Whether you have an iPhone or an Android device, the HydroHome app offers home electricity use tracking and insights, Including the ability to get real-time energy use via a one-time fee for an optional hub.
Find out on MyHydro, or by upgrading to the HydroHome app
Sometimes, you just have to wonder. Has all the stuff I'm doing at home, such as turning down the thermostat overnight or hang-drying laundry, made my household more energy efficient than others?
For years, BC Hydro customers who linked their accounts on bchydro.com have been able to compare their home's energy use to homes nearby with the same heating type and of a similar size. And now, by downloading the HydroHome app, you can get an even better picture of how your home compares.
"The similar homes comparison is another way we're helping customers gain perspective on their energy consumption," says Reid Arkinstall, Senior Product Manager for Residential Energy Products at BC Hydro. "The data we use is aimed to provide a very close like-for-like comparison – we compare your usage only to homes with similar characteristics like square footage, heating type, and climate zone. That's a context that's often lacking, and it can be really powerful. This feature is also about empowerment and not judgement. It's a tool to help customers make more informed choices, not to criticize. Whether customers are above or below average, the goal is to give useful context and control."
The HydroHome app, available for free, empowers you to track, understand and actively manage your home electricity usage on your smartphone, from anywhere. And we've adding two new features to the popular app, which has been downloaded by more than 75,000 British Columbians to date.
- Energy cost analysis: a visual breakdown of the key drivers behind your energy costs, broken down into things you can control, and things you can't.
- Comparison to similar homes: see how your energy use compares to homes near you of similar size and heating type, along with insights and advice.
You can still get the basic similar homes comparison via bchydro.com's MyHydro tracking tool. But if you want some additional insights, plus energy cost visualization, download the HydroHome app.
Based on the specifics you provide about your home, such as your heating type, how your hot water is heated, and whether you charge an electric car at home, the new tools can let you know which types of devices – heating, entertainment, laundry, etc. – are your big energy users.
HydroHome's similar homes feature not only shows how you compare, but can highlight how categories of energy use in your home stack up against similar homes to yours. There are also tips and projects you can pursue to reduce your usage.
How the 'similar homes' feature can lead to savings
The "similar homes" comparison option on HydroHome offers a clear, personalized benchmark that compares your energy use to homes with similar characteristics and gives you a lens into spikes in energy use you may be able to reduce.
You may be cruising along with "below the norm" usage most days, then suddenly find that you're using more electricity than similar homes in your area. Was it a DIY home improvement project that included a lot of power tool usage? Or was it your teen's return home from school and their daily marathon showers?
Comparing your home's usage can be a powerful motivator to save, highlighting chances to save money and confirmation that those changes are working. It also adds context to raw energy usage numbers that can, at times, seem mysterious. The changes you make could be behavioural – washing clothes in cold water and/or hang-drying laundry – or they can be larger, more permanent changes such as improved draftproofing, scheduling via wifi "smart" thermostats, or an insulation upgrade.
Download HydroHome at Apple's App Store or through Google Play.
Adding an energy-monitoring hub adds live data to your HydroHome app
Arkinstall is particularly excited about two optional hubs that deliver real-time energy usage insights. While the energy tracking tools in MyHydro and the HydroHome app both show historical usage as recently as the day before, the hubs supercharge the experience by showing what's happening now.
Turn on your clothes dryer and you'll immediately see exactly how much that's increasing your home energy use. Ditto for a baseboard heater cranked up in a bedroom, an air conditioner used for a few hours, or even a toaster that causes a brief spike in consumption.
With a hub, you'll be able to see how much electricity you're using at any given time, broken down by individual systems and connected devices. There are two hub options available for a one-time cost: Powerlync ($75), a more affordable option that provides live data and basic smart home control, or the Energy Bridge ($179), which provide live data and more advanced smart home control.
Note that the hubs are not compatible in all home types, such as apartments, and that features may be limited in townhomes without direct access to a smart meter. Get details on hub compatibility and features.
The hubs can be purchased directly through the HydroHome app once you've downloaded the app and logged in to your account.
The free app and both hubs provide access to the energy visualizer, bill projection, budget tracker, insights and tips. However only the hubs give you real-time energy data.
"Talking to our customers, we've found that the real power, the greatest value, is in getting that live data," says Arkinstall. "It unlocks a great amount of information from a visibility standpoint. Customers are telling us they are better able to reduce their electricity use and are becoming more aware of when they use the most electricity. You don't need a smart dryer to know how much your energy use has gone up. When you've turned on the dryer, you'll see exactly what happens, on your phone."