With Green Button’s regulated data format, residential and business energy customers in Ontario can access and securely transfer their energy usage data to applications that help analyze consumption patterns and evaluate options like switching electricity price plans or planning energy-efficiency upgrades.
Green Button provides customers with detailed usage data to identify waste and inefficiencies, which can support long-term cost savings.
Although provinces across Canada have already implemented partial access to Green Button, Ontario has the most advanced and regulated version of the program. The province-wide requirements for electricity and natural gas utilities offer standardized data access and secure third-party sharing. Ontario’s regulation requires Green Button implementation as part of province-wide access and sharing for electricity and natural gas customers (Ontario Regulation 633/21).
How Does Green Button Work?
Green Button combines features that allow users to download their electricity and natural gas usage and authorize the secure transfer of utility data to a third-party Green Button application, by following these steps:
- Meters, connected by a utility provider, capture energy data.
- Secondly, utility converts collected data into the Green Button format.
- Customers can download their energy data for analysis and a better understanding of their usage.
- Customers can connect their data by choosing a third-party application (Green Button format).
- Customers give their utility permission to transfer energy data to the application safely and securely.
However, many homeowners and renters might not be aware that they already have access to their utility-usage data through the Green Button program. Meanwhile, in Ontario, most regulated natural gas and utilities make Green Button energy usage data available to their customers (for example, Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited, Alectra, Hydro One, London Hydro, and others), allowing customers to download or transfer energy data to a third-party application.
Before transferring your data to such apps as EnergyCAP, JadeTrack, Energy Star Portfolio Manager (and many others, depending on the needs of a customer), make sure to authenticate yourself as a primary account owner before permitting your utility company to securely share your data.
Although the third-party Green Button application will have ongoing access to the provided energy data, you will always have an option to revoke authorization by contacting your utility provider.
At the same time, ensure you understand and accept the terms and conditions of transferring energy data, including the following:
- How an application will protect your confidential information.
- What application will do with the provided energy data?
- Who else will have access to your data?
- How long will an app store your energy data?
- How soon will they destroy energy data after you cancel the agreement?
Why Sign Up for Green Button?
Green Button offers users several benefits that would not only help them understand their energy usage better, but also save on utility costs, including:
- Analysis of energy usage based on the time of a day or season to track potential overconsumption and conserve or adjust your usage.
- Select and (if necessary) switch electricity price plans that would work better for your home or business.
- A clear view of energy usage which enables efficient upgrades and potential utility bill savings.
How to Get the Green Button?
By following a few simple steps, you can get your Green Button and gain a better understanding and control over your utility usage.
- Check with your local utility provider that sends your electricity bills. Some utilities have a designated web link where you can find your data, while others require you to log in first. Depending on the company, you can look for “share my data” or “usage history” tabs.
- After you download the file (which will be in the .XML format), you will need an application to read and determine its content.
- Search for a “green button” application in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. If you are concerned about privacy, contact a third-party Green Button application to ensure they follow regulations before authorizing your utility to transfer energy data.
- Select your usage amount between Resource Type, such as electricity, natural gas, and water, Date Range, meaning start and end periods, and either download or connect your data. Beware that not all utilities offer both sharing and downloading features.
- Connect your data with a third-party application for analysis. Upload an XML file, and authorize data sharing and viewing via an app.
Green Button and Commercial Electricity Costs
Looking to reduce your electricity costs? EnergyRates.ca can help you review and reduce your utility costs. Our experienced team of energy and water consultants can support you in comparing rates and plans for your commercial, large commercial or industrial operations.
Contact us or call us at 1-855-635-9608 for a custom quote based on your electricity needs.
