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Hydro One selects "Smart Meter" suppliers

April 19, 2005 - Hydro One has chosen Rogers Wireless Inc./SmartSynch to provide 25,000 "Smart Meters" as part of a pilot program that will roll out in selected communities across the province in May and June.

As part of the pilot Hydro One will be testing a range of technologies in support of the overall program. Suppliers chosen for this work include: Enbridge Commercial Services, Itron/Cannon, OZZ/Nertec, Redline Communications and Capgemini.

Smart meters measure how much electricity is used and when. Smart metering technologies also provide advanced billing capabilities, outage notification and can link meters to other conservation and electricity demand management programs. In early March, Hydro One issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for supply of product, service and pricing for smart meters, telecommunications and downstream processing including automated meter reading, meter management, retail settlements and customer billing as well as integration to the company's Customer Information System.

"Hydro One is the first to roll out a major pilot of smart meter technology in Ontario. We are proud to be leading the way in advancing the Ontario Government's smart meter policy," explained Executive Sponsor Les McKay. "We're very pleased with the response to our RFP, and the quality of suppliers. We're confident the team we have assembled will deliver high value in helping us assess the effectiveness of smart meters in Ontario." McKay also thanked local distribution companies London Hydro, Barrie Hydro, Kitchener Wilmot Hydro, Enwin Utilities and Hydro One Brampton for their participation and valuable input. They will continue to provide input as the program moves forward.

The first meters will be delivered to Hydro One on April 27th with the first installations scheduled for May 2, 2005.

Hydro One owns and operates Ontario's 28,400 kilometre high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 122,000 kilometre low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.2 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.

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For more information and to make arrangements for photography, contact Hydro One Media Relations 24 hours a day at 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868. Our web site is www.HydroOne.com.