Get smart at home!

We are tremendously excited to invite Saint John homeowners to take part in our first-ever smart device consumer trials.

By Carl Ozkaynak, December 3, 2019

The Smart Grid is coming, part of the revolution in how Saint John Energy will deliver electricity. There is a lot of complex technology and large-scale infrastructure involved. But our residential customers have an essential role to play, too, in our mission to deliver the cleanest, least expensive power possible.

“We are tremendously excited to invite Saint John homeowners to take part in our first-ever smart device consumer trials.”

We are tremendously excited to invite Saint John homeowners to take part in our first-ever smart device consumer trials. These smart hot-water heaters, thermostats and heat pumps improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and save money on your power bill.

Here’s how.

What’s a smart device?

If you have an iPhone, Android or if Siri or Alexa is in your life, you’re already using smart devices. They are connected to the internet, allowing for two-way communication. While Alexa responds to your request for the day’s forecast or to play that catchy new Taylor Swift track, Saint John Energy’s smart devices allow you to control and optimize your energy use from anywhere.

Additionally, these devices can send real-time data on things like temperature to our Smart Grid control centre. This link allows us to make remote, often tiny adjustments to your device’s settings in response to ever-changing, overall electricity demand. It’s like there’s a constant, automated conversation going on between your device and our control centre.

Why are smart devices important?

“Our aim is less and better energy consumption.”

In a word: optimization. Our aim is less and better energy consumption. Your device is connected to the larger system, which monitors overall load, plans for what’s coming, such as weather events or peak times, and makes a series of adjustments throughout the entire system – including, sometimes, to your smart devices.

How do smart devices benefit me?

Smart devices make you a partner in our greener energy future. Because they reduce peak demand and overall consumption, their collective savings are significant. Saint John Energy and our customers can reduce millions of dollars in energy costs – and tons of carbon emissions – if we enable you to partner with us in the savings. Plus, you can remotely control your home’s power usage from anywhere in the world, which is pretty cool.

What difference will I notice with a smart device?

None.

“Discomfort is not part of the plan. You don’t have to have cold showers to save money and emissions.”

Smart devices are similar in size and design (if a bit sleeker) to our traditional products and we are currently renting them at the same price as traditional devices.

More importantly, smart devices deliver the same level of performance you expect. Discomfort is not part of the plan. You don’t have to have cold showers to save money and emissions. While you won’t notice any difference in comfort, the savings can really add up.

How can I track my impact?

Anyone participating in the program can track consumption and savings in real-time, all the time, online. You can also manage your settings there.

How do I know it’s safe?

The security of our customers’ data is our top priority. We meet and exceed all cybersecurity regulations to ensure your privacy is protected.

What is the Smart Grid?

Smart devices are part of the Smart Grid, which involves our electrical grid’s communications network, infrastructure, data and computer systems. The Smart Grid uses machine-learning to predict how much energy will be needed at any given time and optimize how it is distributed and stored.

The Smart Grid also enables diverse and geographically scattered renewable power sources, including our new Burchill Wind Energy Project, and storage in industrial-scale batteries.

Sounds great! How do I find out more?

Saint John Energy is making it easy for residential customers to get on board, with discounts on some of the most common heating products in your homes. Check out poweringourfuture.ca/project-smart-energy for more details or to enroll.

Carl Ozkaynak is the Director of Smart Grid at Saint John Energy and is responsible for Smart Grid Engineering, Operations Technology, Information Technology, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Geospatial Information System (GIS), and Distribution Control Center (DCC).