Power Smart Month starts October 1
Two chickens to paralyze? Power Smart month starts today with fun approach to saving energy
Vancouver, BC – Power Smart month is here again with a number of engaging and often humorous ways to encourage all British Columbians to be smart with their electricity and to reinforce that power is too precious to be wasted or taken for granted.
Past campaigns – including the award-winning “waste is ridiculous” campaign last year – have taken a light-hearted look at energy use and this year’s is no different. It features a series of engaging online commercials and advertising that highlight how much daily life, like using the internet, cell phones and television, is powered by electricity and that smart meters will help measure energy use and motivate conservation.
• Online commercial: “Two chickens to paralyze.”
• Online commercial: “Without power, there’d be no texting”
• Online commercial: "You can't save what you can't measure."
With a new slogan: “Power is precious,” Power Smart month will once again offer a host of incentives, rebates, contests and activities to encourage conservation and to encouarge consumers to choose energy-efficient lighting, appliances and home electronics. Examples include double-up mail-in rebates on ENERGY STAR appliances; rebates of up to $15 off of select ENERGY STAR qualified LED bulbs; and BC Hydro’s third annual Candlelight Conservation Dinner on October 27.
Power Smart is effective: in the last year alone BC Hydro saved more than 2,300 gigawatt hours per year of electricity through conservation programs, the equivalent of powering more than 210,000 homes annually.
Quotes
Hon. Rich Coleman, Minister of Energy and Mines:
“The least expensive power is the power we don’t have to produce, namely power saved through conservation. British Columbians have shown they can step up to save power, and in doing so help keep our electricity rates among the lowest in North America.”
Dave Cobb, President and CEO, BC Hydro:
“Conservation and energy efficiency are the most cost-effective way to meet our future electricity demands. We shine a bright light on conservation every October with Power Smart month, working closely with retailers and other partners to help our customers see just how easy it is to be Power Smart.”
Facts
• Demand for electricity in BC will grow by 40 per cent over the next 20 years. While investing in our aging infrastructure is critical to meeting the demand, conservation is the most affordable option for customers to help meet the growing demand.
• BC Hydro customers benefit through conservation programs and have saved $350 million in bill savings through participation in Power Smart programs since 2007.
• Over 450 retail outlets throughout BC including Canadian Tire; Cooper’s Foods; Costco; Home Depot; Home Hardware; London Drugs; Overwaitea Food Group; Price Smart Foods; Rona; Save-On Foods; Sears; Thrifty Foods; offering special Power Smart incentives throughout October.
• British Columbians embrace energy-efficient products and conservation efforts. Team Power Smart, an online club where members receive conservation incentives and information, has nearly 325,000 members.
- 30 –
For details on incentives, rebates, contests, activities, and energy-efficient tips, visit www.powersmart.ca
For more information, please contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
Direct: 604-928-6468
Web: www.bchydro.com/media