OTTAWA, Nov. 19, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Energate, Inc., a leading provider of demand response and home energy management solutions for utilities and their customers, announced the signing of its contract with the Ontario Ministry of Energy's Smart Grid Fund for $2.9M in support of its Consumer Engagement for the Smart Grid (CESG) project. Energate also announced the creation of a CESG Advisory Board, which will play a key advisory role in the planning and execution of the CESG Project. The objective of this $7.8 million project, implemented by Energate with the support of the Ontario Ministry of Energy's Smart Grid Fund, and six Ontario Local Distribution Companies (LDCs), is to stimulate consumers' engagement in home energy management by leveraging and extending the Smart Grid into the home. [Note to Editors: See also press release, "Ontario Invests in Energate to Lead Smart Grid Consumer Engagement."]
"Smart Grid technology is about helping all of us make more informed choices about our energy use to conserve and save money," said Ontario Energy Minister Chris Bentley. "I would like to congratulate Energate for launching this project to enable their customers with new tools towards that goal."
"As a proven utility residential demand response and home energy management solutions provider, Energate is in a unique position to help extend the smart grid into the home," said Energate CEO Niraj Bhargava. "In collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Energy and many industry colleagues across North America, the CESG project will create a powerful model for the industry to follow."
As part of the CESG project, Energate and a number of Ontario utilities will be testing different combinations of portals, mobile applications, smart thermostats and other technologies and programs that leverage Energate's Consumer Connected Demand Response (CCDR) home energy management platform, which has been approved for use across Ontario's peaksaver PLUS™ program. Energate plans to deploy home energy dashboards and controls, features, functions, portals, and mobile apps for market feedback in more than 1,000 homes across Ontario for the CESG Project over the next 18 months.
Launching of CESG Advisory Board
The inaugural meeting of the project's Advisory Board will be held on Tuesday, November 20, at Energate's new Ottawa world headquarters located at 2379 Holly Lane, Suite 200. The Advisory Board holds members and observers from leading utilities, trade organizations, and academia, including Peter Delaney, CEO of Oklahoma Gas & Electric; Bryce Conrad, CEO of Hydro Ottawa; Lisa Wood, Executive Director of the Energy Efficiency Institute; Brian Bentz, PowerStream, President and CEO; Myles D'Arcey, Hydro One, Sr. Vice President, Customer Operations; President & CEO, Remote Communities; and Niraj Bhargava, CEO, Energate; with additional observers, Mark Carpenter, Sr. VP of T&D Operations and Measurement Services, Oncor; Paul Murphy, IESO, President and CEO, and Xavier Debane, Sr. Director, Corporate Strategy, Rogers Communications. The CESG Advisory Board will meet quarterly to provide guidance to the program and its technology innovation path.
"I am pleased to be a member of this advisory board with colleagues who share my passion about moving smart grid and residential demand response programs to the next level of consumer engagement," said Pete Delaney, CEO of OG&E, recently named North American Utility of the Year. "I look forward to sharing my insights based on the extensive learning in our Positive Energy deployment that includes our partnership with Energate."
"We are delighted to be working with Energate and Ontario's Smart Grid Fund to help demonstrate and provide further value for Ottawa residential consumers," said Bryce Conrad, CEO of Hydro Ottawa. "Hydro Ottawa remains committed to helping consumers understand and capitalize on the many benefits offered by extending the smart grid to the home."
About Energate
Energate is a leading provider of demand response and home energy management solutions including software, wireless communications, gateways, smart thermostats, switches and consumer energy displays. The Consumer Connected Demand Response (CCDR) platform allows utilities to immediately address residential energy demand and empowers consumers to more effectively manage their energy use. Energate products seamlessly connect to the Smart Grid to deal with supply and demand challenges, the increased use of renewables and dynamic rate structures. Founded in 2004, Energate is headquartered in Ottawa with offices in Chicago, Toronto, Houston, Raleigh and Los Angeles. Visit www.energateinc.com.