Insights

November 2011 Volume 21 Issue 3

• Wuskwatim construction moves into final staged
• Manitoba Hydro named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers two years running
• Further Energy Efficiency Incentives for Manitobans
• Natural gas rates decreased November 1, 2011
• Lake Winnipeg water level update
• It's all clear now: Energy efficient windows offer numerous benefits for businesses

Wuskwatim construction moves into final stage

The Wuskwatim Generating Station is now in the final stages of construction. The majority of crews have moved inside and are now installing the station's three turbine generators, along with other electrical and mechanical components. Here are some recent highlights:

• The concrete pours are now complete. As of August 31, approximately 120,336 cubic metres of concrete was placed in all of the structures.
• Filling of both tailrace and intake channels began on August 4 and 24 respectively. This was followed by the breaching of the Stage 2 upstream powerhouse cofferdam on September 7. Currently, the general civil contractor (GCC) is removing the earth-fill Stage 2 upstream powerhouse cofferdam materials. The Stage 2 downstream cofferdam removal will follow.
• Assembly and installation of turbine and generator non-embedded components is ongoing for all three units at the powerhouse. Two rotors have been completely built and installed in units 1 and 3. Construction of the unit 2 rotor started in mid-September and will be completed by the end of December.

Located on the Burntwood River, approximately 45 kilometres southwest of Thompson, Wuskwatim is being developed by the Wuskwatim Power Limited Partnership, an entity involving the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) and Manitoba Hydro. Wuskwatim marks the first time Manitoba Hydro has partnered with a First Nation in the development of a hydroelectric project; Hydro is managing construction of the project on behalf of the partnership. Wuskwatim is scheduled for completion in 2012.

[ Back to List ]

Manitoba Hydro named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers two years running

In October, Manitoba Hydro was named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers by the Globe and Mail for the second consecutive year.

A record number of companies entered the competition this year and were judged on several key areas, including: physical workplace; health, financial and family benefits; and training and skills development.

Read a review of Manitoba Hydro and why it was selected as a top employer.

The project aims to identify companies and organizations that lead their industries in attracting and maintaining employees.

"This award is a reflection of the efforts that we have made to establish Manitoba Hydro as an employer of choice," said Bob Brennan, Manitoba Hydro's President and CEO.

"Attracting, developing and retaining a highly-skilled and motivated workforce that reflects the demographics of Manitoba is a component of our corporate strategic plan. However, the competition for talented employees is tough and we have to strive to attract and maintain the best people. Ultimately, it's a win-win situation for our employees and the corporation."

[ Back to List ]

Further Energy Efficiency Incentives for Manitobans

On October 21, Manitoba Hydro announced three initiatives to make it even easier and more affordable for customers across the province to make energy efficient home renovations.

Building on the federal ecoENERGY Program, which offers up to $5,000 in grants to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements, Manitoba Hydro is reducing the cost of the required pre-retrofit in-home evaluation from $180 to $45. Also, through existing and new Power Smart offerings, Manitoba Hydro will top up grants offered under the ecoENERGY Program by 20 per cent. Manitoba homeowners will now be eligible for up to $1,000 in additional Power Smart grants, resulting in total grants of up to $6,000.

The federal ecoENERGY grants are a limited time offer and are scheduled to end on March 31, 2012.

To further assist homeowners in making their energy efficient home renovations, Manitoba Hydro has lowered the interest rate to 3.9 per cent for all new loan applications under the popular home energy improvement financing plan — the Power Smart Residential Loan — effective immediately.

Customers can borrow up to $7,500 to complete qualifying energy efficient renovations to their home with the convenience of monthly payments on their energy bill. Some of the energy saving measures covered by the loan include adding insulation and upgrading your natural gas furnace to a highefficiency model.

"Manitoba Hydro is pleased to be taking these steps to further assist our customers in making their homes energy efficient," said Bob Brennan, President and CEO of Manitoba Hydro. "We are proud of our history of Power Smart programming and our continued commitment to making energy efficiency affordable to all customers."

Dave Chomiak, minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, added "The combination of the lower pre-retrofit ecoENERGY evaluation fee, increased grant amounts and low-interest financing means there's never been a better time to complete energy efficient upgrades that homeowners may have been postponing."

For additional information, homeowners can visit ecoENERGY Evaluations or call 1-888-624-9376 (tollfree) or 204-480-5900 in Winnipeg.

[ Back to List ]

Natural gas rates decreased November 1, 2011

Manitoba Hydro's natural gas rates decreased on November 1, 2011 by approximately 0.9 per cent or $8 per year for a typical residential customer. For larger volume customers, annualized bill decreases range from 1.0 per cent to 2.0 per cent depending on the rate class and level of consumption. The rate decrease was primarily the result of changes to the price that Manitoba Hydro pays for gas from Alberta.

The rates, effective November 1, 2011, reflect a decrease in the cost of primary gas from 14.68¢ per cubic metre to 14.36¢ per cubic metre. The price that Manitoba Hydro pays for natural gas is passed directly on to customers without any markup. As a result, the utility does not make any profit on the sale of primary gas.

Primary gas rates are updated each quarter (February, May, August and November) according to the forecast cost of primary gas supplies for the next 12 months. When the market price of natural gas goes up or down, the primary gas rate is adjusted each quarter accordingly. Quarterly adjustments help reduce the risk of large, one-time adjustments to Manitoba Hydro's customers. Manitoba Hydro lessens the impacts of volatile natural gas prices on its customers through the use of gas storage and deferral accounts. Customers also have the option of enrolling in Manitoba Hydro's Equal Payment Plan, which allows for the smoothing of natural gas bills over 12 monthly installments.

For more information with respect to Primary Gas and measures you can take to mitigate volatility in your natural gas bill, contact Manitoba Hydro at 204-480-5900 in Winnipeg or 1-888-624-9376 (toll-free) elsewhere in Manitoba or view Choosing a Primary Gas Rate Option.

[ Back to List ]

Lake Winnipeg water level update

After peaking this past July at 716.9 feet ASL (above sea level), Lake Winnipeg's water level decreased two-and-one-half feet to elevation 714.4 feet by the end of October.

In 2011, record floodwaters flowing into Lake Winnipeg raised the level of the lake to its highest elevation since regulation began in 1976. The Lake Winnipeg Regulation project includes additional outlet channels at the north end of Lake Winnipeg that allow up to 50 per cent more water to flow out of the lake under flood conditions.

Manitoba Hydro has kept the outflows from Lake Winnipeg at maximum for over a year (since July 2010) in order to drain floodwaters and lower the level of the lake. Similar inflows to the lake preregulation caused the level of the lake to peak at 718.3 feet in 1974.

[ Back to List ]

POWER SMART

It's all clear now: Energy efficient windows offer numerous benefits for businesses

With 44 buildings in Winnipeg, Akman Management Ltd. is a property management firm with experience in both apartment rental and condominium management. Since 1912, three generations of the Akman family have carried on a proud tradition of uncompromising quality and service in the real estate industry.

"Doing our part for the environment and energy efficiency has always been important to our company along with tenant and owner comfort," said Danny Akman of Akman Management Ltd.

Akman Management Ltd. recently upgraded the windows at their apartment complex at 333 Wellington Cres. The complex, built in 1953, was considered to be one of Winnipeg's first luxury rentals and consists of 24 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom suites.

Installation of the energy efficient windows was made possible with incentives from Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart Commercial Building Envelope Program (CBEP). The CBEP provides incentives, of up to 100 per cent of the incremental cost, to encourage building owners to install energy efficient measures into their commercial buildings.

"Manitoba Hydro's knowledgeable staff was very helpful in deciding what type of windows to install and helped us with the calculations to ensure we were getting a good bang for our buck," said Akman. "It is a user-friendly program and an easy and painless process."

The new double- and triple-pane windows have a low emissivity (low-E) coating and argon gas, which work together to reduce heat loss. Energy efficient windows play a significant role in the building envelope and can reduce heating and cooling loads, help manage condensation and moisture, reduce emissions and create a comfortable, draft-free environment.

"The reaction from the tenants to the new energy efficient upgrades has been very favourable," said Akman. "Tenant comfort, even heat control, and reductions in energy costs are some of the benefits of upgrading the windows."

The CBEP provided Akman Management Ltd. with approximately $42,000 in incentives. The incentive is based on the U-value, which is the rate at which heat is transferred through the window glass and frame. The lower the U-value, the lower the annual heating and cooling costs, and the higher the incentive. Power Smart incentives are available for windows with U-value of 2.00 or less.

"Building owners and property managers alike are taking advantage of the CBEP to install more energy efficient windows," said May Arason-Li, marketing specialist at Manitoba Hydro. "The property at 333 Wellington is a great example of where the CBEP team guided Akman Management to install high performance windows when it was time to replace their old windows."

"Not only did the overall appearance of the property improve, making the building more attractive in the marketplace, but energy savings should result in lower operating costs which, in turn, will be passed to the tenants," said Akman. "Street noise reduction, no drafts and better visibility from the new configurations of the windows are also beneficial."

View more information on Power Smart for Business. Please note that Power Smart for Business guidelines and incentive levels are subject to change without notice.

[ Back to List ]

Suggestions and comments regarding articles are always welcome. Address to:

Email Insights.