Canadian Initiatives

In 2012, the Ontario Ministry of Energy made a call to action for utilities to implement the Green Button.

Since that time, provinces across Canada have been considering adoption of Green Button with legislation, regulation, or mandates.

Visit our Canadian Members’ pages: 

Canadian GBA Members

Ontario

November 2021

In November 2021, standards-based Green Button data access and sharing was mandated for the majority of electricity and natural gas local-distribution companies (LDCs) across the province.

Enabled under Ontario’s Electricity Act, 1998, section 25.35.8: Energy Data, Regulation 633/21: Energy Data requires Ontario utilities to implement Green Button Connect My Data (CMD)and Download My Data (DMD) solutions that enable customers to easily obtain and share their data with authorized third-parties that can analyze the data to help them make informed energy-management decisions to reduce energy-use and costs.

In support of the province’s electricity and natural gas sectors, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) led a series of Green Button Industry-led Working Group (IWG) meetings comprised of stakeholders, including members of the Green Button Alliance, culminating in a report that provides implementers a collection of best practices and answers to frequently asked questions:

The November 21, 2022, Green Button Industry-led Working Group Report [.pdf] contains a table of “Ontario Common Green Button Billing Descriptions” starting on page 48, which can assist developers in understanding how to handle line items and different naming conventions across utilities.

Ontario is helping families and businesses save energy and save money with the push of a button.

Ontario’s Green Button initiative will allow consumers to access their natural gas and hourly electricity consumption data through secure apps on their computer or smartphone and find customized tips on how to boost home energy efficiency and lower monthly bills.

— Honourable Todd Smith, Ontario Minister of Energy from June 2021 – June 2024

September 2023

The OEB has issued guidance [(2023-09-18)] to electricity and natural gas distributors related to the terms and conditions [(T&Cs)] between distributors and the third parties that customers may authorize to access their data via Green Button:

November 2023

Electricity and Natural Gas utilities in Ontario were required to have their CMD and DMD implementations Certified by the GBA by 01 November 2023.  Ontario utilities rose to the challenge.
     

October 2024

“Households, businesses and institutions would benefit from easier-to-access information about their energy use to make informed decisions about their building’s energy performance, through streamlined processes that protect consumer information.”

— Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future:
The Pressing Case for More Power
under the Honourable Stephen Lecce
Ontario Minister of Energy (2024–)

Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power (2023-10-23)

Learn about the government’s vision for Ontario’s energy future:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-affordable-energy-future-pressing-case-more-power

     
Nova Scotia

April 2022

Through the passing and Royal Assent of Bill Number 145: An Act to Amend Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2004, the Electricity Act, Nova Scotia Power is required to fully implement the Green Button standard, which enables customers to securely download their household or business electricity usage data and connect their data to online apps to help cut their bills, (Nova Scotia News Release).
     

May 2023

Nova Scotia Power is Certified to ESPI v.3.3 for Download My Data (DMD) with CMD Certification planned.