Josh McCulloch, Author at Oshawa Power & Utilities Corporation

Powering a city of more than 175,00 people is a task that requires extensive planning and careful coordination, not only to ensure our grid is designed to be as resilient as possible but to ensure all of our critical systems are working together to provide first-class service to the City of Oshawa. In order to ensure we can continue to offer industry-leading reliability, we rely on the expertise provided by an adept team of engineers.

From veteran electrical engineers to talented engineers in training (EITs) that will help shape the future of electricity distribution in our province, our team has helped us build a modern, innovative utility that is prepared to power the Oshawa of the future.

In honour of National Engineering Month, we sat down with three members of our team to discuss their experience as engineering professionals in the power industry.

Who are you and what is your discipline?

Maged Yackoub (P. Eng.): Hi I’m Maged, CTO & Director Business Transformation here at Oshawa Power. I am a Computer Engineer, receiving my P. Eng. designation about 7 years ago and working in the utility industry for about 15 years.

Aiyappa Devanira Ganapathy: My name is Aiyappa, I joined Oshawa Power as a Distribution EIT late last year. I graduated from the University of Windsor in 2021, majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Amir Altaf (P. Eng., PMP): Hello, I am Amir Altaf. My background is Electrical Engineering with a specialty in Power Systems. I have been a Senior Distribution Engineer with the Oshawa Power team since the beginning of 2023 and worked in the power industry for more than a decade previously.

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

Maged: For as long as I can remember I’ve delighted in problem-solving and designing unique solutions. The ability to innovate and continue to learn and build on previous experience to solve a wide range of problems that inevitably arise made engineering a natural outlet for me.

Aiyappa: Much like Maged, I’ve always enjoyed problem-solving and researching the different tools that can be used to find solutions. The use of logic to solve problems has always been highly intuitive to me and combined with my love of mathematics, engineering seemed like a pathway that would be highly motivating and offer the gratification and sense of accomplishment that comes with seeing my ideas come to life.

Amir: For me, I’ve always viewed engineering as a way to contribute to society and help create solutions to problems affecting all living things on our planet. The ability to design tools and techniques that help improve lives, benefit the environment, etc. is highly motivational to me. Engineering encourages analytical thinking and seeks answers to questions like what, who, and how?

How did your engineering career lead to the utilities sector?

Maged: It started very early for me with a co-op term as a developer at a local utility. Upon my graduation, this translated into a full-time job as I continued working towards my engineering credentials.

Aiyappa: Landing in the utility sector was really a happy accident for me. I also got started on a co-op term with another Ontario-based utility and returned for all my required co-op terms during my degree. This experience not only led to a full-time role after graduation but inspired a passion for the industry, both for the technical aspects that excite me and the sense of community within the sector.

What has been your greatest challenge so far?

Aiyappa: No professional challenge can compare to moving to a new country in pursuit of my career and the distance between myself and my family has been my greatest challenge. Their support and faith in me makes me want to work even harder and knowing that they take pride in my career path is something I find comfort in.

Amir: Right from the beginning, the pursuit of my Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering was a huge challenge. The amount of work and dedication that goes into our training is often more difficult than the challenges we face further along in our career. My personal goal of breaking into the Canadian public utility sector was also a huge challenge that I was proud to accomplish in 2019.

What is your proudest contribution to a project as an engineer?

Aiyappa: I take pride in every project that I’ve been a part of so far but being so early in my engineering career, I’m confident that my proudest achievements are still to come!

Amir: Delivering multiple station design, procurement, and construction projects is something I am incredibly proud of. These projects are often highly complex and allow the utility to improve reliability and contribute to the growth and resiliency of the local community.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing engineering?

Aiyappa: It is going to be hard, but don’t be daunted by the difficulty of the pursuit. There will be times where you are pushed to your limit but consistency and passion will help you overcome these challenges.

Amir: Start your pursuit with a vast scope. While you may start with one discipline in mind, by exploring Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, etc. you may find that something you didn’t expect sparks a passion in you. You will have time to specialize later on, experiencing a wide variety of disciplines will help make you a better engineer.

Maged: Learn to work hard and to document everything – your brilliant ideas, solutions, and even conversations are worth nothing in time if they are not documented properly. It isn’t always the ‘smart’ people who succeed, but those willing to put in the work and commit to continuous improvement as a way of life. Always ask yourself and others how things can be done better next time, humbly accept criticism and advice and keep trying to be the best you can be.

Lastly, no matter what, be honest and pursue truth. There is no situation in which the objective truth is not the right way forward, even if it comes at a cost to you!

Photo: Colin Williamson

We are proud and excited to unveil a refreshed brand and updated visual identity to our customers and local community. Oshawa Power has completed a rebranding effort in response to continued company growth, commitment to improving the customer experience, and a renewal of its vision and mission.

At the heart of this rebranding effort — modernization.

“This new brand and positioning perfectly illustrates our commitment to growth and modernization, to support an evolving municipality and marketplace.”

– Denise Carpenter, Interim President & CEO, Oshawa Power

Building on more than 130 years of commitment to Oshawa’s community, this refreshed look will retain the familiarity of our current brand while introducing modern elements and a focus on cohesion. We look forward to beginning this exciting chapter of our organization’s history that aims to expand on our experience, trust, and connection with our city and Oshawa’s residents.

Utility customers will now more readily be able to find us at www.oshawapower.ca and our new branding will be introduced into the field throughout the year using a phased approach.

Additionally, we have joined Instagram to more effectively share news, updates, and information about ongoing projects. Follow us @OshawaPower to stay up-to-date with our latest news.

The Oshawa Power Group of Companies

As part of our company’s transformation, and as a result of recent reflections and positioning, the Oshawa Power Group of Companies, parent company to Oshawa Power and its affiliates EnerFORGE and Durham Broadband, also has a new, unique visual identity. This new look will help us communicate more clearly and transparently, while representing our one team approach.

The Oshawa Power Group of Companies branding helps build a cohesive, one company approach.

Why did we undergo a rebrand?

As a progressive utility in a rapidly evolving industry, we want our customers, partners, employees, and peers to see us for what we are — an enabler of critical infrastructure for our community.

Since 1887, our services and infrastructure have been weaved into the fabric of our city, growing hand in hand. Our new, modern look serves as a reminder to our community — we helped build our city’s past and will continue powering Oshawa’s future.

Oshawa Power’s new branding comes 25 years after the last update, ushering in a new era for the evolving utility.

What will be changing?

When it comes to the services we offer to the people of Oshawa, you can still expect great, reliable, and responsive service.

You will begin to see our new branding across our digital communication channels immediately. As part of our phased approach, changes will occur at various periods over the next calendar year including; changes to your bill presentation, documents and letters from Oshawa Power, updated branding on vehicles, etc.

Our team can still be contacted by phone at (905) 723-4623. Outage Reporting will remain available by phone, via text at (289) 247-7063, and via online chat on our Outage Centre page.

How will this affect my electricity rates?

Your current electricity rates will not be affected. Timing and costs are being kept manageable within existing budgets as most of the refresh is digital first and physical pieces are being updated as they need to be replaced.

Visit our Rates & Billing page to learn more about your electricity rates.

Will this affect how I pay my bill?

Your billing will remain unaffected. If you pay your bill online through your bank, your payee name will remain ‘Oshawa PUC Networks Inc.’

About Oshawa Power

The Oshawa Power Group of Companies is comprised of Oshawa Power and its affiliates EnerFORGE and Durham Broadband and are dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and communications infrastructure. Oshawa Power and its affiliates are wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.

For Oshawa Power updates, subscribe to Oshawa Power Latest News and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

communications@oshawapower.ca

Shining a Light on 2022 Outages

As we move into a new year and leave 2022 behind us, we want to share some important data, information, and highlights about the reliability of our local power grid.

Providing safe and reliable electricity to more than 60,000 customers across Oshawa comes with its fair share of difficulties. In 2022, we experienced a variety of unique challenges; wildlife contacts, downed tree limbs, motor vehicle accidents, May’s extreme derecho storm, and even a giant symbol of national pride.

In the aftermath of May’s derecho, we discovered a massive Canadian flag tangled in our power lines.

Despite these factors, the strength and resiliency of our power infrastructure and tireless work ethic of our crews helped us to achieve industry-leading reliability results.

99.99% Overall Reliability Score

At Oshawa Power, we recognize the importance of the service we provide to our community. In an increasingly connected world, electricity is the fuel that powers our lives, homes, and businesses. Our goal is to provide a safe and reliable supply of electricity to our community when they need it.

Overall system reliability achieved ‘Four 9s’ or greater than 99.99%.

In 2022, we were able to meet our goal, accomplishing a reliability score of greater than 99.99% or, as the industry calls it, ‘Four 9s’. While a perfect reliability score of 100% is a near impossibility, we will continue to maintain, strengthen, and grow our grid to better serve our city and ensure our customers are connected to one of the most reliable local grids in the province.

What does a reliability score of 99.99% mean to Oshawa Power customers? It means that the average customer experienced just 88 total minutes of outage time last year. Some customers may have experienced a single extended outage, multiple shorter outages, or no outages at all, but overall our average customer experienced less than an hour and a half of downtime in 2022.

May’s derecho contributed significantly to overall outage duration.

Last year, the largest factor in our outage duration number was Adverse Weather, accounting for more than 70% of overall system downtime. Much of this downtime can be traced back to interruptions caused by May’s historic derecho storm.

Response Time

One of the most important factors in limiting outage durations and ensuring we keep our customers lights on, is the speed with which we respond when issues occur. Whether an issue knocks out power to one customer or 1,000 customers, our industry-leading smart grid allows us to begin coordinating restoration efforts instantly.

In many cases our integrated smart grid, consisting of our Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) system, auto-switches, and self-healing capabilities is able to automatically detect an issue and its location, rerouting and restoring power to affected areas in seconds with customers experiencing no more than a momentary loss of power.

Careful coordination meant rapid response times for Oshawa Power customers.

When restoration is unable to occur automatically to all customers, our coordinated restoration process flows through our Control Room Operators and to our crews whose average response time is less than 15 minutes.

Our rapid response times allow our customers peace of mind, ensuring that crews will be on site, working to mitigate issues and restore power as fast as possible.

Outage Frequency

Another key metric used to measure our system reliability is the average outage frequency for our customers. In 2022, our average customer experienced approximately a single outage.

Our average customer experienced about one outage in 2022.

We understand that some customers may have experienced more than one outage, and many experienced zero. As part of our Capital Rebuild Plan, we are strategically improving and rebuilding key areas of our grid in order to better serve areas of our city experiencing increased outage frequencies.

Planning for the Future

Our multi-million dollar Capital Rebuild Plan allows us to prepare for Oshawa’s growth as one of Canada’s fastest growing cities and renew infrastructure in well established areas of the city. This plan is meticulously developed in 5-year cycles to maintain the strength of our grid and improve overall reliability for all of our customers.

Foreign interference, or incidental contact with our infrastructure by animals, trees, etc., once again accounted for a large number of outages.

As part of our Capital Rebuild Plan in 2022, our crews upgraded or rebuilt 4,653m or approximately 4.6km of overhead and underground wires, replaced or installed 67 poles, and connected 86 new transformers. All of these upgrades are carefully planned to minimize the impact of scheduled outages during construction, ensure aging infrastructure is replaced, and improve system capacity as Oshawa continues to grow at a record pace.

Battling the Elements

In May 2022, a devastating derecho swept across our province causing extensive damage. With wind speeds eclipsing 100 km/h, trees were uprooted and torn limb from limb, utility poles broken, and overhead power lines snapped, wreaking havoc on power grids across Ontario.

Crews battled fallen trees and downed wires to restore all service in under 24 hours.

Locally, more than 9,000 customers across our service territory were left without power. Within minutes our teams activated to begin restoring service in problem areas across the city, restoring power to nearly all customers within 24 hours.

During our restoration efforts, crews replaced more than 25 poles and 8.1km of overhead lines — approximately enough to stretch from Oshawa’s eastern border with Courtice, across the city to our western border with Whitby.

After restoring Oshawa’s power, crews headed out to assist in neighbouring territories.

After working around the clock to turn lights back on throughout our city, many of our crew members traveled to neighbouring districts to assist with further restoration efforts, an initiative that we remain incredibly proud of.

With our climate changing at an increasing rate, we understand that extreme weather events like May’s storm will become increasingly common. Our grid, operators, and crews are prepared with the processes and knowledge they need to limit the impact of adverse weather on our city.

Starting Strong in 2023

On January 25th we experienced the first major weather event of the year, sustaining nearly 25cm of snowfall. Winter storms often have a large impact on local power grids as heavy snow accumulation and accompanying high winds can knock limbs from trees, cause increased stress on power infrastructure, and increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents.

Despite the adverse weather, Oshawa Power’s grid stood strong. Thanks to our smart grid system, prolonged outages were avoided with the exception of approximately 15 customers in the direct vicinity of damaged infrastructure.

By detecting these issues the instant they occurred, our system was able to reroute power to other homes in the area, restoring service to all but those directly affected by the issue, within a moment’s notice.

Looking Ahead

The new year represents a new opportunity to further improve our system reliability. With fully-integrated grid automation tools and revamped emergency restoration processes based on learnings from last year’s derecho, our team expects to continue our record of outstanding reliability.

To compare how we measure up to LDCs across the province and our own previous performance, check out the OEBs Scorecard Comparison Tool.

For more information on how we’re building towards improved reliability, visit our Capital Rebuild page.

When the time comes to complete home maintenance or tackle renovations, we understand that costs can add up. Learning to do-it-yourself (DIY) can be an effective way to keep costs down while learning new, valuable skills. But when it comes to DIY electrical work, we recommend thinking twice.

Electrical work is not only highly complex and potentially dangerous, but the consequences of DIY electrical work errors can be catastrophic. While homeowners in Ontario have the option to take on minor DIY electrical work, Oshawa Power agrees with the Electrical Safety Authority’s take on this option — leave it to the pros.

Licensed professional electricians have the tools, expertise, and know-how to ensure your electrical work is completed safely and in accordance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC). Hiring a pro could not only avoid costly errors that could lead to potential injuries, electrical fires, or home insurance issues, but will also save you time and grant you peace of mind.

If you’re still thinking about taking on DIY electrical work in your home, here are some key considerations to ensure your work is completed safely and up to code.

Know the Code

All electrical work completed in Ontario is required by law to meet the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC). Updated every three years and approved by the provincial government, the OESC is designed help keep you and your family safe by outlining the standards all electrical installations and products must meet.

Before purchasing the tools and equipment required to complete your DIY electrical work, it is important to familiarize yourself with the OESC. By understanding the standards that your project will be required to meet, you can make an informed decision about how to proceed. While the OESC is a lengthy document, taking time to know and understand Ontario’s standards is the only way you can ensure your project plan will be up to code.

To purchase the most recent version of the OESC, visit the CSA’s website.

Planning Your DIY Electrical Work

You’ve reviewed the code and are comfortable taking on your DIY electrical project, what’s next?

We recommend developing a full project plan, including diagrams, so you can ensure you are working safely and following the OESC. By carefully planning your work, you can ensure no important steps are missed or left incomplete, putting yourself and your home at risk.

When planning your project, it is important to remember that only individuals living in your home can complete electrical work in your home. If your project is large enough to require an extra set of hands, you can hire a license electrician to assist you. Asking friends or neighbours to help you out is prohibited by the OESC and could compromise your project.

Notifying the ESA

After you’ve planned out your project and begun your DIY electrical work, you must ensure you notify the ESA. By Ontario law, once electrical work is underway (even for small jobs!) the ESA must be notified within 48 hours.

Notifying the ESA of project commencement includes a notification fee that varies based on the scope of the work. The ESA has made it easy to learn more about submitting a notification form and associated fees.

Book Your Inspection

ESA inspections are required to help ensure your project is completed safely and up to code. All electrical work completed in Ontario is required by law to undergo inspection. Inspection requirements will vary dependent on the scope and complexity of your project.

Not only is inspection required by-law, but the ESA’s approval grants you peace of mind, knowing your electrical project was completed safely and without risk of future electrical fires or other hazards.

Just Hire a Pro

We know that initials estimates on electrical work can seem pricey, but the time, cost, and risk involved in DIY electrical work usually isn’t worth the minimal savings, if any, it provides. Hiring a pro is always our recommended choice.

Licensed Electrical Contractors (LECs) have proven their skills and expertise to the ESA and will help take the hassle out of completing your project by handling everything for you. Plus, hiring a licensed professional means your job is fully insured, eliminating some of the risks associated with completing electrical work around your home.

Find a Licensed Local Contractor

Finding a local LEC is a simple process. The ESA’s Lookup Tool helps you quickly find LECs across Ontario and provides their contact details.

Now that you understand the considerations and risks involved with completing DIY electrical work in Ontario, you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your project. Whether you hire a pro or choose to do-it-yourself, we encourage you to always comply with local regulations to ensure you keep yourself and your loved ones safe from electrical hazards.

National Homemade Soup Day, celebrated every February 4th, couldn’t have come at a better time this year. With a polar vortex taking hold across Ontario, this weekend is set to bring some of the coldest temperatures of the year.

We know that warming up on the coldest of days can be difficult and cause our home heating systems to work overtime. A warm, hearty soup could be the perfect meal to help combat the cold, and with these 5 low energy recipes made using small appliances, you could avoid the high-usage day that comes with the cold.

While most daily cooking uses a large appliance like your oven or stove top, using a smaller appliance such as a slow cooker, instant pot, or microwave to prep your meals could lead to significant savings.

Switching to small appliances doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, most small appliance recipes are significantly easier and require less clean up. Even most of your favourite recipes can be easily adapted for small appliance cooking.

Don’t believe us? Check out these 5 soup favourites that can be made with small appliances!

Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Let’s start things off with a classic! Chicken noodle soup is the perfect soup for the winter, sure to warm you up and help you get over inevitable winter sicknesses.

This classic chicken noodle soup is made with simple ingredients that can be found at nearly any grocery store and is ready in under 30 minutes.

The best part? Depending on the dish, instant pots can be as much as 8 times more efficient than using the oven!

Slow Cooker Chili

Whether you’re someone who considers chili a soup or someone who thinks it’s a stew, one thing we can all agree on is that homemade chili makes a great winter warmer and an even better Super Bowl snack.

While this recipe does include a brief use of the stove top to brown your beef, this slow cooker chili recipe spends the bulk of its cooking time in the crock pot.

Just how efficient is choosing the crock pot over the stove top? Slow cookers generally only use 50 to 300 watts. With a standard incandescent bulb using 100 watts, it’s like swapping the stovetop for a couple light bulbs!

Toaster Oven Roasted Tomato Soup

Another soup standard, this roasted tomato and basil soup can be made low energy by swapping the traditional oven roasting process for roasting in the toaster oven.

Adapting this recipe isn’t as difficult as it sounds! This simple calculator makes it easy to convert recipes for the toaster oven while using less than half the energy of a traditional oven.

For bonus savings, make your accompanying grilled cheese (let’s face it, they should always go together!) in the toaster oven too.

No Cook Gazpacho

A soup with no cooking? You better believe it! This tomato-based gazpacho requires absolutely no heat to prepare.

While gazpacho is not a traditional winter soup, this is a delicious recipe to change things up or to save for the warmer months. The fresh summer flavours will instantly transport you to a warm, sunny day, even when it is -20°C outside.

Looking to make this one more winter and energy-friendly? Skip the cooling process and serve at room temperature (we like it better that way!).

Microwaved Habitant™ Soup

Okay, we know that it’s technically National Homemade Soup Day, but who can resist this Canadian classic? This French Canadian staple is one of Canada’s best known soups and always hits the spot, staying true to the traditional early-20th century recipe.

Just open the can, fill your bowl, and pop it in the microwave! Dinner (or lunch) is ready in just a few minutes while using up to 60% less energy than heating it up on the stovetop.

However you prefer to celebrate National Homemade Soup Day, try sticking to small appliances. Over the course of a year, switching even one meal a week to a small appliance can lead to big electricity savings!

Oshawa, Ontario – In support of the Back Door Mission, Oshawa Power staff donated more than 350 pairs of socks to distribute to individuals experiencing housing uncertainty in our local community.

When the Back Door Mission released a call for donations in October, Oshawa Power was quick to organize an internal sock drive to support our Bagot St. neighbours. Running for just under a month and targeting a delivery date before the harsh winter weather returned, employees were asked to donate new or gently used socks, with the company matching each pair.

“As neighbours we witness firsthand all the amazing support that the Back Door Mission offers to our community. When the chance to support their work arose, we jumped at the opportunity to contribute. We look forward to continuing to work with the Back Door Mission to help make our local community a safe space for all.”

– Jen McHugh, Communications Manager, Oshawa Power

Access to adequate footwear is an important factor in maintaining foot and ankle health, a serious but often overlooked challenge for individuals experiencing housing insecurity. Up to two thirds of the unhoused population will experience foot and ankle issues. These issues often begin small but over time can lead to more serious health concerns.

Through these donations, Oshawa Power hopes to help Back Door Mission keep our community warm this winter and support the health and wellness of Oshawa’s unhoused population.

The Back Door Mission Christmas Spectacular 2022

Join the Back Door Mission on Friday, December 9th for their annual Christmas Spectacular. Featuring live entertainment, activities for children, and a Christmas marketplace, all proceeds from this fantastic event will help support our community.

Looking for more ways to help?

Learn more about the Back Door Mission’s work in our community and find out how you can donate by visiting their website.

As we enter hockey season, we are excited to support a 2-year commitment for this important, local community-focused program. The Oshawa Generals and Oshawa Power reward students who excel in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities with tickets to support the Generals.

“Oshawa is a hockey town, so it was a natural fit for us when the General’s approached us. Rewarding students for their achievements with local experiences we know they will enjoy is wonderful. The Generals and Oshawa Power are long-standing community citizens, and supporting our next generation of leaders, on the ice and in the class makes sense.”

– Denise Carpenter, Interim President & CEO, Oshawa Power

Letter from a 3rd grade student at Dr. S.J. Phillips Public School

Oshawa Power will also use this opportunity and partnership to amplify a continued focus on public safety messaging with kids and parents in the region – starting with electrical safety.

“We know that effective public safety messaging helps communities protect themselves in emergencies and disasters related to all hazards. Together, with sharing accessible visuals and messages, we hope to help educate our young community to keep them safe and remember to know what to do in emergencies.”

– Jennifer McHugh, Communications Manager, Oshawa Power

For Additional safety information, review these resources

Safety & Outages
Kids’ Safety
Vehicle Safety

Oshawa, Ontario – Since 2017, Oshawa Power has proudly joined together with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43 in raising banners across Downtown Oshawa to honour and memorialize our veterans. This year, we had the honour of raising an additional 19 banners, bringing the program’s total count to 86 memorials.

We offer our sincere gratitude to the brave individuals who fought for our freedoms and for the great nation of Canada. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Honoured Veterans

Charles Alfred Wells
Private Nelson Train
Davey Thompson
Evan Strait
Cecil Henry Smith
Ted McComb
Henry Samuel Lee
Norman Roy Hodgson
Thomas Hopkins Hammond
Archie S.D. Dean
James Convery
George Hayward Crawford
Edward J. Crawford
Gordon James Brown
George Brocanier
Nancy C.M. Brisebois
S/Sgt. Alfred C. Brisebois
Winnifred A. Branton
Eric C. Branton
James Reid
Alexander Reid
Henry Hatton Price
Major Zane Piekenbrock
WO1 Fred Palmer
Harold H. Nugent
Ronald W. McTague
James Claude McPhee
John Manning
Victor P. Lockie
Elmer Eirra Lewis
Bill Kurelo
Gordon H.E. Kitchen
Francis Charles Hannan
William Roy Gillman
Roy Foster
Robert E. Woodward
Bedford David Thomson
Robert James Normoyle
Robert D. Normoyle
Patrick J. Normoyle
Gregory Francis Normoyle
Daniel D. Normoyle
Glen Wm. Maunder
Sgt. John A. Lowry M.M.
George W.B. Kingsland
Walter Taylor
Maurice Bruce Proctor
John Edward Parr
Lt. Alan Edward King
Harry L. Ferneley
Kevin Ferguson
James Essex
Leslie W.B. Childerhose
Harry Arthur Brown
Elam Brinson
William Ernest Boyce
Shawn Bowe
Frederick William Willis
Earl “Bus” William Wilson
Frederick Charles Taylor
Charles William Taylor
Gordon Thomas Stacey
James M. Scott
Allen W. Robinson
Ronald F. Rice
Calvin Cecil Reid
William James Lee
Henry J. “Chick” Hewett
William Thomas Harding
Edward C. Halcomb
Henryk K. Fraczek
Douglas J. Finney
D. Craig Finney
Frank Buller
William Robert Brown
Norman Edward Brown
Orval Earl Brock
Harry A.C. Turner
William James Somerville
William “Sam” Magee
Malcolm W. Knocker
Ben Jacklin
John H. Hodgson
WO2 Don Chapman
Earl K. Campbell
The Unknown Soldier

To find out how you can honour a veteran, please visit our Community page.

Heating and cooling your home is no small expense. It’s estimated that more than 60% of your home energy costs are associated with keeping your home cool in the summer and warm during the winter.

However, installing a heat pump could be the answer to driving down your heating and cooling costs and saving you hundreds of dollars every year. Heat pumps offer an efficient alternative that can replace both your heating and cooling systems (some can even replace your water heater!).

From saving you money on your bills, to decreasing your carbon footprint, and reducing maintenance costs, the benefits of heat pumps make them a great choice for your next home energy upgrade.

What is a Heat Pump?

Heat pumps are devices that move heat from one location to another. Simple right? But how do they work?

While many different types of heat pumps are available, the basics remain the same; they are a heat transfer device. By moving, or transferring, heat from one location to another rather than burning fuel, heat pumps can operate at a much higher efficiency (up to 600%!) than other HVAC solutions.

In simple terms; a heat pump will transfer heat from the outside air to heat your home or transfer heat from inside your home back outside to cool your home.

Benefits of Heat Pumps

We’ve put together a list of some of the benefits of heat pumps to help you decide if installing a heat pump makes sense for your home:

Heating and Cooling Savings

Let’s get this one out of the way: do heat pumps offer savings over traditional HVAC systems? Yes!

Heat pumps can reduce the cost of electric heating by up to 50%. For homes heated with natural gas, heat pumps can still lead to yearly savings of more than $100 (and rising).

Lower Maintenance

Compared to traditional HVAC systems, heat pumps have the benefit of a much less grueling maintenance schedule. Regular yearly maintenance can generally be accomplished by the homeowner, with professional check ups recommended every 3 to 5 years.

As a bonus, heat pumps often replace two systems; your A/C and furnace, decreasing the need for maintenance even further!

Rebates and Loans

While the benefits of heat pumps are obvious, the installation cost can be a hurdle for many homeowners. However, with many local and federal programs in place to help retrofit your home, you may be eligible for grants, rebates, and/or low-interest loans to make a heat pump more affordable.

Increased Efficiency

For the environmentally conscious, heat pumps offer a massive opportunity to reduce your personal carbon footprint. Recent numbers show that heat pumps can reduce your carbon consumption for heating and cooling by between 20% and 70%.

Safe Choice

With no internal combustion, heat pumps offer a safer solution for your home. Switching to a heat pump can help make furnace fires and carbon monoxide leaks a thing of the past.

Is a Heat Pump Right For Me?

Heat pumps are a great solution for most residential spaces, but aren’t ideal for everyone. To find out if a heat pump is right for your space, check out the Durham Greener Homes program and book a free consultation with a Home Energy Coach.

Your Home Energy Coach will help you determine if a heat pump is right for your home, what other energy efficiency upgrades you could benefit from, and help you find rebates and low-interest loans to make your home retrofit affordable.

Oshawa, Ontario – Oshawa Power, a leader in energy services for over 130 years, proudly celebrated a significant safety milestone earlier this year by reaching one million hours of operations without a single staff-related Lost Time Injury (LTI). This grand achievement has taken the 80-person organization six (6) years.

Enzo Garritano, President and CEO of Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), joined the organization for a celebratory barbecue and to present the award.

“Focusing on the daily participation and dedication of the team, supervisors and site crews is integral to success. Congratulations to all of you for reaching this milestone.”

– Enzo Garritano, President & CEO, IHSA

Everyone at Oshawa Power has a role in health and safety, beginning at onboarding and extending into daily practice. Policies, practices and procedures are reviewed at the very beginning of employment and revisited regularly to ensure each employee is comfortable and confident in the practices.

“Achieving this milestone can be attributed to four measures, orientation, training, industry best practices and a comprehensive incident review committee, where incidents are openly discussed to make improvements and keep people safe. The Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the full team is aware and fully capable of adhering to new practices and procedures.”

– Matthew Shaw, Health & Safety Coordinator, Oshawa Power

Every employee is encouraged to participate in identifying issues and become comfortable speaking up for safety. When all the pieces are working seamlessly, teams are confident in assessing their day-to-day situations and recognizing potential hazards – keeping everyone safe.

Safety meetings are integral and held regularly to review relevant workplace-related safety topics, safe work practices, policies and incidents, both internal and external. Recommendations, adjustments or specific training are developed as a result.

The JHSC is a critical team and factor in the success as they perform workplace inspections of the facility to identify, analyze and mitigate risks. Additionally, the safety team completes an annual review of the occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) results to prepare us for the upcoming year of health and safety goals.

“The focus on safety never stops. It evolves. We will continue to focus on our training, and intentionality. The dedication that has brought us to this point will undoubtedly take us to our new goal ― to reach ten million hours.”

– Denise Carpenter, Interim President & CEO, Oshawa Power

For information on what it takes to be safe – check out the resources below.

Resources:

Find tips on safety and outages

The IHSA Safety Podcast is a free podcast from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association that seeks to improve the workers’ lives in Ontario — one thought-provoking discussion at a time

Learn about Electrical Utilities Safety Rules

Find out more about the Canadian Council for Occupational Health and Safety Association