OTTAWA - Following the introduction of the Cool Savings Rebate Program by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) and the Conservation Bureau, Hydro Ottawa introduced an energy efficiency rebate program of its own. The program offered Ottawa-area homeowners rebates of $300 towards 14 SEER air conditioning systems and $300 for high-efficiency furnaces with ECM motors. The program was made available exclusively through Direct Energy.
HRAI and the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada (HRAC) National Capital Region chapter responded to the news of this program with calls and letters to Hydro Ottawa suggesting that "single-sourcing" the delivery of a ratepayer-funded program of this type is not appropriate because it precludes fair competition and denies opportunities to those who are not customers of Direct Energy.