A province wide education and incentive program will give Ontarians the tools they need to conserve energy this summer, Energy Minister Donna Cansfield and Chief Energy Conservation Officer Peter Love announced Wednesday.

The Every Kilowatt Counts brochure will reach Ontario's 4.3 million households with energy saving tips and a range of incentives designed to encourage Ontarians to switch to ENERGY STAR-qualified lighting and cooling equipment. Ontarians will be able to save $5 off a two-pack (or more) of compact fluorescent light bulbs, $15 off the purchase of a programmable thermostat, $5 off an electric timer and $25 off an ENERGY STAR-qualified ceiling fan.

The coupons are redeemable at more than 1600 stores in over 400 communities. The Conservation Bureau is promoting and operating this program in collaboration with local electricity distributors. People who take advantage of the entire coupon package can save up to 10 percent on their summer-time electricity bills.

The guide also includes information about the campaign's Cool Savings program, which, through a $500 rebate, encourages consumers to replace their inefficient central air conditioners with a new ENERGY STAR-qualified system. There is also a $50 rebate for a central air conditioner tune-up, and a $75 rebate on the supply and installation of a programmable thermostat, each provided by a participating registered contractor.

"Conservation is a fundamental and key component of our energy plan," Cansfield said. "The Every Kilowatt Counts campaign will help us reduce peak electrical demand over the critical summer months. I encourage Ontarians to take this opportunity to reduce their energy consumption, their costs, and to save money." "There are several payoffs to this program," said Peter Love, Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer. "Chief among them, consumers will save money immediately, both on the products they purchase and the electricity they won't use. Moreover, by conserving electricity rather than creating it, we reduce any environmental impacts related to peak power generation."

The Every Kilowatt Counts education and coupon guide will begin arriving in mailboxes immediately.

Participating retailers include Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Home Hardware, Rona, TimbrMart, Tru Value, TSC, Wal-Mart, Zellers and 24 independent lighting dealers. Ontarians can obtain more information about the program from the Bureau's website (www.conservationbureau.on.ca).

The Every Kilowatt Counts program is the latest in a series of comprehensive energy conservation and educational programs that will be announced through the coming months. Later this spring, a program for aboriginal communities will be launched. Also upcoming is a refrigerator retirement program, targeted at removing old, outdated and inefficient refrigerators.

In March, the Bureau announced a program for Social Housing units. Plus, the Conservation Fund has, to date, partnered with 31 organizations, including: the Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Training of Ontario; Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance; Clean Air Partnership; EnerQuality Corporation; Green$aver; London Hydro; One Change; Ontario Convenience Store Association; Ontario Energy Association; Ontario Forest Industries Association; Ontario Hospitals Association; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Pembina Institute; Power Up Renewable Energy; Summerhill Group; Sustainable Buildings Canada; Toronto Region Conservation Authority; WindFall EcoWorks; and, Wine Council of Ontario.

The Conservation Bureau is a division of the Ontario Power Authority. It was established in 2005 to develop, coordinate and stimulate electricity conservation and demand management by planning, designing and implementing comprehensive programs that foster a culture of conservation across the province.