We have made sustainability a priority by making responsible decisions today, with our sights firmly on tomorrow. Being a good member of the community is important to us.
In 2023, we released our first Sustainability Report, Building A Sustainable Future, filled with stories that highlight the difference we are making for our customers in the communities we serve. We have made sustainability a priority by making responsible decisions today for the benefit of generations to come. Through strategic investment, innovation and thinking differently, we are building a resilient electricity system and a sustainable energy future for our customers.
We are focused on reducing the environmental impacts of our industry, using technology effectively and helping you to use energy wisely at home and at work.
Our takeCHARGE program continues to help homeowners, businesses and communities make the right energy choices. After all, knowledge is power. In 2023, takeCHARGE helped customers save 31 GWh of electricity through Home Energy Reports, instant rebates on energy efficient products and our Business Efficiency Program.
We also found innovative ways to help customers use energy wisely through a variety of events and presentations. Our 14th annual Energy Efficiency Week gave customers the opportunity to connect with energy experts and get in-person help and guidance during a series of store events.
As we look ahead, there will be opportunities to use electricity in different ways, and part of this will be through ‘electrification’. Through takeCHARGE, we are providing information and programs to show how this could benefit you. One example of electrification is switching to an electric vehicle, and we are excited about the network of fast-charge stations that we installed in 2022 to keep you powered to your final destination.
Last year, we commenced our EV Load Management Pilot Project. This project will collect information on local EV owners’ charging behaviours, evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies for shifting load to off-peak periods, and identify the costs and challenges of implementing these strategies. takeCHARGE won the 2023 Utility Program of the Year AND the Promotional Campaign of the Year ENERGY STAR Canada Awards! This is our fourth consecutive year winning an ENERGY STAR Canada award, and our sixth and seventh award wins overall.
We continue to maintain Electricity Canada’s Sustainable Electricity Company Designation for our achievements in prioritizing sustainability practices.
For the first time, two of our projects were inducted into Electricity Canada’s Innovation Centre of Excellence. The first project was the implementation of our new GIS-based Electronic Tailboard software that provides a great improvement in our pre-job safety planning for field employees. The second project involves the use of Pole Saver In-Ground Pole Wrap technology which is a new environmentally-friendly solution to extend the life of untreated poles in protected public water supply areas.
One thing is certain, the future will look much different from the past. And we will be there to provide you with the information you need to continue to make the right energy choices for you.