A new initiative that gives residential and business energy customers an option to easily access and securely transfer their electricity usage data to a computer or smart phone is coming to Cambridge.
Ontario Minister of Energy Todd Smith joined Kitchener-South Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon Wednesday morning at the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce this morning to announce the provincial Green Button program, which being rolled out in the city in partnership with Enova and Grandbridge.
The program allows residents to better understand their energy use to make informed choices on electricity price plans, track and analyze usage to see where savings are available and make decisions about energy efficient upgrades.
"It's going to help customers track and control their energy use and reduce their electricity bills," Smith said.
"We did it because we want our Ontario customers to be in the drivers seat when it came to their electricity use."
The program gives people the ability to share their data with authorized Green Button third party vendors to analyze and develop personalized ways to improve energy efficiency.
According to Grandbridge, customers in Cambridge can download their data by logging into the secure GrandBridge Energy My Account portal and as Green Button data becomes widely available across Ontario, more third-party solutions and applications will be developed and made available to analyze the data.
Smith said residential customers who act on the data they receive save up to $95 annually and when it's paired with smart home devices, bills can be reduced by 18 per cent, studies show.
The program is also now being offered in Kitchener, Waterloo, Brant County, North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich.
Smith also referenced the recently announced third rate plan known as the "new ultra low overnight rate plan" available to customers with Enova and Grandbridge. The biggest savings come for those with electric vehicles as it helps ease costs of charging overnight, Smith said.
"We believe customers know what's best for their families or businesses," Smith continued.
"That's why were making sure they can make informed decisions, ones that save them money of their bills."
Dixon emphasizes the program is about giving residents choice and control over where their money goes.
"It's giving people data to make decisions," Dixon said.
"We went through a period of time where rates were skyrocketing and people were scared and uncertain. I think giving people the idea that they have some control in the palm of their hand is incredibly important."
For more on Green Button visit the Ontario Energy Board website
