San Diego Gas & Electric has launched the "Green Button," a new tool that will provide customers with easy access to their energy usage data.
SDG&E customers are now among the first in the nation to be able to download their energy usage data in a simple-to-read format and share it with third-parties for energy evaluation and analysis.
"The Green Button is an exciting step forward that continues to position SDG&E as a trendsetting, forward-thinking utility, and is one of many initiatives designed to offer our customers choice, convenience and control," said Ted Reguly, SDG&E's director of customer programs and assistance. "The Green Button exemplifies SDG&E's move from the monthly bill cycle to accessible meaningful data. With customers in charge of how the information is used, we anticipate the data will be used in ways we haven't even thought of yet."
The Green Button is available as part of "Energy Charts" in the My Account web portal, which provides customers with detailed information on when they use electricity and how much.
By clicking on the Green Button, up to 13 months of past energy consumption data is instantly exported into customer- and computer-friendly standard formats. The data can be delivered in standardized file formats for easy export to other applications. The expectation is that access to this information will inspire innovative consumer applications and devices from entrepreneurs, businesses, and students.
In September 2011, United States Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra challenged utilities throughout the United States to develop a tool to provide energy consumers timely access to their own energy data with the click of a single button online. Inspired by the call-to-action from the White House, the Green Button is the resulting national initiative that was developed by the energy industry, with similarities to the "Blue Button" that was created to provide access to health care data. The Green Button concept aims to ensure that consumers have timely access to their own energy data in consumer-friendly and computer-friendly formats.
The three California electric utilities—SDG&E, along with Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison—are the first in the nation to rise to the challenge of creating a Green Button. SDG&E is at the forefront of the effort, helping drive the adoption of the Energy Service Provider Interface (ESPI) standard and overall Green Button requirements.
