29 January 2019: "ComEd's Smart Grid Starts to Pay Dividends in Northern Illinois", T&D World.

15 January 2019: "Software Solutions Help Installers Sell More Solar + Storage," Solar Power World. EnergyToolbase featured.

14 January 2019: "Energy Data Portability," Report by Mission:data Coalition; Green Button Connect My Data growth featured.

11 January 2019: "Con Edison Unveils Unique Residential Smart Energy Pilot," Smart Energy International.

10 January 2019: "Can Private Industry Solve Our Climate Crisis Where Governments Fail?", Forbes. OhmConnect featured.

07 January 2019: "ZOME Wins Best of Show, Launches New Products," ZOME press release.

01 January 2019: "Growing a Sustainable Food System: How Entrepreneurs Are Applying Advanced Technologies to Reinvent Our Approach to Food Security and Sustainability", Village Capital. Wexus Technologies featured.

05 September 2019: "CHEC and CustomerFirst Sign Advocacy Partnership Agreement", CustomerFirst news.

Green Button Alliance Announces Results of 2019 Board of Directors Election

The Green Button Alliance has concluded its third annual Board of Directors election. John Anderson, Director of Energy Markets, OhmConnect was elected by the GBA's Participating Membership to serve in a two-year seat and Bill Pfister, Director Financial Analysis, Edison Electric Institute (EEI) was elected to serve in a one-year seat.

The GBA welcomes the new directors who join the GBA Board of Directors on 01 January 2019.

Voting for representatives from the Participating Member tier of the Green Button Alliance ends Thursday. 

Two seats are available for the 2019 year on the GBA Board of Directors to be filled by Participating Members.  Candidates are elected only by the primary representative of other Participating Member companies/organizations but anyone from a Participating Member firm in good standing can run for election. 

The voting closes on November 15th, 2018, so if you are the representative from a GBA Participating Member company, please cast your ballot today.  Not sure if you are the right person; give us a call.

Nominations opened today to all Participating Members of the Green Button Alliance (GBA) for election to the GBA Board of Directors for the year 2019.

Participating Member companies/organizations are eligible to have a representative elected to the Board of Directors; to serve a one- or two-year term representing their firm and representing the Participating Member category within the GBA. 

If you or someone at your firm is interested in participating as a voting member of the Board of Directors, please express your interest by replying to the email message sent with the subject of  “GBA Participating Member Elections - Nominations” to employees of Participating Member firms that were in our database as-of today.  If you did not receive an email message inviting you to run for election, and you work for a Participating Member firm, please contact us for assistance.

Nominations must be received before the close of the 30th of October 2018.

Details:

GBA Launches Green Button Connect My Data Certification Program

The Green Button Alliance announced the launch of its Green Button Connect My Data (CMD) Certification Program for electricity, natural gas, and water utilities (data custodians).

The availability of the Green Button CMD Certification Program comes at a key time for the industry as utilities look to provide proven, standards-based solutions for secure customer data-access and sharing. Green Button CMD certification will assure utilities their implementations are Green Button standards-compliant and will ensure customer privacy and the seamless and secure transmission of data to third-party solutions.

A GBA-founding member, UL Verification Services (UL), is a GBA-authorized test laboratory and conducts the ANSI-audited Green Button Certified CMD testing process. London Hydro's cloud-based energy service platform is the first utility implementation (.PDF) to be certified Green Button CMD standards-compliant by UL. The "Green Button Certified CMD" mark on London Hydro's site now assures the utility, its customers, and third-party solution providers, that London Hydro's implementation is standards-compliant and new data-driven services and applications will seamlessly and securely work-together, while ensuring customer privacy. Learn more about the Green Button Connect My Data standard and the Certification program and the benefits to utilities here (.PDF).

Utilities that have Green Button Connect My Data implementations, or are in process of developing CMD offerings, can apply for certification here.

John Gurski, founder & CEO of GBA Participating Member company Energy Toolbase is awarded with a spot on Renewable Energy World’s inaugural “Solar 40 Under 40” list at Intersolar; highlighting leaders under the age of 40 in the solar industry: 

https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2018/07/renewable-energy-world-announces-its-inaugural-solar-40-under-40.html

In-case you missed it, the GBA has just launched a Career Center.  We’ve been hard at work to offer this job-board resource to our members (and to our non-members) to further the Green Button ecosystem and success of your firms; and we’re excited to announce its official release.

Whether you’re looking for your next career move or looking for that next great hire, we believe our Career Center is your best source.

"Texas Smart Meter Settlement Could Grow Market for Energy Products," by Robert Walton, Utility Dive, notes that Texas regulators have approved recommendations to improve and streamline the state's smart meter data portal, including standardizing data transfers to be more in line with the Green Button Connect My Data standard.  Recommended reading: "Texas Decision Enhances Customer Choice of Enhanced Energy Providers" by Michael Murray, Mission:data Coalition.

"Survey: Solar Companies Want Software to Speed Growth, Manage Utility Rates," by Julia Pyper, Greentech Media.  Survey finds access to standardized Green Button energy usage data is a priority for solar software market and and also notes GBA members Energy Toolbase and UtilityAPI as popular software platforms.

"KWHCoin Aims to Build an Advanced Energy Economy that Connects Us All," by Tech Company News.  Interview with GBA member Girard Newkirk, CEO of GBA Member company: KWHCoin, regarding KWHCoin technology, partnerships and vision.

"NEM's 21st Annual Restructuring Conference Focuses on Next Phase of Consumer Choice Innovation and Opportunities in Energy Markets," Jeff Hendler, CEO of GBA member company: ETS - Energy Technology Savings, spoke at the Washington D.C. conference and discussed the importance of consumer access to consumption and demand data to enable consumer decisions to reduce energy costs and achieve clean energy goals.

"Snugg Home's Snugg Pro Adds Support for Green Button," discusses benefits of standardized Green Button energy data and how it speeds the home energy auditing process, with a two-minute demo.

An article about "How the Green Button Initiative Could Open Up a World of Innovation" by the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO).

Smart Meter Texas (SMT) settlement calls for streamlined customer authorization process and Green Button Connect My Data (CMD) API. Read more in the 06 February article: "Texas Takes a Big Step in Improving Access to Smart Meter Data" by Jeff St. John, Greentech Media.

"Consumer Platform of the Future" report, by Green Button Alliance member Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC), found that about half of U.S. energy consumers would probably or definitely use the "Platform," which was defined as an online energy resource that would combine energy usage data, user preference settings, real-time energy data, energy programs and offers, and use this information to help the user understand and manage home energy use.

Green Button Alliance member Energy Technology Savings (ETS) featured in article: "ETS Using Technology to Slash Multifamily Energy Costs" by Tom Bergeron, ROI-NJ.

GBA's 2018 Annual Members Meeting & Breakfast

The GBA's Annual Members Meeting & Breakfast will be held on 24 January at the historic Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas to coincide with DistribuTECH 2018. The Members Meeting & Breakfast will be sponsored by board member / Participating Member company Think Energy. Learn how far the Green Button Alliance has come in three years and what's next for standards-based Green Button energy usage data, implementations and applications internationally. Members & interested non-members welcome, RSVP here.

GBA at DistribuTECH 2018

The Green Button Alliance is sponsoring a member-oriented booth at DistribuTECH 2018, 23-25 January in San Antonio, Texas. The GBA booth (#3247) is a 10x20 space located in the main exhibition hall of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. If your company is interested in sponsorship opportunities and participating in the booth, please contact Jeremy J. Roberts, General Manager, Green Button Alliance at [email protected] for more details.

GBA member Silver Spring Networks announced it will combine with Itron to accelerate smart grid and smart city innovation and growth. See the announcement here.

GBA member the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative announced at its recent Annual Members Meeting and Fall Workshop that it has changed its name to the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) to reflect its expanded mission. Read more here. 

GBA member Energy Toolbase launched a powerful software update that enables developers to model, optimize, and propose the economics of any type of behind-the-meter energy storage project providing benefits to both residential and commercial project developers. Learn more here. GBA members Energy Toolbase and UtilityAPI will also present at the 4th Annual DR & DER World Forum on 11-12 October in Costa Mesa, California.

Advocacy group, Mission:data announced that utility Xcel Energy will Bring Smart Meters and Green Button Connect My Data to Colorado.

The Green Button standard is featured in the article “How Focused Data Use Analysis Leads to Energy Efficiency” by Klaar De Schepper in this June 2017’s issue of Buildings Operating Management magazine.

Green Button Alliance member the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative’s (SGCC) consumer education site features a page dedicated to educating consumers about their Green Button data.

This week, the CS Week 2017 conference is being held May 22-26 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas.  The Green Button Alliance is pleased to note that several member companies were recognized with the prestigious “2017 CS Week Expanding Excellence” awards at the event.  The awards were presented to the winners and finalists on Wednesday, May 24th, during the opening general session of CS Week.

Exelon Corporation was named as a winner of the “Innovation in Digital Customer Engagement” award.

Baltimore Gas & Electric, an Exelon company, received a “Best Analytics Project” award with Pacific Gas & Electric receiving the runner-up in that category and level.

London Hydro (Ontario) won a “Best Mobility Implementation” award for their Interval Data Centre (IDC) innovation, which utilizes cloud-based infrastructure to provide Green Button energy-usage data via a powerful, mobile management application.  For more information about the Green Button solution, view the London Hydro video.

The Green Button Alliance congratulates its member companies for their outstanding achievements and industry recognition in receiving these awards!

The Green Button Alliance was a promotional partner of the Energy Thought Summit (ETS17) held on 27-30 March 2017 in Austin, Texas. The event gathered many of the industry's top creative minds to design solutions to shape the energy transformation. GBA members Exelon, Energyworx, and the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) spoke at the event. A highlight of the event was ComEd CEO, Anne Pramaggiore's selection as the "2017 ETS Thought Leader of the Year" -- an award that honors an individual with an inventive, brave vision to inspire the global energy ecosystem. The GBA congratulates Anne Pramaggiore of ComEd on her award!  

Energyworx Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Edwin Poot, spoke on the "Designing for Data" panel along with participants from Direct Energy and EDF Energy Services. Poot expertly addressed how the industry can get the most out of legacy systems and respond to data diversity challenges. Establishing a foundation of data quality is the key to success in advanced analytics and machine learning. SGCC's President and CEO, Patty Durand, moderated two panels at the event including "Customers-in-Charge -- Redefining the Utility-Customer Relationship" and "Ready for Action - How Utilities Can Drive Value for their Customer."

The Advanced Energy Centre (AEC) at MaRS Discovery District, this week announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mexican State of Jalisco Energy Agency. The AEC helps foster the adoption of innovative energy technologies in Canada and leverages those successes and experiences into international markets. The MOU commits to encouraging closer economic ties and strengthening beneficial relations between the regions, by working together to accelerate energy innovation in each respective jurisdiction. Using the AEC's systems change methodologies, the parties will collaboratively define opportunities and challenges facing the energy system and build a comprehensive strategy for achieving Jalisco's energy vision. The AEC will also provide the Energy Agency with curated access to innovative energy technologies, which can help the state achieve its vision. Read more here. 

Enel, this week launched its Enel Innovation Hub in partnership with the University of California Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute. The Hub, whose headquarters are located at the CITRIS Foundry Accelerator at UC Berkeley, is part of the international start-up network within the Enel Group that will select the best start-ups with which to develop joint business projects.

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd)—a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, a Green Button Alliance sponsor member—recently announced the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved a proposal by ComEd that allows companies and researchers access to anonymous energy usage data in order to enable the development of new products and services that will add value to Illinois energy customers. The new program will open access to unidentified interval energy usage data for all ZIP Codes where smart meters have been deployed by ComEd. ComEd's Anonymous Data offering builds upon the Green Button Initiative.

The Green Button Alliance (GBA) announces that Ms. Mimi Zhang of Silver Spring Networks is filling the role of Vice Chair of the Green Button Alliance, a position left vacant when Mark Podosky, of Southern California Edison (SCE), retired from SCE. Ms. Zhang also heads the Alliance's member-led Global Marketing Committee.

Ms. Kim Cresencia of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is filling the role of Secretary and Ms. Amy Kight Costadone of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is filling the role of Treasurer.  Previously, the roles of both Secretary and Treasurer were held by Ms. Zhang.

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has been a pioneer of the Green Button initiative since its inception and is a founding member of the Green Button Alliance.  SDG&E recently enhanced its Green Button Connect platform with added functionalities to offer greater convenience and higher analytical value for customers; these functionalities include cost data, "Quality of Reading" indicator in the Energy Services Provider Interface (ESPI) file - whether the data is "revenue quality" - gas usage in the ESPI file and full OAuth integration to support real time APIs. SDG&E is committed to finding new and improved ways to serve our customers and to support the advancement of the Green Button ecosystem. Today, SDG&E customers have the ability to access their energy usage and select from nearly 29 applications, covering a wide variety of activities, to help them efficiently manage their energy consumption.

Solar Analytics, in the midst of appearing at several consecutive solar and energy events in both the U.S. and Australia─including at Solar Power International 2016 (SPI) in Las Vegas 12-15 September and All-Energy Australia in Melbourne 4-5 October─has also closed a $4.4 million Series A funding round from existing seed investor AGL Energy and private investors from the renewable energy sector. Solar Analytics is the innovator of intelligent Solar and Energy Smart Monitors and Service which gives users real-time data on their solar system's performance and home energy usage to help ensure efficient production and consumption. Solar Analytics now monitors over 10,000 energy systems in Australia, and having recently opened an office in San Francisco is rapidly growing their solar installer resellers in the USA. The Green Button Alliance congratulates Solar Analytics!

Energy Toolbase is an industry leading software platform for modeling and proposing the economics of solar and energy storage projects. Their software-as-a-service (SaaS) product is used by hundreds of leading distributed energy organizations across the U.S.  In September, Energy Toolbase released its latest version which enables users to model Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0 projects to analyze any scenario where kilowatt-hour solar exports are valued at less than the retail rate; create fully customized and interactive proposals; and leverage API integrations to interact with leading third party service providers including UtilityAPI. Via Energy Toolbase's integration with UtilityAPI, users can seamlessly import interval meter data from UtilityAPI, to precisely re-create a customer's utility bill and then optimize their solar or storage system size for dollar savings. To see a demo or sign-up for a free-trial, visit www.energytoolbase.com.

On 21 July, Energyworx, providers of SaaS-based energy data management and energy intelligence solutions that help utility and energy companies navigate and monetize the energy transition, announced a €1 million Series A funding round led by venture capital firm henQ. Energyworx will use the new funding to scale its U.S. and European operations, including the opening of a new office in San Francisco. Energyworx has appointed Marcel E. Smit as CEO. Founder, Edwin Poot, has been named Chief Visionary Officer and will focus on the company’s long-term product strategy. In June, Energyworx was coined a “Rock Star” of GridEdge World Forum 2016 held in San Jose, California; read the company’s re-cap here and see Edwin Poot’s interview live from the event [YouTube] as he explains Energyworx’ role in the energy transition and how the company helps customers monetize their data.

In August, Chai Energy and Energy Upgrade California® teamed up to provide California residents with the tools and information they need to save energy and money on their utility bills. The two companies are inviting California utility customers to sign up for Chai Energy's popular Green Button mobile app. Through the offer, the first 1,000 qualified registrants will receive a Chai Energy Pro for free. Chai Energy Pro is a smart energy gateway that connects to the home's network and collects the customer’s energy usage data in real-time (every 7 seconds) from their smart meter. Customers can then use the Chai mobile app to tag individual appliances in their homes to see energy usage of specific appliances, receive customized notifications, and be informed of any utility rebates for replacing existing inefficient appliances—all on their mobile phone. See how the Chai Pro and Chai Energy mobile app work together on this new video [Vimeo].