In Ottawa, Canada, temperatures can rise to as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and plunge to minus 20 in the winter. With a 110-degree swing, people’s energy usage and bills can vary dramatically month to month. Customers of Hydro Ottawa, the utility in Canada’s capital city, don’t have to guess what their bill will be, regardless of whether the season calls for short sleeves or snowshoes. They can log on to a mobile app and see real-time information about how their energy consumption compares with their neighbors, as well as how much is going toward, say, laundry versus cooking. And customers can also talk to smart speakers in their homes to receive tips on reducing their energy costs.
