Alectra utilities

Alectra has been busy supporting grassroots organizations through our AlectraCARES Community Support Program that empower our customers and enhance their lives.

Find out more about the charities near you.

• Raised funds for Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation at Ride to Conquer Cancer
• Participated in YWCA Hamilton’s Walk a Mile in Their Shoes & Habitat for Humanity Hamilton
• Riverwood Conservancy’s BioBlitz in Mississauga
• Be the Change’s Black Girls: Be Seen, Be Heard in Brampton
• Mountainview LemonAID Day in support of Family & Children’s Services Niagara Foundation
• Guelph General Hospital’s Tour de Guelph

We’ve committed $1.3 million this year to fund organizations that share our vision to build sustainable communities. To learn more, visit: Alectra.com/AlectraCARES

We’re pleased to share with you Alectra’s 2022 Annual ESG Report, Discovering the Possibilities. Our Environmental, Social & Governance report outlines Alectra’s commitment to social responsibility, environmental accountability and economic efficiency. It also highlights our efforts to improve the customer experience by providing simple, sustainable and powerful energy solutions. Read about Alectra’s key achievements in 2022 at: Alectra.com/Annual-Sustainability-Report

Additionally, Alectra’s 2022 Green Energy & Technology (GRE&T) Centre Report, Where Great Minds Collaborate to Power a Better Tomorrow, is now available. The GRE&T Centre is our dedicated innovation hub that focuses on green energy, new technology and innovation to modernize the energy grid. Learn more about the centre’s initiatives at Alectra.com/Great-Centre-Annual-Report and follow us on LinkedIn.

Why does Alectra Utilities trim trees? Our proactive tree trimming program protects public safety and ensures reliable electricity distribution. During severe weather – such as high winds, freezing rain or snowstorms – trees can cause power outages when branches come into contact with overhead power lines. We hire professional utility arborists who use natural pruning methods to maintain tree health. If you see a tree that’s interfering with power lines, report it to Customer Service at 1-833-253-2872 or at: AlectraUtilities.com/ReportOutage

When landscaping, plant trees far away from power lines so that they don’t grow close to overhead wires. Plant shrubs at least three metres away from green padmount transformer boxes or other electrical equipment. Visit AlectraUtilities.com/Safety for more electrical safety tips at home and work.

We’re committing to plant a tree for every customer who switches to ebilling, up to 10,000 trees across Alectra’s communities, to help fight climate change. By switching to ebilling, together we can reduce the environmental impact of paper bills each year* by:

• Reducing 90 tonnes of waste
• Lowering water usage by 13.6 million litres
• Eliminating almost 1,361 tonnes of carbon dioxide
• Saving over 1.2 million kilowatt hours of energy

Join us alongside Forests Ontario in protecting and restoring the green spaces in your community. Switch to ebilling today at: AlectraUtilities.com/GoGreen

(*Alectra Utilities annual paper billing figures)

At Alectra, we’re investing in the best technologies available to deliver safe and reliable electricity to our customers. Cable rejuvenation is an innovative and cost-effective process where we repair, protect, and extend the life of underground electrical cables – without digging them up – by injecting a silicone-based fluid into the cable.

Cable rejuvenation can extend the life of an aging cable up to 20 years and is much less disruptive than a full replacement. To date, we’ve injected more than 820 kilometres of underground cable. Watch our video at AlectraUtilities.com/Improving-Reliability and learn more about our grid modernization projects in your community.

We’re pleased to share with you Alectra’s 2021 Annual Sustainability Report, Discovering the Possibilities. Our report outlines Alectra’s commitment to social responsibility, environmental accountability, and economic efficiency. It also highlights our efforts to improve the customer experience by providing simple, sustainable, and powerful energy solutions.

In the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alectra operated primarily within a virtual environment while maintaining high levels of employee engagement and customer satisfaction. Our goal is to emerge as leaders in the world of technological change by helping our customers discover the possibilities of sustainable power and energy solutions. We invite you to view the full report at: Alectra.com/SustainabilityReport

We’re dedicated to investing in local organizations, programs and events that support well-being in our communities. This year, the AlectraCARES Community Support Program has provided over $1 million in sponsorships and donations, including:

• Trillium Health Partners’ clinical research for community mental health and equity
• Alectra Fund for Health and Social Innovation at Royal Victoria Hospital
• Guelph General Hospital’s sterilization containers for operating room instruments
• Alectra Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Undergraduate Awards at York University

Visit Alectra.com/alectraCARES2022 to learn more about our 2022 community investments.

We understand that sometimes it’s hard to make ends meet. We’re here to help you find a solution and reduce stress with support programs that meet your needs.

• The Energy Affordability Program offers free energy-saving upgrades to help lower your electricity costs.
• The Ontario Electricity Support Program provides monthly credits directly on the bills of eligible low-income customers.
• The Low-income Energy Assistance Program offers financial assistance to income-eligible households who are struggling to pay their electricity bills.

Visit AlectraUtilities.com/Help for support applications, or contact Customer Service at 1-833-253-2872 to set up a flexible payment plan.

When is the last time you reviewed your 72-hour emergency kit? It’s recommended that you replenish supplies you’ve used and replace expired items every six months in the spring and autumn. Your kit should contain some basic supplies to be self-sufficient for at least 72-hours, such as non-perishable food, bottled water, and a flashlight. Keep these items together in something easy to carry, like a backpack, and in an easily accessible location in your home, such as the front closet. Be sure to include your pets in your emergency planning too. Visit AlectraUtilities.com/Prepared to download our Power Outage Preparedness Guide and watch our video.

We’re on a mission to understand electric vehicle (EV) charging behaviour and its impact on our electricity grid. Our goal is to provide a better experience for all EV drivers. If you drive an EV, or you’re planning to buy one for your home or business, we want to hear from you.

Take our e-Mobility survey to shape new online resources to support EV adoption and your charging experience. Your feedback will help us prepare our grid for more EVs and apply for Zero Emissions-Vehicle program opportunities that have financial incentives for you. Get started at: AlectraUtilities.com/eMobility

Some scams can be threatening, while others sound too good to be true. If you receive a suspicious phone call or text message, Alectra Utilities advises the following:

• Never provide any personal information, including credit card or Alectra account numbers.
• Don’t click on any links within the text message.
• Collect any information possible about the caller.
• Report the incident to Alectra Customer Service at 1-833-253-2872 during business hours.

If you believe you may be a victim of fraud or theft, please contact your local police department to report the incident. Learn more at alectrautilities.com/scams-fraud.

• Use LED bulbs and seasonal lighting.
• Install a programmable thermostat.
• Wash your laundry in cold water.
• Upgrade the insulation in your home.
• Choose ENERGY STAR® appliances.
• Use motion sensor switches and timers.
• Circulate the air with ceiling fans.
• Hang your clothes to dry.
• Eliminate drafts with weatherstripping.
• Unplug electronic devices when not in use.

There are many ways to save on energy without sacrificing comfort. We can help you find savings through assessments, rebates, and upgrades. Learn more at alectrautilities.com/save-energy-money.

At Alectra Utilities, we’re pleased to offer support programs and payment plans to help keep your account up-to-date. These programs include:

• Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) – OESP provides monthly credits directly on the bills of eligible low-income customers.
• Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) – LEAP offers one-time financial assistance to eligible low-income households.
• Ontario’s Affordability Fund – The Affordability Fund provides eligible customers access to energy saving upgrades.

To be connected with these support programs or determine a payment schedule that works for your family, contact Customer Service at 1-833-253-2872 for assistance.

The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) is an Ontario Energy Board program that lowers electricity bills for lower-income households. On May 1, 2017 the OESP monthly credit amounts were increased by 50 per cent and more households can now qualify. Eligible customers can receive on-bill credits of $35 to $75 per month depending on how many people live in your home and your household income. Learn more about the program and apply today at OntarioElectricitySupport.ca. Already registered for the OESP? Contact Alectra Utilities at 1-833-253-2872 to see if it’s time to renew your OESP contract.

Are you still receiving bills by mail? If so, you’re missing out on these benefits of paperless ebilling:

• Instant statement notification by email
• Easy to access, track, and store
• Less environmental impact

To sign up for paperless ebilling:

1. Log in to your account at AlectraUtilities.com/MyAccountLogin.
2. Go to “My Profile” and click on the ebilling tab.
3. Say “Yes” to ebilling.

Not registered for My Account? Simply click the “Sign-up” tab on the login page and follow the steps to register for Alectra’s online portal and paperless ebilling.

We are pleased to share with you Alectra’s 2018 Annual Sustainability Report, Sustainable Power: Discovering the Possibilities. This report highlights our efforts to improve the customer experience by providing safe, sustainable, and powerful energy solutions that help deliver value to our homes, workplaces and communities. It can be found on our website at Alectra.com/SustainabilityReport. We’re proud of the substantial progress we have made in advancing Alectra’s sustainability performance since 2017, and we look forward to sharing our future successes with you as our sustainability journey continues.

We’d like to thank everyone who switched to paperless ebilling and helped us reach our goal of donating $100,000 – 300,000 meals – to local food banks. For every customer who switched, Alectra Utilities donated 18 meals to food banks in your communities.

It’s not too late to participate! Help us donate another $100,000 to our food banks when you switch to paperless ebilling by November 30, 2020. Follow these easy steps:

1. Register for My Account at AlectraUtilities.com/MyAccountSignUp
2. Say “Yes” to paperless ebilling.

All you need is your Alectra Utilities account number and your last payment amount.

Now that our field operations have resumed normal service, we are working to catch up with capital projects, new service connections and upgrades.

If you see Alectra Utilities crews working in your neighbourhood, please stay outside of the orange cones put in place to keep you safe.

For more electrical safety tips at home and work, visit AlectraUtilities.com/Safety.