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Energate rolls out Consumer Engagement for the Smart Grid program to Ontario

Qualified Ontario consumers can now opt into the program through participating local distribution companies (LDCs) or directly through Energate online to receive a fully-funded Energate Foundation smart thermostat and home energy gateway.

The Foundation delivers energy information and control based on time-of-use pricing with options to help save on energy costs, while delivering value to the provinces smart grid and demand response goals, it explained.
 
The objective of the $7.8 million CESG project is to stimulate consumers’ engagement in home energy management by leveraging and extending the smart grid into the home. As part of the CESG program, participants will receive real-time usage data through Energate’s Foundation, which provides whole-house energy consumption information along with a fully programmable smart thermostat.

Savings will be noted over a 30-day period to help users better manage their energy costs through options, such as home energy dashboards and mobile applications. It can also be set up to display the last 24-hours of electricity consumption, as well as seven-day averages to provide trending feedback to consumers. As a result, consumers can monitor usage and reduce or shift consumption from peak to non-peak periods based on time-of-use rates.

LDCs involved in the program include Cambridge & North Dumfries Hydro, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro, Waterloo North Hydro, Hydro One, Hydro Ottawa, Peterborough Utilities, PowerStream, and Veridian Connections. Additional LDCs may also propose to participate in the project.

“The program with Energate allows us to test advanced technologies with our customers to better understand how they view this smart grid opportunity,” said Brian Bentz, president and CEO of PowerStream.

Qualified Ontario homeowners deploying Foundation will also be able to participate in Phases 2 and 3 of the CESG project that provide innovations that could include advanced mobile apps, more advanced home energy management features, and extended monitoring and control of other energy-using appliances in the home, said Energate.

Participants are expected to provide feedback to Energate, Ontario’s Ministry of Energy and the LDCs on the value of these advanced technologies in achieving their personal goals and preferences.

“Ontario citizens know the value of advanced technology as we now embrace common technologies like smart phones—Energate is now taking this to the next level by building smart applications for the global and local challenge of energy management,” said Niraj Bhargava, CEO of Energate. “With CESG, each homeowner can learn to do their part in the comfort of their home. The collaboration is bringing Ontario’s Smart Grid to new levels of value to our society.”

CLICK HERE for more information on participating in the program. Participants will be selected based on qualification criteria, regional program limits and agreement to the terms of a participant agreement.