August 27, 2012 – Honeywell wants to help “alleviate the strain on the electrical grid and empower customers with tools to better manage energy consumption” with its new residential and small commercial demand response and energy efficiency programs for three Ontario-based utilities — Burlington Hydro, Hydro Ottawa and PowerStream.

According to Honeywell, the programs, called peaksaver Plus, will help the utilities meet requirements established by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). Honeywell’s UtilityPro demand response thermostat and in-home energy displays are two program tools that aims to help the utilities boost program enrolment, manage demand and promote conservation, it adds.

The peaksaver Plus programs are part of a province-wide initiative to mitigate increasing demand on the power grid and build on the success of the utilities’ initial peaksaver demand response programs, which Honeywell helped launch in 2006, it explained.

The company aim to enrol approximately 20,000 new customers in the utilities’ programs, adding to its existing peaksaver base of more than 40,000 homes. According to estimates from the OPA, this will give the three utilities the ability to reduce combined demand by at least 30MW when energy use peaks, usually on the hottest, most air-conditioning intense days of the year. The programs are also expected to help trim day-to-day electrical use in participating homes.  

In return for their participation, customers will receive a free in-home energy display, as well as the Honeywell UtilityPro demand response thermostat, the original incentive for the programs.

According to Honeywell, these incentives will help Burlington Hydro, Hydro Ottawa and PowerStream recruit program participants, giving residential users both in-home displays and load-control technology to further increase peak savings and promote efficiency.

“Managing rising levels of peak electricity demand while keeping costs in check is critically important to us and our customers, and part of a concerted effort to foster a greater culture of energy awareness,” said John Sherin, director of conservation and demand management at PowerStream. “Honeywell has proven it can reach customers with cost- and energy-saving incentives that drive enrolment, meet program goals and help reduce demand.”

In addition to installing the technology, Honeywell will handle appointment scheduling for the programs, as well as all data tracking, reporting and customer service.

“Honeywell has an unparalleled track record when it comes to finding the right tools to support utilities’ efforts to manage demand, and getting the technology in as many homes and businesses as possible,” said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. “By adding new incentives to the peaksaver initiative, Burlington Hydro, Hydro Ottawa and PowerStream can connect with more users, helping provide greater peak load management, meet provincial mandates, and increase customer support and satisfaction.”