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Consumer Info

Energy Savings At Home

· · Leave a Comment Community Building, Consumer Info, Electricity, Interesting

Energy savings at home is something we should all aim to achieve.

If we are efficient and smart with out energy use at home it will have two positive effects.  Firstly, it will reduce our energy consumption which will help reduce our monthly utility bills.  Secondly, it will have a positive environmental effect because less demand on the electricity grid  means less coal burned to service that electricity demand.  Less coal burned means less pollution in our air.

If you are a Park Power customer then luckily you are paying lower rates for your electricity than customers of the big corporate energy retailers, but you can save even more money by reducing your consumption.  FortisAlberta, is one of the electricity distribution companies in Alberta and through their Energy Your Way program provides some great information for consumers on reducing their consumption, monitoring their usage, and increasing the energy efficiency in their home.  Below you can see one of their YouTube videos on how to save money in your kitchen, one of the most energy intensive areas of our homes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFArjfWSgoQ

Also as part of the Energy Your Way program FortisAlberta has teamed up with Home Hardware Stores to provide customers with a free 10 watt LED lightbulb (a $14 value and the equivalent of a 60 watt incandescant) on Saturday Oct 18, 2014 at participating Home Hardware locations in the Fortis territory.

The reduction of air pollution that comes from reducing our energy usage at home will have a the positive effect of reducing electricity demand on the grid in Alberta.  According to Charting Alberta, of the 9343 MW of electricity being generated on Sept 30, 2014, 5143 MW or 55% is from coal fired generation.  If you thought that the oil sands were the largest industrial emitter of greenhouse gases in our province you might consider watching this news story recently aired on CTV regarding coal fired generation in Alberta.

Sherwood Park Chamber of Commerce – Thank You

· · Leave a Comment Community Building, Consumer Info

On behalf of Park Power Ltd, your Local energy retailer, I would like to thank the membership of the Sherwood Park Chamber of Commerce for being so supportive over our first year in business Powering Our Community.

It is has been a great environment for me to spread Park Power’s message that consumers can choose a local, friendlier, cheaper option to pay their power bill to. Also, many Sherwood Park Chamber of Commerce members became Park Power customers and have taken advantage of the savings that Park Power can provide.

Park Power’s investment in local charities through our Community Partner Program has also grown with the Chamber’s support. The Boys & Girls Club of Strathcona County, the altView Foundation, and the Festival Place Cultural Arts Foundation will all benefit from our revenue sharing as Park Power continues to grow its customer base.

If you would like to shop local and save money on your electricity bill while helping to Power Our Community you can check out our Rates Page and then head to the Sign Up Page.

Our current rates are guaranteed until Dec 31, 2017 and you can opt out free with 10 days notice.

Here is a list of what the big non-local energy retailers are offering.

Direct Energy – 8.39¢/kWh

Enmax – 8.49¢/kWh

Just Energy – 8.69¢/kWh

Epcor – 8.49¢/kWh (avg since Jan 2012)

So by choosing Park Power not only could you reduce your electricity costs by close to 10%, you will feel better supporting a local independent business that invests in our community.

If you have any questions, please contact me kris@parkpower.ca

 

Boys & Girls Club of Strathcona County Profile

· · Leave a Comment Community Building, Consumer Info, Uncategorized

Here is Park Power’s first Community Partner Profile showcasing how we “Power Our Community” through our support of the Boys & Girls of Strathcona County 

Through our Community Partner Program, Park Power has committed to sharing its revenues with local charitable non-profit organizations. Our billing system is set up so that when a consumer signs up with Park Power they get to choose which local charity Park Power shares its profits with. Also, if one of the organizations speaks to a customer’s charitable goals they can choose make a monthly donation that is taken off of their power bill every month.

The Boys & Girls of Strathcona County were the first organization to believe in Park Power and to see the potential of this source of funding.  We are happy to support the work they do in providing enriching experiences for youth in Strathcona County.

Park Power aims to make positive contributions to the communities that we serve through our Community Partner Program and by supporting other community building initiatives, like the Gilmore Park Pathway Party. We believe in the power of our local community and that vibrant, open, friendly, creative communities can enrich our lives.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solar Power Is Ready For You

· · Leave a Comment Consumer Info, Electricity, Interesting, Solar Power

Solar Power is ready for us here in the Capital Region. We receive more sunshine year round than most other cities in Canada. We even get more sunshine than cities in Florida.

Green Energy Futures is a great local group reporting on renewable energy solutions that you should check out. Lately they have been reporting on Net Zero home construction and how using solar energy can be can affordable and achievable.

Nowadays, for buildings on the grid, you don’t need batteries. Grid tied Solar PV systems in Alberta can apply for Micro-Generation status. This means when your building is producing more energy than it is using (like during the day in the summer) you get paid for that energy. With Park Power, our Micro-Gen customers receive a credit on their bill for their production. Another positive is that when you are producing your own power your delivery charges are reduced because less electricity is being delivered.

As someone who has had Solar PV panels on my home for 3 years now and enjoyed how it has reduced my power bills and reduced my carbon footprint, I urge you all to start thinking more seriously about it. You can learn more from the Solar Energy Society of Alberta

Keep on the sunny side.

Is Enmax’s Choose Free really Free?

· · Leave a Comment Community Building, Consumer Info, Electricity, Interesting

Is Enmax’s Choose Free electricity promotion really free?

You may have heard about this promotion happening right now and thought to yourself, “Hey, that sounds like a great deal.”  Before you jump in here are some things to consider

Here is the skinny on Enmax Free Power giveaway.

A. Conditions:

1. You must sign up for both Electricity (at 7.79 ¢/ kWh) and Gas ($5.99 /GJ or Floating + $0.99 /GJ) for 5 Years.

2. Administration Fees are $7.10 per month for Electricity and $7.10 per month for Gas.

3. The customer will receive electricity at 0 ¢ /kWh up to a maximum of $750 for one year: applied just to the energy portion of the bill. This applies to either the first or third year of a 5 year contract. (The $750 is not what the customer would receive, but rather this is a cap on what the offer is valued at. This is equivalent to a customer using about 802 kWh per month – to achieve the maximum benefit). Once the $750 credit limit has been reached the customer will continue paying the 7.79 ¢/kWh rate.

4. If the customer cancels the contract the penalty is $95 per Electricity Site and $95 per Gas Site calculated for the remaining term of the 5 year contract. (A double dip penalty – will be expensive!)

B. Analysis:

1. One year free electricity comes at a cost.  You must remain an electricity and gas customer of Enmax for 5 years and should

2. The administration charges per month are not $7.10 but really $14.20 (as the admin fee is applied to both Electricity + Gas).

3. Remember you must buy gas and possibly pay $5.99 /GJ. Over the last couple of years (including the spike in price during February of 2014) the average Regulated Rate for Gas which follows the market price was $3.08 /GJ. Using history for comparative purposes, then consumers signing up for gas at $5.99 would be paying almost 100% more for gas compared to what they would have paid if they were on the Regulated Rate.The average consumer using 8 GJ per month would be paying over $275 a year more for gas (which is $1,375 over the 5 year term in premium rates) compared to what they would be paying if they were on the regulated rate.

4. Hidden in the “Fine Print” take note that ENMAX has now implemented a cancellation fee which it never had before. If you want to try or need to get out of this contract it will be expensive. If you cancel at the end of the first year of free power the penalty cost would be $760. On an annual basis the exit fee is not $95 but rather $95 X 2 (for both commodities) = $190 per year remaining on your contract.

 

How does this compare to Park Power’s current Residential Value Rate?

1. On a 3 year contract you would pay 7.75¢/kWh for your energy and $6.50 for your admin fee. Lower than Enmax’s $7.10

2. The 5% interest you earn on your $200 deposit brings your monthly admin fee down to about $5.40.

3. If you want or need to get out of your contract with Park Power you may do so free of charge.  We only ask that you give us 10 days notice of the cancellation.  After that you receive your $200 deposit (that has been earning you a 5% annual return) back.

4. We are offering you a great rate on electricity with superior customer service based right here in Alberta, not in India like Enmax.  We also won’t charge you any exit fees should you have to cancel your service before your contract is up.

 

Don’t believe the hype it makes more sense to choose a lower rate of electricity from Park Power and stay on the Regulated Rate for natural gas.

Shop Local and Power Our Community.