Tillsonburg, ON and Ingersoll, ON (April 22, 2026) – At a council meeting on April 21, Tillsonburg Town Council approved a strategic collaboration between Tillsonburg Hydro Incorporated (THI) and ERTH Power Corporation (EPC).

This decision follows a comprehensive review and community engagement process. The collaboration will see the Town of Tillsonburg acquire shares in ERTH Corporation, a municipal holding company that owns ERTH Power Corporation and other non-regulated companies serving the utility and municipal sectors. The Town will become the second largest of 10 shareholders, with Tillsonburg Hydro joining ERTH Power under the ERTH Power brand.

The decision is driven by several key factors:

• Capacity: Existing infrastructure is nearing its capacity and must be expanded to support projected industrial growth.
• Capability: As the energy sector evolves, demand is increasing for specialized expertise in engineering, regulatory compliance, and senior leadership.
• Connectivity: Utilities must modernize systems to enhance reliability, enable automation, and strengthen cybersecurity, requiring ongoing investment and technical expertise.
• Compliance: Smaller utilities are held to the same regulatory standards as larger utilities, often with fewer resources to meet these requirements efficiently.
• Consolidation: Proactive consolidation among like-minded local utilities can improve service delivery, increase operational efficiency, and deliver long-term benefits for customers, communities, shareholders, and employees.

Addressing these challenges as a small, standalone utility was projected to require at least $29 million in capital investment. With only 8,600 customers to absorb that cost, the fixed distribution portion of monthly utility bills could more than double, resulting in financial hardship for residents and businesses alike.

Through this collaboration, customers and communities will benefit from:

• Economies of Scale – Sharing administrative, regulatory, and capital costs across a larger customer base will help stabilize rates and improve cost-efficiency.
• Enhanced Financial Stability – Financial flexibility and diversified revenue streams will support long-term stability and profitability while helping to protect against significant rate increases.
• Expanded Expertise and Capacity - A larger, locally owned utility will have access to a broader pool of skilled professionals and expertise, enabling infrastructure modernization, efficient emergency response, and opportunities for employee growth.
• Empowered Communities - Continued local ownership and oversight will ensure decisions reflect community priorities, with ongoing reinvestment in the communities served.

“We heard our residents and we listened,” said Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy. “While the public engagement process was overwhelmingly positive, one consistent concern conveyed by the public was around response times.

I’m pleased that ERTH has directly addressed this concern by confirming that operational practices such as on-call staff taking service vehicles home will provide more efficient response times and reliable service to our community.

After extensive discussion and careful review, Council has given its support to this partnership. Council and the THI Board of Directors looked closely at long-term financial sustainability for ratepayers and the need to ensure that the Town’s hydro system can support future industrial growth and job creation.

The reality is that the need for additional capacity has been building for more than a decade without a clear path forward. By partnering with a like-minded utility, the Town of Tillsonburg is strengthening system stability, resiliency, and positioning Tillsonburg for a reliable and prosperous future.”

“We’re proud to welcome Tillsonburg as a shareholder and to build on the strong working relationship already in place,” said Chris White, President and Chief Executive Officer of ERTH Corporation. “By bringing our utilities together, we can enhance service, strengthen system reliability, and provide the scale needed to support future investment while maintaining stable rates for our customers.”

The transaction remains subject to approval by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), which applies a “no harm” test to ensure customers are no worse off and that there are clear benefits.

For more information visit tillsonburg.ca/strongertogether or erthpower.com/strongertogether.

About Tillsonburg Hydro

Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. (THI) is a local electricity distribution company that is 100% owned by the Town of Tillsonburg. THI delivers electricity to approximately 8,600 customers across its 24 square kilometer service territory.

About ERTH Corporation

ERTH Corporation is a diverse group of companies with its origins in the utility industry. Owned by nine municipal shareholders, ERTH distributes electricity to 15 communities in southwestern Ontario, and has grown to be a leading provider of products and services in many industries including utility, energy retailer, municipal, commercial and industrial to name a few. With customers across North America, ERTH is committed to improving the overall customer experience while helping to lower operating and maintenance expenses for our customers. For further details, visit www.erthcorp.com.

About ERTH Power Corporation

ERTH Power Corporation is a local distribution company (LDC) that provides safe and efficient delivery of electricity to approximately 25,000 residential and commercial customers within our licensed boundaries, including the municipalities of Aylmer, Beachville, Belmont, Burgessville, Clinton, Dublin, Embro, Goderich, Ingersoll, Mitchell, Norwich, Otterville, Port Stanley, Tavistock, and Thamesford. For further details, visit www.erthpower.com.

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