Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing for electricity is based on the time of day and day of the week that energy is used. Smart meters that measure hourly energy use make this kind of pricing possible. The pricing is determined by the Ontario Energy Board based on how much energy is used and how much energy is available in the province at different times.

With rates that vary, we'll all have an incentive to shift and/or reduce electricity consumption at times of peak demand. There are the three TOU periods:

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Below is a "widget" from the TomorrowsGasPriceToday.com website with their prediction for tomorrow's gas prices in the City of Waterloo.

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The school boards in the Kitchener Waterloo area have an excellant website for families moving to Waterloo Region. It includes information about the individual schools, the areas served by each school and the transportation services that are available.

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During the heat of the summer our lawns often need to be watered. The Region of Waterloo has an outdoor water use by-law that comes into effect when there is a drought or when drinking water storage runs low.

Here is a PDF outlining the by-law: Water Use Postcard (Stage 2). Stage 1 is in effect year-round in The Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Stage 2 is in effect from May 31 to September 30.

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You can use Google to plan a trip using public transportation in Kitchener-Waterloo area. Here is an explanation of the service: Ride smarter. Plan your public transportation online.

This service includes both the Grand River Transit Service and the Go Transit Service.

Here is a link to use on your web browser: Google Transit

You can use the service on your mobile device here: Google Transit Mobile

The Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS (KWAR) just sent out their latest press release. Average prices are up since February and since this time last year.

Average Prices Up From January

Kitchener-Waterloo, ON (March 6, 2013) - Residential sales through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) were down 10.5 percent compared to this month last year while the year-to-date dollar volume of sales was 8 percent above the 5-year average.

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The Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association (LWNA) is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers for residents of Laurelwood.

If you live in the Laurelwood neighbourhood of Waterloo, or are considering a move to the Laurelwood area, you may be interested to know about the Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association. The purpose of this group is to promote and present numerous community based activities and to develop relationships with the city of Waterloo.

You can visit the Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association website at: Laurelwood.ca

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When I bought my house in Laurelwood about 10 years ago, it was among the first built on the block in a new section of the neigbourhood. I confess I was, at the time, largely attracted by the affordability of the home compared to some other new construction I was considering at the time (I needed a new home out of consideration for my children's allergies and asthma) and by the proximity to the Laurel Creek Conservation area.

For the first few years we lived with construction dust and building traffic but also enjoyed frequent wild animal sightings on the construction site(foxes, raccoons, deer, snapping turtles, frogs, to name a few.)!

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