Dive Brief:

• BC Hydro has selected Powerley's home management platform as part of an efficiency and customer engagement pilot the Canadian utility plans to roll out.
• ​Powerley says its Energy Bridge provides a constant connection to the home’s smart meter, allowing real-time access to energy usage for the home as well as disaggregation into various appliances.
• BC Hydro has 1.9 million customers in British Columbia; the pilot will be available to those with advanced meters installed in their homes.

Dive Insight:

BC Hydro's pilot will allow customers to use the "HydroHome" app on their smart phones, giving them control over thermostats, power outlets, light switches, and sensors, in addition to viewing energy usage of the entire home.

Tim Mosley, senior program manager with BC Hydro, said in a statement the utility is "accelerating innovation and engaging our customers in a new relationship with energy."

"BC Hydro is elevating customer engagement, driving energy efficiencies and creating a completely new connected home experience," he said.

Last month, AEP Ohio announced it selected Powerley's home energy management solution for its 1.5 million customers, allowing control over multiple devices through smartphone apps and other technologies. As part of the utility's "It’s Your Power" program, customers will also be offered a Powerley Thermostat which AEP will use for demand response programs.

Powerley bills itself as the first company to "integrate real-time home energy management within a complete smart home solution." Other players in the space include Bidgely and Whisker Labs.