Residents of Penticton are the first in Canada to receive an exclusive, free 12-month subscription of TELUS SmartEnergy, a solution that will help residents manage their home energy use and save up to 15 per cent annually on their energy bills. As global demand for electricity continues to climb, the City of Penticton – which operates its own electric utility – is taking proactive measures to ensure its services remain sustainable and cost-effective. This partnership with TELUS empowers residents with technology, devices and information they need to improve their energy efficiency and lower their power bills. Penticton residents are invited to participate in the free 12-month subscription of the app-based TELUS SmartEnergy, plus they will receive a smart thermostat and two smart plugs for just $25, representing more than $350 in total savings in both the subscription and devices.
“A recent survey of our residents found that 84.3 per cent are motivated to take steps to reduce their electrical bills. This pilot project with TELUS is an opportunity to provide Penticton’s electrical customers with the tools to become more aware of their daily energy usage,” says Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield. “Not only can it help residents save on their bills, but it benefits the community’s entire electrical grid and supports our climate action targets.”
TELUS recently launched SmartEnergy to address rising electricity demands in Canada that are currently outpacing the capacity of our energy grids. TELUS SmartEnergy helps Canadians conserve energy, while saving money on their energy bills and reducing their environmental footprint, all through one simple app. By connecting compatible smart devices like thermostats and plugs to TELUS’ intuitive SmartHome+ app, subscribers can:
- Automate home temperature settings, power down unused devices, and create personalized routines for your household.
- Monitor home energy consumption with daily, weekly, monthly or yearly insights, including tips to maximize savings.
- Participate in energy-saving events to reduce strain on the energy grid during peak usage times by automatically powering down connected devices or temporarily adjusting the thermostat temperature, all while earning TELUS Rewards.
Penticton residents can now sign up for this exclusive SmartEnergy offer. For every SmartEnergy subscriber, TELUS is planting four trees per year on their behalf to further benefit the environment. To sign up or learn more about SmartEnergy, visit telus.com/penticton.
TELUS is proud to be a strong supporter of the City of Penticton. Working in close collaboration with our local TELUS Community Boards, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has donated $122,500 in support of 12 projects located in Penticton since 2018, to charities such as Trails Society of British Columbia, Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team, BGC Okanagan (Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs), Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen and Penticton Recovery Resource Society.
Artivion Gets Pwned In What Sounds Like A Ransomware Attack
Posted in Commentary with tags Hacked on December 10, 2024 by itnerdOn Monday, medical device manufacturer Artivion filed documents with the SEC disclosing a cybersecurity incident they discovered on November 21 forcing the company to take some systems offline.
Artivion says the cybersecurity incident has caused “disruptions to some order and shipping processes, as well as to certain corporate operations, which have largely been mitigated.”
In the 8-K filing, the company also said the “cybersecurity incident” involved the “acquisition and encryption” of data but has yet to confirm the nature of the incident and no ransomware gang has taken credit for the incident.
Artivion manufactures implantable tissues for cardiac and vascular transplant applications, has manufacturing plants in Georgia, Texas and Germany, and ships products to over 100 countries.
Emily Phelps, Director, Cyware had this to say:
“Healthcare organizations, including medical device manufacturers, face unique challenges in securing their operations against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The ability to effectively manage and share threat intelligence is crucial to mitigating the impact of such incidents, especially in a sector where disruptions can have life-altering consequences for patients. By adopting a more collaborative and intelligence-driven approach, healthcare entities can identify threats earlier, enhance their defenses, and build resilience across the ecosystem. Cybersecurity isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a collective responsibility that demands real-time information exchange and proactive coordination to safeguard critical processes and data.”
It will be interesting to see what data was swiped and what happened to that data. I say that because this sounds like a ransomware attack, and when that happens data is almost always swiped. This one clearly requires me to keep an eye on it.
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