Newsletter | April 2021

Policy Watch |

New York PSC Orders Creation of Statewide Integrated Energy Data Resource; Data Access Initiative Supports State Clean Energy Goals On 11 February, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) announced it has adopted New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) staff recommendations regarding the creation of an Integrated Energy Data Resource (IEDR). The DPS staff recommendations were filed in a whitepaper "Recommendations to Implement an Integrated Energy Data Resource" on 29 May 2020. The PSC's 11 February "Order Implementing An Integrated Energy Data Resource" directs the creation of an IEDR that will provide New York’s energy stakeholders with a platform that enables effective access and use of integrated energy customer data and energy system data. The PSC's decision establishes a statewide IEDR — a centralized platform that it notes will collect, integrate, analyze, and manage a wide variety of standardized energy-related information from the State’s electric and gas utilities and other sources. In addition, the PSC determined the inclusion of analytic tools that would enable DER providers, utilities, government agencies, and others to more readily develop valuable technical and business insights will, in turn, lead to faster and better policy, investment, and operational decisions that will accelerate realization of New York State’s clean energy goals.  “Strategic use of energy-related data, including both system and customer usage data, is critical to enable the achievement of the State’s energy policy goals,” said John B. Rhodes, former Chair, NYS PSC in a statement. “Useful access to useful data will unlock smart deployment of distributed resources required for our energy future.” Further, the PSC's decision notes the Commission is also considering new state policies for a uniform and comprehensive Data Access Framework to govern the means and methods for accessing and protecting all types of energy-related information. The PSC's order states that all aspects of implementing and operating the proposed IEDR must comply with any future policies adopted under a new Data Access Framework. Regarding the IEDR’s implementation schedule, the PSC directed that Phase 1 — the initial IEDR implementation — shall be completed in 24-30 months and Phase 2 shall be completed in 30-36 months. Additionally, according to the order, operation of the utility’s IEDR data feeds shall persist for the life of the IEDR (multiple decades). For more information, please visit https://www.greenbuttonalliance.org/activities-new-york to be redirected to the NYS DPS website / Case Number 20-M-0082 to view the Whitepaper and the Order. DCPSC Reconvenes Workgroup to Facilitate Implementation of Green Button Connect My Data On 25 March, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DCPSC), in Formal Case No. 1130, "In Matter of the Investigation Into Modernizing the Energy Delivery System for Increased Sustainability", order no. 20717, directed the original Customer Impact Working Group (CIWG) be reconvened. The CIWG’s first virtual meeting will be held on 29 April at 10:00 a.m. ET. Additionally, the order directs the CIWG to file a report with the DCPSC within 75 days of the CIWG’s first meeting that includes resolution of issues and a plan for implementing Green Button Connect My Data in the District. For more information, please visit https://www.greenbuttonalliance.org/activities-district-of-columbia to be redirected to the DCPSC’s e-docket website and Formal Case No. 1130.

Member News |

On 23 February, members of the Green Button Alliance presented during the “Standardization of Private Data in Energy Markets” workshop co-organized by the IEEE Standards Association and Elering. The 3-hour symposium included up-to-the-minute insights on the evolving rules for the use of data in energy markets

and progress toward data-driven energy services in both Europe and North America. GBA members and staff joined other speakers from the European Commission; Elering; Energinet; ENTSO-E, Mission:data; Austrian Energy, and others for the information-packed webinar. GBA board member David Wollman of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) discussed the creation of the open Green Button standard for secure consumer access to energy data. The GBA’s executive director, Jeremy J. Roberts, educated on today’s Green Button standard enabling secure, digital access and sharing of standardized energy data. GBA board member Daniel Roesler of UtilityAPI provided insight during the lively panel discussion: “Grid Operators vs. Emerging Market Players.” If you missed the webinar, the recording is available at https://www.greenbuttonalliance.org/webinars.

NIST Publishes New Framework for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards On 18 February, GBA member, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), announced its “NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards, Release 4.0”. NIST's fourth framework for smart grid interoperability informs America’s development of the smart grid and includes updates to the Smart Grid Conceptual Model, introduces new Communication Pathways Scenarios and an Ontology for the smart grid, provides guidance on cybersecurity practices and tools, and develops the concept of an Interoperability Profile to facilitate testing and certification to improve smart grid interoperability and functionality.

A feature section entitled “Creating Value Through Data Interoperability” highlighting benefits of open, standards-based data access appears on page 59 of the report. Implementations from GBA members UtilityAPI, PG&E, OhmConnect, and Logical Buildings leveraging the Green Button Connect My Data standard, or benefitting from consistent access to standardized energy data, are referenced. The "NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards, Release 4.0" is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1108r4. Follow NIST on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Fort Collins Utilities and UtilityAPI Team-Up to Smooth the Path to Decarbonization Customers are eager to fight climate change, starting in their own homes. In November 2020, Fort Collins Utilities, a Colorado municipal utility, gave its customers and contractors MyData — secure, authorized access to the high quality data they'll need to do it. MyData, powered by GBA member UtilityAPI, leverages Green Button Connect My Data to let users share their energy and water data with authorized third parties. MyData's access to data simplifies and speeds up the start of clean energy projects for all involved. Over 20 energy efficiency, real estate, and solar solution providers have registered to receive free data. Janelle McGill, a green Realtor and consultant, is one of them. "In the past, it was cumbersome for my clients to get the information I needed. This portal makes the process faster, as well as more accurate. It was easy to sign up and it is easy to request utility data for my clients. It's a clever solution," said McGill. MyData also includes a benchmarking tool. It lets building owners and managers easily connect their ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® accounts to MyData's dashboard in order to automatically upload usage data to Portfolio Manager. MyData's benchmarking tool represents the first Green Button Connect My Data authorization-and-consent integration with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. For a brief demo of MyData, see UtilityAPI's "Innovator's Showcase" video from the GBA's 2020 General Meeting in October. Follow UtilityAPI on LinkedIn and Twitter.

London Hydro Leverages Standardized, Green Button Energy-Usage Data for Innovative New Energy-Conservation Pilot GBA member London Hydro recently announced the Plus Pilot — an innovative energy-conservation pilot that is providing a select number of London Hydro customers with smart home devices to test leading-edge energy-management tools. The project aims to enable participants with the ability to shift their electricity usage times to reduce usage costs, while lowering the carbon footprint of their homes within a comfort profile they select. For the Plus Pilot, participants are equipped with smart home appliances from LG Canada and London Hydro’s Trickl Plus mobile app — a new energy-management app developed for the pilot that leverages standardized Green Button energy usage data. Utilizing the Trickl Plus mobile app, pilot participants are testing the ability to: shift their electricity usage to hours when community electricity demand and the simulated hourly rate is lower, enabling them to reduce electricity demand during peak periods; increase their opportunity for a predictable bill using the hourly rate; access virtual shares of community solar and battery; and connect and manage devices and appliances using the Trickl Plus app. Building on the success of its Green Button initiative, and for this Plus Pilot, London Hydro partnered with Sidewalk Labs, an urban innovation company working to make cities more sustainable and affordable for all. “This partnership allows both companies to capitalize on our joint strengths to push the boundaries of traditional electricity services,” said Syed ‌Mir,‌ ‌VP‌ ‌Corporate‌ ‌Services‌ ‌and‌ ‌CIO, London Hydro. “Projects like this help London Hydro to continue to provide its customers with new solutions to help them better manage their electrical needs.” Follow London Hydro on LinkedIn and Twitter.

In the Headlines |

• 06 April: "ENGIE and Georgetown University Launch Partnership to Promote Energy Sustainability," ENGIE North America press release.
• 02 April: "What Biden's Infrastructure Plan Means for the US Energy Sectior," Power Engineering International.
• 26 March: "Increasing Numbers of Utility Customers Care About the Climate and Want Action, New Report Shows," POWERGRID International. Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) report featured.
• 08 March: "Digital Platform Regulations for Electric Utilities: Part 1," by Michael Murray, T&D World. Green Button Connect My Data.
• 08 March: "Jigar Shah's Plan to Manage DOE's $40B Loan Program," Greentech Media.
• 03 March: "Energy Hedging: A New Way to Make Demand Response Pay in California?" Greentech Media. OhmConnect featured.
• 02 March: "E & C Leaders Introduce the CLEAN Future Act, Comprehensive Legislation to Combat the Climate Crisis," U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce press release.
• 10 February: "ClearTrace Builds a Truly Connected Energy World Through Technology That Empowers Trust, Transparency and Security," SuperbCrew. ClearTrace featured.
• 03 February: "The 50 States of Grid Modernization: 2020 Review and Q4 2020 Quarterly Report," by NC Clean Energy Technology Center.
• 31 January: "Energy Data Management as a Business Strategy Best Practice," Sustainability, Unitil's January 2021 Newsletter. Green Button Download My Data featured.
• 11 January: "Energyworx Announces Maher Chebbo as Chairman of Customer Advisory Board," Energyworx press release.
• 12 October, 2020: "ZOME's Consortium DOE Project Team Member Wins the 2020 Nobel Prize in Economics," ZOME press release.

Green Button Alliance Meetings |

• The GBA’s next All-Member Call will be held via dial-in and web tomorrow, Tuesday, 13 April at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET. All members are invited to attend. Participation logistics will be emailed to GBA Members.

• The GBA hosts the OpenADE Task Force technical meetings - usually following the GBA’s monthly All-Member Call. The next one-hour OpenADE Task Force meeting will not follow the All-Member Call tomorrow, it is being rescheduled. Visit https://openade.org for logistics.