Features
New apps for Ontarians to help manage energy consumption data

Apps from Energent, BuiltSpace, Eyedro and Zerofootprint will be made available to consumers in London Hydro and Hydro One’s service territories throughout the duration of the year-long pilot.

MaRS Data Catalyst, which brings together data and analysis with the aim of growing Ontario’s “innovation economy”, and Ontario’s Ministry of Energy are working with industry to enable electricity consumption data access through the adoption of the Green Button Standard, already in the States.

Green Button aims to give Ontarians direct, timely access to their own energy data through a secure download from their utility’s website. The 4.7 million smart meters installed in homes and small businesses across the province enable consumers to access their own consumption data via the use of third-party apps.

As part of the Green Button initiative, MaRS Data Catalyst is piloting the first adoption of the Connect My Data program. Connect My Data is a voluntary initiative that will enable participating consumers to securely share their electricity consumption information with Green Button-enabled apps of their choice, which will offer consumer education and create opportunities for conservation through behaviour change, energy efficiency upgrades, energy management system automation and other potential uses.

Green Button Download My Data, the precursor to Connect my Data, has already been implemented across nearly 60% of Ontario, says MaRS, with participation from seven utilities.