Province gives families and businesses more control over energy bills
Energy Minister Todd Smith joined Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon today to announce the launch of the Green Button initiative in Waterloo Region.
Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon today joined Energy Minister Todd Smith, Enova Power Corp. and GrandBridge Energy to launch the Green Button standard that will allow local families and businesses to access their energy data and work with Green Button applications to track and control their energy use and save money on their monthly bills.
Studies have found that access to energy data, which Green Button along with smart home devices enables, can help consumers achieve energy savings of up to 18 percent. Ontario is the first province in Canada to mandate the Green Button standard.
“I’m excited that Green Button is available to constituents across Kitchener, Cambridge and other local communities. Families can now track and control their energy consumption, empowering them to lower their energy bills and save money,” said MPP Dixon who also serves as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy.
“Families and businesses want to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to their energy bills,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “Green Button is part of our commitment to give consumers more choice when it comes to their energy use and will enable easy, quick and safe access to their consumption data through smartphone or computer apps so they can find customized tips to reduce energy use or switch electricity price plans to save money.”
Green Button provides families and businesses the information they need to better understand their energy use so they can make an informed decision on which price plan is right for them, helping them to lower their energy bills. This is done by authorizing the sharing of hourly electricity usage data, in a standardized format, directly with third-party Green Button applications of their choice.
“Enova customers are looking for more choice, easy access, and control over their electricity use and costs, and the insight provided through Green Button offers exactly that. When we addTime-of-Use, Tiered, and the new Ultra-Low Overnight pricing plans into the mix, our customers now have the power to make the choices that best fit their needs.” Greig Cameron, President & CEO, Enova Power Corp.
“GrandBridge Energy is committed to empowering our customers with knowledge and choices to help them manage their electricity bills. GrandBridge Energy encourages our customers to take advantage of Green Button data to easily access and efficiently manage their own electricity consumption,” said Sarah Hughes, President and CEO, GrandBridge Energy.
The implementation of the Green Button standard is part of the Ontario government’s plan to provide consumers with more ways to keep costs down, save money and take control of their energy bills. Most families, small businesses, and farms can select from three pricing options: a time-of-use (TOU) rate, a tiered billing structure, and, as of May 1st a new Ultra-Low Overnight price, which all utilities are required to offer by this fall.
ABOUT Enova Power.
Enova Power Corp. is the trusted energy provider, dedicated to delivering safe and reliable energy solutions that power our communities forward. Serving more than 160,000 residential and business customers in the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, Township of Woolwich, Township of Wilmot, and Township of Wellesley, Enova Power Corp. will drive what’s next in energy and sustainability for our communities and beyond.
ABOUT GrandBridge Energy.
GrandBridge Energy Inc., formed in May 2022 as the result of the merger of the former Brantford Power Inc. and Energy+ Inc., is the eighth largest municipally owned electricity distributor in Ontario. GrandBridge Energy delivers safe and reliable electricity to 111,000 customers in the City of Cambridge, Brantford, North Dumfries and the County of Brant. GrandBridge Energy’s service territory spans approximately 635 square kilometres. The team provides safe and reliable energy solutions that are strengthened by an unwavering commitment to service excellence.
From left to right: Greig Cameron, President & CEO Enova Power Corp.; Jess Dixon, MPP Kitchener South-Hespeler; Sarah Hughes, President & CEO GrandBridge Energy Inc.; Teresa Sarkesian, President & CEO Electricity Distributors Association; Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Energy
