A couple of months ago, Techcouver reported on an initiative from TELUS that aims to help customers save on energy bills.
The launch from TELUS, SmartEnergy, is a tech-forward approach to reducing bills and one’s environmental footprint, according to the company.
“With SmartEnergy, our goal is to empower Canadians with the best technology, devices, and information they need to lower their energy bills and minimize their environmental footprint,” Dwayne Benefield, who serves as Chief Product Officer at TELUS, stated in September.
SmartEnergy’s SmartHome+ is a “simple app with incredible incentives” that connects to smart home devices such as thermostats and outlet plugs. The system promises savings of up to 15% by optimizing the efficiency of energy use through modern tech.
“The SmartHome+ app uses AI and real-time insights to help individuals and families automate daily routines, easily view their energy usage, and manage new and existing connected devices all from a single interface,” Benefield said.
The app allows users to monitor home energy consumption with daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly insights, as well as tips to maximize savings and “energy saving events,” which power down devices during grid peak surges to avoid systemic strain.
“Knowledge is power, and SmartEnergy makes it simple for our customers to turn that knowledge into real savings and energy efficiency,” stated Benefield.
A city within the Okanagan region of B.C. will be Canada’s first municipality to battle-test the new tech from TELUS. Penticton—which operates its own electric utility—believes the partnership with TELUS will empower residents with the tools and technology they need to improve energy efficiency and lower power bills.
Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield is inviting residents to participate in a free 12-month subscription of SmartEnergy.
“A recent survey of our residents found that 84 per cent are motivated to take steps to reduce their electrical bills,” the Mayor noted. “This pilot project with TELUS is an opportunity to provide Penticton’s electrical customers with the tools to become more aware of their daily energy usage.”
“Not only can it help residents save on their bills, but it benefits the community’s entire electrical grid and supports our climate action targets,” Bloomfield said of the SmartEnergy project.
Benefield agrees, adding that the partnership with Penticton is “the first of its kind with a Canadian utility provider.”
“Our SmartEnergy service … offers insights into Penticton’s peak energy times, allowing residents to participate in energy savings events to help lower demand when it’s needed most,” he stated this week. “This partnership showcases how communities can lead the charge in transforming energy management in Canada, and we’re committed to inspiring other cities to embrace SmartEnergy as a powerful tool for addressing environmental challenges.”
TELUS is no stranger to working with Penticton. In collaboration with local TELUS Community Boards, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has donated more than $120,000 in support of 12 projects located in Penticton since 2018.
Moving forward, TELUS intends to connect more smart devices to the SmartHome+ app, including EV chargers and solar panels.
And to further benefit the environment, TELUS promises to plant four trees per year on behalf of each SmartEnergy subscriber. Over the past two decades, TELUS has planted 13 million trees.