Dated August 28, 2009

Festival Hydro Inc has filed an application with The Ontario Energy Board to change the distribution rates effective May 1, 2010. Copies of the application are available for Inspection at the Board’s offices in Toronto and on its website. The notice of application can also be viewed by clicking the following link:

Festival Hydro’s Notice of Application for Electrical Distribution Change

Since May 1st 2009 if you are on the Regulated Price Plan, you have been paying 5.7 cents per kWH for the first 600 kWH of electricity you use each month and 6.6 cents per kWH for any electricity you use above the 600 kWH threshold.

For residential consumers, the threshold changed from 600 kWH to 1000 kWH per month as of November 1, 2009 and will be in effect for the entire “winter season” (November 1 – April 30). As of November 1, 2009 the rate for the first 1000 kWH of electricity you use each month is 5.8 cents per kWH and 6.7 cents per kWH for any electricity you use above the 1000 kWH threshold.

For non-residential consumers, the threshold remains the same at 750 kWH for all seasons. As of November 1, 2009 the rate for the first 750 kWH of electricity used each month is 5.8 cents per kWH and 6.7 cents per kWH for any electricity you use above that 750 kWH threshold.

About 200 households in the Water Street area will be a part of a pilot project to test a wireless way of recording their hydro usage. As a bonus, anyone with a wireless connection in the area, which stretches from the Festival Theatre to the William Allman Memorial Arena, will be able to go online for free with their desktop, laptop or hand-held during the six-month trial period. It's a big step toward making Stratford a Wi-Fi community with free connectivity. "We're beginning a pilot project to provide wireless Internet service within the community," Mayor Dan Mathieson said in an interview Wednesday. The project, dubbed Smart City, has its basis in energy conservation however. Festival Hydro is nearly finished installing about 200 so-called "smart meters" in the participating households. When a Wi-Fi signal is activated next week in the trial area, the smart meters will begin to transmit hydro consumption data to Festival Hydro. The data will be used for billing and, in the future, to teach customers how to reduce their electricity usage. While smart meters aren't new, having them connect through Wi-Fi is a first. Capgemini, one of the world's leading providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, is working with the city and utility company on the project. Communications giant Motorola is another partner. "Out of anywhere in the world to try out this new technology, they've chosen Stratford as the place," Mayor Mathieson said. "This is just giving us another opportunity to move to the front of the digital age," he added. The smart meters enable Festival Hydro to record hydro usage in something closer to real time. For example, if someone uses an energy-guzzling appliance during a time of peak hydro demand, Festival Hydro would know and could charge a premium on the electricity. The ultimate goal is conservation, though. Bill Zehr, president of Festival Hydro, said the project is key in reaching the demand reduction and conservation goals outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in the Green Energy and Green Economy Act in May 2009. In the future, customers may be able to use wireless data to make better choices about when to run appliances. Festival Hydro is also looking to test technology that would signal users when hydro demand is lower and electricity cheaper. Some devices could even communicate and control appliances directly to shift usage to off-peak times. "We're hoping that it's something we can get funded under the Ontario Power Authority's conservation program," said Jac Vanderbaan, vice-president of engineering and operations at Festival Hydro. "By trying to be first out there with the Wi-Fi part of this, we're hoping to attract businesses to say, 'Here's a great place to basically be a laboratory to try these different things,'" he said. "Eventually we'll start looking for guinea pigs to help us with this," he added. "It's pretty exciting." If the trial is successful, Festival Hydro expects to install smart meters for all 22,000 of its customers and expand Wi-Fi to the rest of Stratford in the next year. The cost is estimated at $3.5 million. Mr. Vanderbaan said the project won't cause people's hydro bills to go up. Festival Hydro has more than 40 kilometres of fibre-optic cable installed in Stratford through its subsidiary, Festival Hydro Services Inc. It's possible Festival Hydro Services could become an Internet provider in the future, Mayor Mathieson said. Mr. Vanderbaan said possibilities include free, basic Wi-Fi and fee-for-service plans for higher bandwidths and secure connections. Existing Internet providers may object. "We're expecting some push back from Rogers and Bell and the others that are out there. But we think this is important for Stratford," Mr. Vanderbaan said. Making Stratford a Wi-Fi community would also be timely with a university campus poised to locate in the city, Mayor Mathieson said. "We're trying to find innovative ways to bring value to our residents and to make the fibre useful in the everyday life of a resident in Stratford."

Since November 1st 2008 if you are on the Regulated Price Plan, you have been paying 5.6 cents per kWH for the first 1,000 kWH of electricity you use each month and 6.5 cents per kWH for any electricity you use above that 1,000 kWH threshold.

For residential consumers, the threshold changed from 1,000 kWH to 600 kWH per month as of May 1, 2009 and will be in effect for the entire “summer season“ (May 1 – Oct 31). As of May 1, 2009 the rate for the first 600 kWH of electricity you use each month is 5.7 cents per kWH and 6.6 cents per kWH for any electricity you use above that 600 kWH threshold.

For non-residential consumers, the threshold remains the same at 750 kWH for all seasons. As of May 1, 2009 the rate for the first 750 kWH of electricity used each month is 5.7 cents per kWH and 6.6 cents per kWH for any electricity you use above that 750 kWH threshold.

Starting November 1st, Regulated Price Plan consumers who buy their electricity from Festival Hydro will pay 5.6 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity use in the first block, and 6.5 cents per kWh for consumption above that threshold.

For residential consumers, the monthly threshold for the lower price will increase to 1,000 kWh per month during the winter season (November to April). This is up from the 600 kWh per month for the summer season (May to October). This difference recognizes the fact that consumers use more electricity for lighting and indoor activity in the winter and that many Ontarians are reliant on electricity as their heating source. The threshold for non-residential consumers that are eligible for the price plan will continue to remain at 750 kWh per month throughout the year.

Dated November 7, 2008

Festival Hydro Inc has filed an application with The Ontario Energy Board to change the distribution rates effective May 1, 2009. Copies of the application are available for Inspection at the Board’s offices in Toronto and on its website. The notice of application can also be viewed by clicking the following link:

Festival Hydro’s Notice of Application for Electrical Distribution Change

Dated November 14, 2007

Festival Hydro Inc has filed an application with The Ontario Energy Board to change the distribution rates effective May 1, 2008. Copies of the application are available for Inspection at the Board’s offices in Toronto and on its website. The notice of application can also be viewed by clicking the following link:

Festival Hydro’s Notice of Application for Electrical Distribution Change

Dated February 13, 2007

Festival Hydro Inc has filed an application with The Ontario Energy Board to change the distribution rates effective May 1, 2007. Festival Hydro Inc. has also applied for a specific rate adjustment related to smart meters. Copies of the application are available for Inspection at the Board’s offices in Toronto and on its website. The application can also be viewed by clicking the following links:

2007 Rate Application-Covering Letter

2007 Smart Meter Rate Calculation Model

Starting November 1st, Regulated Price Plan consumers who buy their electricity from Festival Hydro will see a decrease in their rate from 5.8 cents to 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity use in the first block, and from 6.7 cents to 6.4 cents per kWh for consumption above that threshold.

For residential consumers, the monthly threshold for the lower price will increase to 1,000 kWh per month during the winter season (November to April). This is up from the 600 kWh per month for the summer season (May to October). This difference recognizes the fact that consumers use more electricity for lighting and indoor activity in the winter and that many Ontarians are reliant on electricity as their heating source. The threshold for non-residential consumers that are eligible for the price plan will continue to remain at 750 kWh per month throughout the year.

Since November 1st, 2005, if you are on the Regulated Price Plan, you have been paying 5.0 cents per kWh for the first 1,000 kWh of electricity you use each month and 5.8 cents per kWh for any electricity you consume above that 1,000 kWh threshold.

For residential consumers, the threshold changed from 1,000 kWh to 600 kWh per month as of May 1st, 2006 and will be in effect for the entire “summer season” (May 1 – Oct 31). The threshold and rates may change after October 31, 2006.

For non-residential consumers, the threshold remains the same at 750 kWh for all seasons. Visit the OEB’s Web site at www.oeb.gov.on.ca for more information.

For more information on additional Festival Hydro Inc. rates, please see the Customer Service Section from the home page of this website.

The Ontario government has set a new commodity price for electricity, which came into effect on May 1st, 2006. This change is an important step toward establishing a pricing structure in Ontario that more closely reflects the true cost of electricity and encourages customers to conserve.

The new commodity price for electricity allows the first 600 kilowatt hours (kWh) consumed in a month by a residential, low-volume and designated customers to be priced at 5.8 cents per kWh for the electricity commodity. Consumption above 600 kWh will be priced at a higher rate of 6.7 cents per kWh. The May 1st, 2006 commodity pricing will continue until the Ontario Energy Board introduces a revised price structure for November 2006.

Your first bill, which includes pre and post May 1st consumption, has been calculated on a pro-rated basis.

Are you a landlord who receives one electricity bill for a multi-unit residential or commercial building governed by the: Condominium Act, or Tenant Protection Act or Co-operatives Corporation Act?

If so, you may qualify for a conservation threshold which is more than 600 kWh per month. Each residential unit in your building or home may be eligible for 5.8 cents per kWh pricing on the first 600 kWh of electricity consumed each month, even if you receive only one bill. All you need to do is determine if your building qualifies, fill out a declaration form and mail or fax it to us as soon as possible. Please note, the higher conservation threshold only applies to subsequent bills, and not retroactively. Please call or visit our office to request a declaration form.

For the larger customers, if your consumption is greater than 250,000 kWh and you are not a designated customer; the weighted average spot market price for electricity commodity will continue to be charged. Customers who pay the average spot price are eligible for the quarterly Business Protection Plan Rebate which is applied quarterly against your account.

Since April 1st, if you are on the Regulated Price Plan, you have been paying 5.0 cents per kWh for the first 750 kWh of electricity you use each month and 5.8 cents per kWh for any electricity you consume above that 750 kWh threshold.

For residential consumers, the threshold changed from 750 kWh to 1,000 kWh per month as of November 1st, 2005 and will be in effect for the entire “winter season” (Nov 1 – Apr 30). The threshold will then drop to 600 kWh for the “summer season” (May 1 – Oct 31).

For non-residential consumers, the threshold remains the same at 750 kWh for all seasons. Visit the OEB’s Web site at www.oeb.gov.on.ca for more information.

Dear Electricity Consumer:

All businesses that pay the market price for electricity can expect to receive the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Rebate. The estimated rebate of 0.65 cents per kilowatt hour (¢/kWh), to be paid in the spring, will apply to all electricity consumed during the period April 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005. Following the spring rebate, a payment will be made in the summer on electricity consumed during the period January 1, 2006 to April 30, 2006. After this, rebates will be paid out on a quarterly cycle. Consumers with a retail contract may or may not receive this rebate depending on the contract provisions.

Festival Hydro Inc. and its affiliate, Festival Hydro Services Inc., collect and keep certain personal information about you. Festival Hydro Inc. is pleased to be your provider of electricity distribution services, providing you with a reliable source of electricity. We are committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information and we have developed policies and procedures in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

We would like to take this opportunity to inform you about the personal information that we collect, how it is used, how we protect its confidentiality and your rights in respect of this information.

The nature of personal information we collect may include:

• Information we receive from you such as your name, address, contact information and general financial, credit and reference information;
• Facts about your historical and current consumption of power;
• Information about your transactions with us, such as meter number, account number, account balances, payment history, and account activity;
• Information about your past credit history;
• Identifying information, such as a driver’s license.

Festival Hydro uses the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide you with continuous electric service and to bill you for that service;
• To assist us in the collection of accounts;
• To respond to your inquiries about energy use and billing;
• To prevent fraud with respect to both you and our company;
• To meet legal and regulatory requirements.

Because of the structure of the electricity sector in Ontario, it may be necessary to share your billing and consumption information with third party billing and settlement agencies. For example, if you have signed a separate contract with a retailer, then we may provide your billing and consumption information to them. Your information may also be shared or disclosed to other agencies or organizations as required by law or regulation. Our billing, settlement and regulatory relationships with third parties are governed by licenses and codes which are established by the Ontario Energy Board.

We recognize that your information is private. We have developed a Corporate Privacy Policy for Festival Hydro Inc. and its affiliate, Festival Hydro Services Inc., that governs our collection, use and protection of personal information. You can access our Privacy Policy on our corporate web site www.festivalhydro.com or you can call us at 271-4700 or 1-866-444-9370 to request that a copy of this policy be sent to you. Our Privacy Policy came into effect January 1st, 2004 and may be updated periodically. Any change to our Privacy Policy will be posted on our website; if the change is major, an additional notice will be sent to you.

You have the right to request access to your personal information which we have collected and to request amendments to personal information about you to ensure its accuracy and completeness. To make a request for access to personal information we may have collected, disclosed or used about you or to request that your personal information be amended please contact our office and speak to our Privacy Officer.

We want to ensure that you understand our need to collect and use personal information in the delivery of our electricity services. Please feel free to call us at 271-4700 or 1-866-444-9370 if you have concerns about the collection and use of your personal information by Festival Hydro. We can also be contacted via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at the address shown above. Should you wish to withdraw your consent to our collection, use or disclosure of your personal information, please call, e-mail or write us to obtain further direction. Please note, however, that the withdrawal of consent to the continued use of certain personal information may prevent us from continuing to provide you with some services, and a certain minimum amount of personal information is required in order to continue to provide electric distribution services.

We at Festival Hydro are committed to being the responsible and reliable electrical distributor that you expect. This commitment extends to the protection of our customers’ personal information. Thank you for your continued support.

Changes to Ontario’s Electricity Price – April 1, 2004

The Ontario government has set a new commodity price for electricity, which came into effect on April 1st, 2004. This change is an important step toward establishing a pricing structure in Ontario that more closely reflects the true cost of electricity and encourages customers to conserve.

The new commodity price for electricity allows the first 750 kilowatt hours (kWh) consumed in a month by residential, low-volume and designated customers to be priced at 4.7 cents per kWh for the electricity commodity. Consumption above 750 kWh will be priced at a higher rate of 5.5 cents per kWh. The April 1st, 2004 commodity pricing will continue until the Ontario Energy Board introduces a revised price structure for May 2005.

Your first bill, which includes pre and post April 1st consumption, has been calculated on a pro-rated basis.

Are you a landlord who receives one electricity bill for a multi-unit residential or commercial building governed by the: Condominium Act, or Tenant Protection Act or Co-operatives Corporation Act?

If so, you may qualify for a conservation threshold which is more than 750 kWh per month. Each residential unit in your building or home may be eligible for 4.7 cents per kWh pricing on the first 750 kWh of electricity consumed each month, even if you receive only one bill. All you need to do is determine if your building qualifies, fill out a declaration form and mail or fax it to us as soon as possible. Please note, forms received after June 1, 2004 will be eligible for a higher conservation threshold only on subsequent bills, and not retroactively. (please call or visit our office to request a declaration form).

For the larger customers, if your consumption is greater than 250,000 kWh and you are not a designated customer; the weighted average spot market price for electricity commodity will continue to be charged. Customer who pay the average spot price are eligible for the quarterly Business Protection Plan Rebate which is applied quarterly against your account.

Conservation is the Key

To help lower your monthly kWh consumption here are a few conservation tips:

• Turn off lights whenever you leave a room or don’t need them – even for just a few minutes
• Computers and related components use electricity even when they are not in use. Plug each computer component into a power bar that can be shut off to avoid wasting electricity. (Be sure to at least shut off the computer screen, as 60% of the power used by a computer is used by the monitor!)
• Run full loads (but don’t overload) your clothes washer when possible and use cold or warm water.
• Consider using the energy saving cycle on your dishwasher and don’t waste hot water by pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher – just scrape off food and empty liquids.
• When using the stove, be sure to put lids on pots in order to keep the heat in the pot, which enables you to use lower heat settings.
• Use an electric kettle to boil water – not the stove, which is less efficient.
• Microwave ovens use up to 75% less energy, so whenever possible, use a microwave instead of your stove top or oven.
• Install ceiling fans and use them to supplement or even as an alternative to air conditioning. Make sure your fan is blowing air downwards in summer. Ceiling fans generally use very little electricity.

Save the Environment

About two-thirds of Ontario’s electricity comes from nuclear and hydroelectric sources with virtually no smog or acid gas emissions. The rest comes mostly from fossil fuel powered generating stations. At times of peak demand, we rely even more heavily on fossil fuel powered generation. So using less energy means less power plant emissions, which helps to keep the environment cleaner today and far into the future.

For more information regarding Festival Hydro’s rates please see the Rate Schedule on this website

Equal Payment Plan

If you are a customer who receives your electric commodity pricing through Festival Hydro and not through a retailer, you may wish to take advantage of our Equal Payment Plan, which allows you to pay the same amount every month for your Festival Hydro bill. In this way the actual monthly charges are accumulated on your account, but your "Equal Payment" is all that is required.

Please note this plan is only available to our SSS customers. If you are receiving your commodity pricing from a retailer, you are not eligible for Festival Hydro's Equal Payment Plan.

If you have any questions, or would like to arrange for the Equal Payment Plan, please contact our Service and Inquiry department at 271-4700 extension 202.

Your service won’t be interrupted

Whether you live in Stratford or in one of the other communities that is now ser ved by Festival Hydro, you will not notice any change in your electrical service if you choose to purchase electricity from a retailer. You continue to receive power and there will be no interruption in service as a result of purchasing power from retailers.

Where to call for assistance

n the case of power outage, you may call Festival Hydro at 271-4700. If that is a long distance call for you, please use our toll-free number, 1-866-444-9370. The same number can be used for questions regarding your bill or service, or to notify us if you are moving.