Community Choice Energy agency and energy data startup to ease data access and lower costs for energy services
Sunnyvale and Oakland, Calif. – Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) is teaming up with UtilityAPI to launch an energy data exchange platform as a flagship pilot. The pilot will demonstrate the potential of free, authorized access to standardized and automated energy usage data in accelerating the deployment of clean energy projects. Built on UtilityAPI’s industry leading, Data Exchange Platform, SVCE will be the first, and only, U.S. electricity provider with a Green Button Connect standard certified platform.
“We are excited to be launching such an innovative pilot with UtilityAPI,” said Girish Balachandran, SVCE CEO. “As much as the energy sector has been transformed by data over the past decade, we believe that data remains heavily under-valued – and good data policies are important tools to better serve our customers and spur market transformation.”
Primary users of the pilot will be third party companies in the solar, storage, energy efficiency, and EV charging sectors who need good data to deploy effective projects. SVCE also expects new business models to emerge, as this pilot lowers the barriers to data access for innovative companies. The pilot has been designated a flagship program because SVCE believes it will be transformative in improving the ability for market actors to support SVCE’s decarbonization mission while spurring private sector innovation and local economic opportunity.
In collaboration with SVCE’s data management services provider, companies will be able to use the UtilityAPI platform to request authorization from customers to access customer utility bill and usage data. The pilot will be built with the potential for third parties to send data back to SVCE via the same platform. Historically, the process for accessing energy data has been slow and cumbersome. Clean energy companies such as solar and storage providers have needed to expend considerable time and resources to acquire the data they need to offer their services. This is because there are few automated options for requesting access and providing standardized data. Many small and local businesses do not have the resources to commit to getting good data, so they must rely on less sophisticated tools such as gathering old utility bills and manually inputting data. This pilot will shorten the process into a one-click solution that will level the playing field for businesses of all sizes, lower acquisition costs for new business, and accelerate the deployment of clean energy services.
“We cannot imagine a more ideal launch partner for our data exchange platform,” said Devin Hampton, CEO of UtilityAPI. We are excited to demonstrate the value of the seamless exchange of energy data for both clean energy companies and electricity providers.”
The pilot will begin beta testing in November 2019, with the expected launch in January 2020. If your company would like to participate in the beta, please email support@utilityapi.com.
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About Silicon Valley Clean Energy
Silicon Valley Clean Energy is a community-owned agency serving the majority of Santa Clara County communities by acquiring clean, carbon-free electricity on behalf of residents and businesses. As a public agency, net revenues are returned to the community to keep rates low and promote clean energy programs. Member jurisdictions include Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and unincorporated Santa Clara County. SVCE is guided by a Board of Directors, which is comprised of a representative from the governing body of each member community. For more information, please visit SVCleanEnergy.org.
About UtilityAPI
UtilityAPI is a mission driven software company working to streamline and secure the exchange of energy usage data between utilities, clean energy companies, and other technology providers. Founded in 2014, in Oakland, California, UtilityAPI is building the data network for a cleaner, more resilient energy sector. Some of the top clean energy and energy management companies use UtilityAPI every day to get the data they need. For utilities and utility vendors, UtilityAPI offers powerful tools for managing the exchange of energy data, while gaining behind-the-meter insights.
Media Contact
Pamela Leonard
Communications Manager
O: 408-721-5301 x1004
pamela.leonard@svcleanenergy.org
