Frequently Asked Questions
What is Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes?
Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes is a Contest designed to increase consumer awareness of the importance of reducing summer electricity demand. Participants will be encouraged to reduce their electricity consumption during the months of July and August 2008 by 10% as compared to their consumption during the same period in 2007.
When did Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes start?
Registration for Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes began on May 1, 2008 and continues to July 15, 2008. The registration period for the Early Bird Prize is from May 1, 2008 to June 30, 2008.
How long will Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes be available?
Registration for Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes begins on May 1, 2008 and continues to July 15, 2008. See Contest Rules for further details regarding registration times and days within that period. The 10% electricity savings period is between July 1, 2008 and August 31, 2008.
When is the 10% electricity savings period?
The savings period is from July 1, 2008 to August 31, 2008.
Why would I want to participate in Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes?
Participation in the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes will provide you with the opportunity to contribute to reducing electricity consumption in Ontario and the chance to win a prize for doing your part.
Who is eligible to enter the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes?
The Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Is a resident of Ontario
- Is the account holder of record with an active account with a participating local distribution company
- Is 18 years of age or older on the date of entry
- Is a residential customer (excluding seasonal accounts, recreational accounts and bulk metered multi-unit residential accounts)
- Is not an employee of the applicable local distribution companies, the Ontario Power Authority, the Fulfillment Solutions Advantage Inc. or any other third party agents involved in the program (Note: See Contest Rules for further details.)
How can I enter the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes?
It’s easy! You can enter the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes Contest by registering online at:
www.everykilowattcounts.com/sweepstakes or by calling 1-800-322-7417 and providing your name, address,
telephone number, email address and postal code. Have your electric utility bill with you since you will also need to
provide both the name of your utility and your account number when signing up!
I own a home and rent out apartments in it; they are each individually metered and I pay the utility. Can I enter multiple times under each dwelling address (apt #)?
No. Only account holders of record are eligible and these account holders are only permitted to enter once per
active account.
I live in a bulk metered multi-unit residence. Am I eligible to enter the Contest?
Unfortunately your residence does not qualify.
Why not?
The residence needs to be individually metered with usage measured for that particular customer in order to
determine whether or not they have saved 10%. With a bulk metered building, the usage for the whole building is
calculated and then divided by the number of units. There is no way to determine if an individual customer has
saved 10%.
What kinds of things can I do around my home to save electricity?
There are many things that you can do around your home to save electricity. Many of these measures take very little effort and can make a big difference!
- Turn up the thermostat on your air conditioner in the summer to 25ºC when you are at home and 28ºC when you are away
- Use ceiling fans to help circulate the air and help you feel cooler
- Close the blinds to keep out the hot sun in the summer time
- Turn appliances off when not in use (and unplug them!)
- Switch those old incandescent light bulbs to CFL bulbs
- Use power bars with integrated timers on TVs, DVDs and game systems to avoid phantom load
- Switch to cold water washing
- Dry clothes on the line outside
- Only run appliances with full loads
Why is this Contest happening?
Ontario’s electricity use is increasing; particularly during summer months. Population growth and increases in use of electrical devices will cause increasing demand. This demand can be met by building more generating stations and power lines, but that’s expensive and has environmental implications. An alternative way to allow for growth is to help Ontarians use electricity as efficiently as possible; using only the electricity they need and, where possible, avoiding using it at times when the peak demand for electricity is highest. This saves Ontarians money and reduces impact on the environment.
What is the Ontario Power Authority?
This is an organization set up by the Ontario provincial government to plan the Ontario power system, develop generation, develop the electricity sector and encourage electricity conservation.
Are there other programs that are available to homeowners?
The Great Refrigerator Roundup
Cool Savings Rebate
The Every Kilowatt Counts Power Savings Event
peaksaver®
Eligibility:
In what timeframe must I save the 10%?
The Contest savings period is July 1, 2008 and August 31, 2008. Where possible, a comparison is made with the same timeframe in 2007. See Contest Rules for details.
How many times can I enter for the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes?
Only one entry in the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes is permitted per account number.
Does it have to be the name of the person which appears on our electric utility bill who enters the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes or can it be anyone’s name who resides in the home?
Only the account holder of record is eligible to enter the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes. To know
if you are an account holder of record, your name must appear on the bill you receive from your electricity
provider.
How will I know if I achieve my savings target of 10% (how will my savings be determined)?
The 10% savings will be determined by comparing your electricity consumption in July and August 2008
(obtained from meter readings) to your electricity consumption from the same timeframe in 2007. Your
consumption data will be normalized to account for changes in the weather between this year and last year. See
Contest Rules for details.
What is weather normalization?
Extreme differences in temperature from summer to summer have a significant impact on many Ontarians’
electricity bill due to more or less air conditioning. What we want to do is compare apples to apples in terms of
looking at last summer’s consumption compared to this summer’s; consumption adjustments will be made to
reflect an average summer.
How will I know if I have qualified for the Grand Prize Draw?
You need to achieve a 10% savings on your electricity bill between July 1, 2008 and August 31, 2008 as
compared to the same timeframe in 2007. For the complete eligibility requirements for the Grand Prizes draw
see the Contest Rules.
The landlord is responsible for paying the electricity bill, am I eligible to enter?
Only customers who are account holders of record with a participating local distribution company can enter.
I pay the electricity bill, but it is in the landlord’s name. Can I still participate?
Only customers who are account holders (the name that appears on the bill) with a participating local distribution
company are eligible to enter.
My electricity provider is not participating in this Contest, can I still participate?
If your local distribution company is not participating in the program, you are not eligible.
I have already done all I can do to reduce my electricity consumption, why should I be penalized by notbeing able to reach an additional 10% savings target?
Thank you for doing your part to contribute to a culture of conservation. By entering the Every Kilowatt Counts
Summer Sweepstakes you are eligible to win an Early Bird Prize regardless of your savings, if you register on or
before June 30, 2008. Remember every kilowatt counts!
How will I know that my entry into the Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes has been successful?
If you enter online or by phone and provide your email address you will receive a confirmation email indicating
your successful entry in the Contest and your registration number.
If you do not have an email address, we will provide you with your registration number over the phone.
Prizing:
What is the difference between the Early Bird Prizes and the Grand Prizes?
Early Bird Prizes are available to any customer who enters the Contest and meets the eligibility requirements as
set out in the Contest Rules. The Grand Prize draw is only available to those eligible customers who achieve
their 10% savings goal from July 1, 2008 through to August 31, 2008 as compared to the same period the
previous year and meet the eligibility requirements as set out in the Contest Rules.
When will the Early Bird Prize draw occur?
The Early Bird Prize draw will occur on August 15, 2008.
When will the Grand Prize draw occur?
The Grand Prize draw will occur on January 30, 2009.
What types of prizes are available to be won?
Early Bird Prizes – clotheslines, solar chargers for your cell phone/mp3 player and other rechargeable electronic
devices, recycling centres, standby power bars
Grand Prizes – ENERGY STAR® appliances, mountain bikes, and IPods with a solar charger
How many prizes are being awarded and what is the likelihood of winning a prize?
Approximately 395 Early Bird Prizes will be awarded.
Approximately 60 Grand Prizes will be awarded.
The odds of winning a prize is based upon the total number of eligible entries received.
If I win, do I have to answer a skill testing question?
All prize winners will be required to answer an unaided, time-limited, mathematical skill testing question and
complete a standard release and consent form.
If so, what type of question?
The question will be an unaided, time-limited, mathematical skill-testing question.
If I am a winner, how am I notified and when will I receive my prize?
If you are a winner, you will be notified by phone at the telephone number provided at the time of registration.
If I am selected as a winner and I don’t like the prize I have won, can I select another or receive cash value?
The prizes must be accepted as awarded, and will not be assigned, substituted or redeemed for any cash value.
