduce the demand on the electrical system. This means we will need to import less electricity that saves everyone money by keeping electric prices low.
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10. What do I do if I don't own the house or business property? Can I still enroll?
Yes, you can still enroll. Your landlord will need to provide a letter of permission to have Norfolk Power install a programmable thermostat FREE (over a $250 value) or load control switch for your air conditioner at your residence. Your LETTER must state that the landlord is aware of your participation in the peaksaver® program, has read and agrees with the terms and conditions, and includes the landlord's signature and contact information.
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11. Will it be sweltering when I get home?
No, residents who participated last summer said they hardly noticed when the cycle-down had taken place. The peaksaver® event is typically transparent to the participant over the four-hour period there is only a very small rise in temperature.
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12. Will there be a power surge generated by a load control switch attached to my A/C unit?
No, the technology takes this into account. The remotely controlled devices only reduce the electricity usage but do not turn off the air-conditioners. Also, the air-conditioners participating in the program are managed randomly to avoid a power surge.
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13. I live in a town home, am I eligible?
If your unit has a separate central air conditioning unit, and you receive a bill directly from Norfolk Power, you are eligible for the peaksaver® program.
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14. Businesses must use much more electricity than residential customers? Why are you asking regular homeowners to take these measures?
Everyone can help reduce strain on the electrical system. There are many conservation programs for commercial properties and industry as well. For example, there is a program similar to peaksaver® wherein companies sign contracts to reduce their electricity consumption during peak periods..
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15. Do I have to participate?
No you do not have to participate. peaksaver® is a voluntary program and you can opt out at any time. We're confident that people will find it to be an easy way to help reduce the strain on our electricity system and benefit the environment.
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16. Will you have access to any other systems in my house? Will you be able to control my whole house?
No, we will not have access to any other system in your house. We will only have access to the central air conditioning, and the electric hot water heater if you opt to include these items.
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17. Do I have to be home when this is installed?
Yes, we will need you to be home so that our qualified, certified professionals will be able to install your switch/thermostat.
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18. I don't want strangers in my house. How will I know if the people who arrive are legitimate?
We can understand your concern for security. Rest assured that the installation will be done by qualified, certified professionals working on behalf of Norfolk Power. When the installers come to your door you can ask them to produce identification that will show that they are working on behalf of Norfolk Power.
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19. What if they break my system? Will they pay to fix it?
The installation will be done by qualified, certified professionals working on behalf of Norfolk Power. They are well trained and will carry appropriate liability insurance.
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20. What about other damage to my home such as too much dryness? Who is liable?
The installation professionals will assess whether your home is suitable at the time of installation. They are certified, qualified professionals. As well, the device installed only reduces the air-conditioner's electricity usage during the peak times of the day and does not otherwise change the air-conditioner's operation.
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21. What does the environment have to do with it?
In periods where electricity demand is very high, it usually coincides with days when smog is an issue as well. To meet electricity demand, it becomes more likely that we will rely on coal and gas-fired plants to meet the shortfall. These plants release greenhouse gases and add further to air pollution and smog.
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22. Couldn't we still have brownouts or blackouts anyway? Does this really make a difference?
Every individual and business that participates is helping to make brownouts and blackouts less and less likely so the more people participating, the better!
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23. Why do the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and Norfolk Power have this program anyway?
We are always looking for ways to help Ontarians conserve electricity to ensure a continual supply of electricity. Programs like peaksaver® help everyone in the long run by reducing the need to import electricity and reducing the pressures on our distribution system. It's totally green - peaksaver® will help to reduce the emissions caused by electricity generation help to reduce the number of smog days.
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24. Which of my home appliances are eligible for peaksaver®?
To qualify you must have central air conditioning and receive a bill directly from Norfolk Power. Residential customers can also volunteer electric water heaters for the program. Business customers can also volunteer their central A/C units.
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25. If I am unhappy with peaksaver®, can I stop being part of the program?
Yes, if for whatever reason you are not happy, please call (519) 426-4440 to speak to a representative.
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26. What happens if I'm using an appliance during the time it will be shut off?
For air conditioners and water heaters, 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 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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27. Do I have to adjust my thermostat or change any other settings?
No, participating in the program is easy and requires almost no effort, time or investment.
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28. Who do I call when I have questions or problems?
Any questions can be directed to (519) 426-4440 or Jennifer.Batista@norfolkenergy.ca.
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29. I have a room air conditioner; can I participate in the peaksaver® program?
No, the peaksaver® program only works with central air conditioning systems, electric water heaters, pool pumps and other commercial equipment.
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30. I already have a high-efficiency AC system should I bother participating in this program?
Although a high-efficiency system uses less electricity than an older or less-efficient system, any and all electricity savings are helpful during a peak-use period.
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31. Can I ask that the AC not be turned down on a certain day, for a certain event?
Yes. You can pre-schedule an opt out prior to the event by calling your utility.
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32. What is the Ontario Power Authority?
This is an organization set up by the Ontario provincial government to plan the "Ontario Power System", develop "Generation", develop the "Electricity Sector", and encourage electricity conservation.
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33. Are there other programs to save electricity that are available to homeowners now?
Yes, there are currently 2 other Programs being run by the Ontario Power Authority that you may be interested in:
- Cool Savings Rebate: Rebates are offered to residents who replace old air conditioning systems with ENERGY STAR® qualified models, on tune-ups for existing air conditioning systems and installations of programmable thermostats by program-registered technicians. Participating heating and cooling contractors as well as complete program details can be found on the Cool Savings Rebate website.
- The Great Refrigerator Roundup Ontarians are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to dispose of their energy intensive, secondary refrigerators in an environmentally friendly way.
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