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As part of the Horizon family of companies, Horizon Energy Solutions shares an impressive track record of customer service, operational efficiency, commitment to community and far-sighted innovation in sustainability and the culture of energy conservation in Ontario.

Horizon Energy Solutions is a sister company to Horizon Utilities Corporation, one of the largest, most successful and most dynamic local distribution companies in Ontario. Both are owned by Horizon Holdings Inc., which has over $470 million in assets and carries among the highest credit ratings of all Ontario utilities.

In 2011, the Horizon group of companies were named "Sustainability Company of the Year" by the Canadian Energy Association. They received this acknowledgement for earning an A+ performance ranking in the rigorous Global Reporting Initiative™, an international standard for sustainability, and for the publication of a sustainability-based annual report since 2008, focusing as it does on the social, environmental and economic dimensions of the company's business.

The Horizon group of companies are 100-percent municipally owned and result from the merger of Hamilton Hydro and St. Catharines Hydro. They are owned by Hamilton Utilities Corporation and St. Catharines Hydro Inc., which are the holding companies of the City of Hamilton and the City of St. Catharines.

Our People

Senior Management

Max Cananzi is President and CEO of Horizon Energy Solutions Inc. He is also President and CEO of its parent company, Horizon Holdings Inc., and its sister company, Horizon Utilities Corporation, one of Ontario's most dynamic local distribution companies. Under his direction, the Horizon family of companies has made the delivery of sustainable and innovative energy solutions for customers and communities a central focus of Horizon's business.

As part of his more than two decades of energy experience, Max was instrumental in the early success of Toronto Hydro Energy Solutions. He also contributes greatly to his industry and community. He is currently a director on the several local, provincial and Canadian boards.

John Basilio, CA is the Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer for the Horizon group of companies, having joined the group with Hamilton Utilities Corporation in 2000. His present responsibilities encompass supporting the strategic advancement of Horizon, corporate governance, enterprise financial and operational risk management, regulatory affairs, and information systems and technology.

John has brought extensive private sector experience to the commercialization of the Horizon group of companies, having started his career in the asset-backed financial services sector, including with global machinery manufacturer John Deere. He was principally responsible for structuring the merger which led to the creation of Horizon Utilities in 2005. He has been involved with the development of non-regulated businesses, including Hamilton's district energy system the creation of FibreWired Hamilton and its subsequent successful divestiture.

Neil Freeman is Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Relations of Horizon Holdings Inc. and Horizon Energy Solutions Inc. He has been focusing on bringing the benefits of renewable energy to Horizon customers in order to reduce energy usage, costs and carbon footprints. Neil was instrumental in the development of the company's sustainable development initiative.

Neil brought to Horizon extensive business and management experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining Horizon, Neil was involved in the establishment of Hydro One Inc.'s competitive services company and its acquisition of local distribution companies. Later, while at the Ontario Power Authority, he led the integration of environmental, energy and infrastructure planning policies in long-term plans.

Solar Solutions and Energy Services Group

Scott Knapman is the Vice-President of Horizon Energy Solutions Inc. He is responsible for providing leadership for priority realization and strategic direction. He has more than 25 years of experience in the sectors, having held executive positions at several energy and telecommunication companies.

Scott also operated a management consulting company, serving an array of multinational clients and was Vice President, Marketing for Telus where he led the national operation responsible for the large client segment. His career also includes senior management roles at Bell Canada including Vice President, Internet Services at Bell's Global Solutions division. Scott holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from McMaster University.

John Mayhew is Solar Division Product and Project Manager of Horizon Energy Solutions Inc. He is responsible for process and implementation of solar projects. He brings to Horizon broad experience from Bell Canada in project management, customer service, finance, operations support, system support and development, supply chain operations and systems, inventory management and training, including working in Hamilton, Montreal, Toronto and London.

John is also a Continuing Education instructor for the Building Environmental Systems program at Mohawk College in Hamilton. He is active in his community with Air Cadets, has served on the board and operations committee for the Hamilton International Air Show, the planning committee for Walk for Kids Help Phone and Program Supervisor with Junior Achievement.

Carmine DiRuscio is a key account Client Services Manager for Horizon Energy Solutions' Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) offering, where he is responsible for engagement with local distribution companies. In this capacity, Carmine leads the implementation and execution of Horizon's CDM program offerings on behalf of clients. He also works with energy efficient equipment manufacturers that can deliver tangible consumption reductions to industrial, commercial, institutional and residential customers.

Carmine brings over 20 years of experience in the Ontario utility and energy sectors, focused specifically in project management, business and operational planning, and program development and administration. Previously, he was Chief Conservation Officer for Enersource Hydro Mississauga.

Metering Services Group

Rob Henschel is the Manager of Metering Services for Horizon Energy Solutions Inc. He has over 20 years of experience and is responsible for business development and providing full turn-key meter solutions. Rob is a registered Meter Journeyman and has been actively involved with maintaining and implementing the Horizon Utilities' Quality Assurance Programs for the past 12 years. Rob is responsible for managing the inside operations of the Customer Connections and Revenue Protection Departments while maintaining Horizon's accreditation and certification to the Measurement Canada S-A-01 and the ISO 9001 standards.

Rob is currently the chair of the Canadian Electrical Association's Metering Task Group and is a member of the International Utilities Revenue Protection Association. He is also an active participant of the IESO Revenue Metering Standing Committee. Rob has completed the ISO 9000 Lead Auditor and the Quality Assurance Certificate Programs at Mohawk College, qualifying him as a Certified Quality Technician.

News

Customer Notice - November 8, 2011

About Solar Energy

What is solar energy?
Solar energy taps the power of the sun and converts it into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity.

What are the benefits of solar energy?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source that harnesses the power of sun through a relatively simple process. Energy generated from solar systems does not rely on fossil fuels or any moving parts. Moreover, the more our needs are met locally through energy produced on site, the less need there is for costly expansions of power lines or centrally generated power.

What exactly is a Photovoltaic (PV) system?
A PV system converts sunlight into electricity. It starts with a solar cell, the basic component of a PV system. Each cell is small, but when combined together they form modules. The modules are then connected together in arrays or groups of arrays. By using this "component" type of approach, the systems can be customized to meet individual needs whether large or small. The other key component in a PV system is the inverter, which converts the direct-current (DC) electricity generated in the PV system into alternating-current (AC) electricity used in our homes and businesses. The rest of the PV system includes wiring, switches and support racks.

What is the lifespan of the PV system?
A well-made and well-maintained solar PV system that is properly installed is engineered to last 25 years or more.

What happens when there is no sun?
When the sun is not shining there is less electricity produced by the solar PV panels. To optimize light availability, the panels must be oriented properly and installed in a location where light is not obstructed.

Does it cost a lot more to generate solar power than traditional power?
The environmental cost of electricity generation is not yet fully set in the price, so it is difficult to make accurate price comparisons. Solar power, for its part, does not have the environmental costs of other forms of generation, and thus does not have the same non-price costs to society and taxpayers. Solar power also has the advantage of reducing overall energy costs. It does so by locating the power generation where the energy is consumed, meaning the need for costly expansions of transmission and distribution wires is diminished.