Utility Idea: Free T-Stats and Energy Monitors to Help Save

Here’s something all electric utilities should think of doing when rolling out their smart grid programs: Hydro Ottawa has re-launched its peaksaver program with a new peaksaver PLUS program that offers customers a free professionally-installed programmable thermostat plus an in-home energy display to help them monitor and manage their electricity use. The Energy Display shows the amount of electricity a home is using at any given moment. Customers will quickly see and learn how their house uses electricity at various times during the day.  If they notice readings that are out of the ordinary, they can simply walk around the house to see what is on and turn it off, such as computers, lights, game consoles, televisions.  The Energy Display provides customers with an immediate understanding of their home’s electricity use. “Customers are always looking for ways to better understand how they use electricity in their homes. We think the Energy Display will be a powerful tool to help customers make immediate conservation decisions to manage their usage,” said Roger Marsh, Chief Energy Management Officer at Hydro Ottawa. The saveONenergy peaksaver PLUS program is a provincial program funded by the Ontario Power Authority that helps Ontario manage electricity use during those […]