MPP Dixon Joins Minister Smith and Local Utilities to Launch Green Button to Help Local Energy Customers Save Money
November 3, 2023
Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Jess Dixon recently 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.
