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The Clarington Independent, Bowmanville, Saturday, October 29,1994 11 Ontario Hydro Announces First Rate Drop in 30 Years Annual Harvest Ball and Auction Held at Lions Centre Memorial Hospital held its annual harvest ball and auction last Friday evening at the Lions Centre in Bowmanville. The banquet hall was decorated beautifully in keeping with The Phantom of the Opera theme Attendees Erin Irish and Rose Kuipers step outside to check for the masked opera singer's arrival, while two uniformed Governor General's Horse Guards stand watch. Halloween Safety Messages for Parents Ontario Hydro's average rate to its customers will drop in 1995 - the first time this has occurred in almost 30 years. The Hydro Board of Directors has approved an average rate decrease of 0.7 for its 101 industrial customers. Ontario Hydro is continuing the rate freeze for municipal utilities and distributing distributing companies and the more than 940,000 rural retail customers served directly by Ontario Hydro. Rates for all customers were frozen in 1994. "Ontario Hydro has always been the fuel that drove the engine of the Ontario economy. This average rate decrease provides a bit more octane for that engine," said President Allan Kupcis. "Rolling back rates for our direct industrial customers reflects the pressures pressures on Ontario industries to keep their costs down in today's competitive competitive environment," Kupcis said. "We have to recognize that industrial industrial customers could chose to move out of the province and take the jobs with them," said Kupcis. "Reducing their electricity costs will help Ontario Ontario industries recapture some of the competitiveness they used to enjoy and help keep those jobs in Ontario." At the same time, Kupcis said, "the rate freeze for other customers gives them a second year of rate relief." relief." "With inflation, this rate freeze means that in real terms, the price of electricity has come down for all our customers." Kupcis said the rate decrease addresses addresses financial concerns by providing providing net income in 1995 of $610 million million and allowing Hydro to meet its debt retirement targets. The rate decision also reinforces Hydro's commitment to keep rates at or below the rate of inflation for the rest of the decade. Ontario Hydro had originally proposed a 1.4 per cent increase. increase. "Reducing our rates has meant that Hydro has had to intensify its cost-cutting efforts because of the resulting resulting shortfall in expected revenue of about $125 million in 1995," said Kupcis. . The Hydro President said that studies have concluded the additional additional savings can be achieved primarily in the services and functions areas of the corporation. These savings could be achieved by sharing services among different internal groups or eliminating work that is no longer required. required. This will result in the reduction of 1200 to 1500 positions, primarily in the services and functions areas. These reductions are in addition to the approximately 1,000 positions that have already been or will be declared declared surplus when Hydro proceeds with plans to shut down some existing existing generating units because of the surplus in generating capacity. Hydro expects to achieve the labour reductions reductions through the use of voluntary staff reduction programs, which are now being developed. Kupcis said service to customers will not be affected by the job cuts. "Safety and reliability remain our top priorities and will not be compromised." compromised." Next year Hydro will also be offering offering large customers a number of pricing options that could further reduce reduce their electricity costs and improve improve their competitiveness. Some of these rate options could also be adopted by municipal utilities and then made available to their large customers. For further information: Media Relations, Ontario Hydro, (416) 592- 3338 or 1-800-263-7309. When your little "monster" goes, trick or treating on October 31, Stay Alert...Stay Safe (SASS) would like to remind parents and kids to turn up their radar and heed the words of Bert and Gert, the Alert Twins, to always always "stay alert...and stay safe." Here are some important safety tips from Stay Alert...Stay Safe, the national streetproofing organization founded in 1987 and funded through the generosity of the Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation. Parents and kids should discuss these tips to ensure a safe and happy adventure on Halloween night. • Wear make-up instead of a mask so you can see properly! • Go trick or treating with family or friends. Let people know your route! • An adult should check the treats you collect before you eat them! • Walk - don't run; and look all ways before crossing the street - trick or treat on one side of the street, then the other side! • Only go to homes with their lights on! • Don't go anywhere with a stranger! • If someone invites you alone into a house say "No Thanks"! • A flashlight will help light your way! • You'll walk more easily in a short costume! • Do you know where the Block Parent homes are in your area? to &t#nùtyto& BIG TYPE 1995 HOME PHONE BOOK The Canadian Statesman is pleased to announce the NEW 1995 Big Type Home Phone Book which will be distributed FREE in Clarington on November 26th. This phone book will include both residential and business numbers from the Municipality of Clarington. It is one of the most effective marketing tools any business ever had. A much easier phone book to read, with large size type used for listings. AND ... it's much cheaper to advertise in than the other book! • Free to 18,500 addresses in Clarington • CALL US TO RESERVE ADVERTISING SPACE DISTRIBUTED to homes and businesses in BOWMANVILLE COURTICE MAPLE GROVE HAMPTON TYRONE NEWCASTLE NEWTONVILLE ORONO For advertising rates and information call Sfit Canadian statesman 62 King St. W., Bowmanville PHONE: 623-3303 FAX: 623-6161 Re-Elect MIKE SLOCOMBE TRUSTEE Ward 2 MIKE SLOCOMBE IX Authorized by the C.F.O. for the Mike Slocombe Campaign © Elect Reg Willetts FOR MAYOR OF CLARINGTON Dependability and Trust ELECT WILLfiTTS. REG Authorized by CFO for the Reg Willatts campaign