ENERGY INFORMATION LOOP

Smart Meters
On an hourly basis, the amount of electricity you use is tracked by the smart meter on your home.

Collectors
Each day, this hourly information is sent by wireless connection or through telephone or power lines to a data collector located in your neighbourhood.

Meter Data Collection
These collectors relay energy usage information to larger control computers operated by your Local Distribution Company (LDC) which ensure that all the meters have been read and all the necessary information has been captured.

Smart Meter Data Repository

The LDC then sends this information to the provincial smart meter data repository which calculates how much electricity was used during on-peak, mid-peak and off-peak hours. In its role as interim Smart Metering Entity, the IESO is responsible for managing this repository. This energy use information will also help in the development of electricity forecasts and will help the Ontario Energy Board determine future time-of-use prices. Only authorized parties, such as LDCs, will have access to the highly secure database.

Customer Information and Billing
Information from the data repository is sent back to LDCs and other billing agents so it can be used to prepare invoices.

Home Energy Management
Homeowners will have access to their energy use data in two ways: LDC invoices will provide consumption data each billing cycle; and in many communities, the previous day's energy consumption information will be available each morning on a secure personalized web page. This information allows you to manage your energy use based on time-of-use prices.