Newsroom

TORONTO, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - Hydro One announced today it has been named the 2009 Sustainability Company of the Year by the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA).

The annual CEA Sustainable Electricity Awards recognize utility companies that create sustainable projects which excel in three categories: environmental commitment, social responsibility and economic excellence. In addition, one company is recognized each year for its overall broad commitment to the principles of sustainable energy.

Companies eligible for Company of the Year have to integrate sustainable practices and principles into their daily business activities and aim to improve their overall sustainable development practices and performance.

"Hydro One and its employees are pleased to be recognized by our peers as Sustainability Company of the Year," said Laura Formusa, President and CEO, Hydro One Inc. "As we move forward in our efforts to modernize the electricity grid in Ontario, we are taking a leadership role in reducing our environmental footprint, becoming more energy-efficient, reducing fleet emissions, and supporting community-based biodiversity projects."

The CEA awarded Hydro One the 2009 Sustainability Company of the Year Award for its outstanding performance in all three areas of sustainable development: environmental, social, and economic. Award recipients in 2009 were selected by the CEA Sustainable Electricity program's independent Public Advisory Panel, chaired by the Hon. Mike Harcourt, 30th premier of British Columbia.  The selection panel noted that in 2009, Hydro One showed a substantial commitment to developing an electricity grid that is modern, flexible and smart, and that will contribute to a better environment, while delivering clean renewable power to and from growing communities in Ontario.

"The electricity industry is becoming increasingly sustainable in its activities, and we support the leadership and innovation shown by Hydro One," said Pierre Guimond, President and CEO of the Canadian Electricity Association.

Hydro One also received the CEA annual Environmental Commitment Award for its Biodiversity Initiative for the Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project, which will create and enhance natural habitat in partnership with First Nations and Métis communities, and community-based organizations.

This innovative mitigation approach shifts the Company's focus from tree replacement to habitat creation and enhancement to compensate for the loss of woodland habitat associated with the construction of a 180-kilometre, 500-kilovolt transmission line from the Bruce Power Complex in Kincardine to Milton, Ontario.

Thirteen partners, including First Nations and Métis communities, municipalities, and community and environmental stewardship groups, will receive funding to facilitate locally-designed biodiversity initiatives. These projects will help restore and enhance habitat and ensure there is net gain of woodlot and wildlife habitat within the four watersheds crossed by the new transmission line.

"We are very proud of the Biodiversity Initiative and this opportunity to give back to the Bruce to Milton communities and enhance the local habitat," said Formusa. "Hydro One's Biodiversity Initiative will lead the way in achieving this goal and act as a model for mitigation as we continue to expand and modernize the high-voltage transmission system in Ontario."

More information about the CEA Sustainability Awards is available on the organization's website http://www.electricity.ca/media.php. For information about Hydro One's Biodiversity Initiative, please visit http://www.hydroone.com/Projects/BrucetoMilton/Pages/Default.aspx.

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's 29,000 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 123,000 km low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.