Toronto Hydro Releases its 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report

TORONTO, May 31, 2013 /CNW/ - Toronto Hydro launched its 2012 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report today, detailing the progress made in the areas of grid modernization, environmental responsibility, workplace health and safety, and productivity. The 2012 CR Report, "The Measure of our Commitment," is available for download at torontohydro.com/responsibility

"This is our sixth sustainability report and we're very proud of our accomplishments," says Anthony Haines, president and chief executive officer, Toronto Hydro Corporation.  "Corporate responsibility is integral to business management today, and as we strive for continuous improvement in our corporate performance, our sustainability initiatives help us advance productivity and efficiency in our operations."

Toronto Hydro completed an extensive consultation process with stakeholders to solicit feedback on both the report and overarching CR program. The utility also involved its Facebook fans in the selection of the 2012 CR Report Cover. Fans chose the image of a Toronto Hydro trades apprentice over-looking Pan-AM village, which is currently under construction for the upcoming games in 2015.

The utility was recently honoured for its 2011 CR Report at the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) OVATION Awards which recognizes top communications in the Greater Toronto Area. Toronto Hydro received an Ovation Award in the Multi-Audience Communications category for "The Measure of our Commitment, 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report."

Highlights from the 2012 report include:

Grid Modernization

• Completed one of the largest capital plans in Toronto Hydro's history, and invested approximately $290 million in electricity infrastructure renewal.
• Invested approximately $2 billion since 2006 to modernize electricity distribution system assets.

Customer Care

• Improved customer experience with the launch of My TorontoHydro™, an online customer self-service portal to help people manage their own transactions online and outside of regular call centre hours.
• Launched a key accounts program to provide large industrial customers with a single point of contact to meet their unique business requirements, including after-hours outage support.

Community Outreach

• Co-hosted 17 Brighter Nights™ community events in 2012 to help increase community safety and energy efficiency in at-risk neighbourhoods.  More than 200 volunteers replaced approximately 3,000 incandescent bulbs on front porches.
• Employees raised more than $380,000 for charities across the city including United Way Toronto, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and Movember Canada.
• Sixty-four employees earned formal recognition from the City of Toronto for their work in the United States helping to restore electricity following Hurricane Sandy.

Environmental Initiatives

• Achieved electricity savings of 116,900 MWh and a total peak demand reduction of 53.2 MW by delivering the Ontario Power Authority's saveONenergy^OM conservation programs.
• Successfully passed external audits towards achieving ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification.
• Launched joint Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project with the City of Toronto and retrofitted 10 city-owned buildings with solar panels, which will generate approximately 2,600 MWh of electricity and will earn approximately $20 million in gross revenues for the city over the next 20 years.

Economic Performance

• Consolidated net income for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $86.0 million.
• Toronto Hydro's comprehensive financial information can be viewed in our annual report at torontohydro.com/annualreports

About Toronto Hydro

Toronto Hydro Corporation is a holding company, which wholly-owns two subsidiaries:

• Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited - which distributes electricity and engages in Conservation and Demand Management ("CDM") activities; and
• Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. - which provides street lighting services.

 The principal business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries is the distribution of electricity by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited. Toronto Hydro-Electric System owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 719,000 customers located in the City of Toronto.  It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 19% of the electricity consumed in the Province of Ontario.

Our World. Our City. Our Responsibility. See what we are doing to be safe, reliable and sustainable at torontohydro.com/responsibility

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Image with caption: "Toronto Hydro Launches its 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130531_C4019_PHOTO_EN_27349.jpg

Image with caption: "The Cost of a Reliable Distribution Grid (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130531_C4019_PHOTO_EN_27350.jpg

Image with caption: "Renewing our Workforce (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130531_C4019_PHOTO_EN_27351.jpg

Image with caption: "Our Reliability Record (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130531_C4019_PHOTO_EN_27352.jpg

SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation