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Get the free app, and add real-time energy monitoring with a hub

What's driving energy use in your home? If you're looking for insights beyond those available in our online MyHydro energy tracking tools, it's time to move on to our HydroHome app.

We've designed the app, available for free, to empower you to track, understand and actively manage your home electricity usage on your smartphone, from anywhere. And we recently added two new features to the popular app, which has been downloaded by more than 75,000 British Columbians to date.

Here's what's new:

• An energy cost analysis feature – available now – that shows the key drivers behind your energy costs, broken down into things you can control, and things you can't.
• A "comparison to similar homes" tool – to be released later this summer – that shows how your energy use compares to similar homes near you, as well as insights and advice.

"The new energy cost analysis feature puts the power in customers hands by revealing what's driving their energy use, separating the factors they can control from those they can't," says Reid Arkinstall, senior product manager for residential energy products at BC Hydro. "I think energy use is often invisible, but these features bring it to light, giving customers a clear picture of where their energy is going."

Based on the details you provide, such as your heating type, how your hot water is heated, and whether you charge an electric car at home, the app can let you know which types of devices – heating, entertainment, laundry, etc. – are the big energy users.

See below for images of the energy cost analysis feature in the HydroHome app, showing what's driving electricity costs.

Arkinstall is particularly excited for residents who opt for one of the two optional hubs that deliver real-time energy use information. While the online tool MyHydro and the HydroHome app both show historical usage ­as recently as the day before, the hubs supercharge the experience by showing what's happening now.

Turn on your clothes dryer and you'll immediately see exactly how much that's increasing your home energy use. Ditto for a baseboard heater cranked up in a bedroom, an air conditioner used for a few hours, or even a toaster that causes a brief spike in consumption.

With a hub, you'll be able to see how much electricity you're using at any given time, broken down by individual systems and connected devices. There are two hub options available for a one-time fee: Powerlync ($75) or the Energy Bridge ($179) suited to those who want more specific information about smart home devices they've installed in their home.

Note that the hubs won't work in all home types, including apartments, and that features will be limited in townhomes without direct access to a smart meter. Get details on hub compatibility and features.

Hubs can be purchased directly through the HydroHome app once you've downloaded it and logged in.

The free app and both hubs provide access to the energy visualizer, bill projection, budget tracker, insights and tips. But only the hubs give you real-time energy data.

"Talking to our customers, we've found that the real power, the greatest value, is in getting that live data," says Arkinstall. "It unlocks a great amount of information from a visibility standpoint. You don't need a smart dryer to know how much your energy use has gone up. When you've turned on the dryer, you'll see exactly what happens, on your phone."

What a "similar homes" comparison can tell you

Later this summer, you'll see the "similar homes" comparison option on HydroHome. It will offer a clear, personalized benchmark that compares your energy use to homes with similar characteristics and gives you a lens into spikes in energy use you may be able to reduce. 

A clear, personalized benchmark that compares your energy use to homes with similar characteristics gives you a lens into spikes in energy use you may be able to reduce. You may be cruising along with "below the norm" usage most days, then suddenly find that you're using more electricity than similar homes in your area. Did you leave the air conditioner on when you left your home? Was it a DIY home improvement project that included a lot of power tool usage? Or was it your teen's return home from university and their daily marathon showers?

Comparing your home's usage can be a powerful motivator to save, highlighting chances to save money and confirming that those changes are working. It also adds context to raw energy usage numbers that can, at times, seem mysterious. The changes you make could be behavioural – washing clothes in cold water and/or hang-drying laundry – or they can be larger, more permanent changes such as improved draftproofing, scheduling via smart thermostats, or an insulation upgrade.

"The similar homes comparison is another way we're helping customers gain perspective on their energy consumption," says Arkinstall. "The data we use is aimed to provide a very close like-for-like comparison. That's context that's often lacking, and it can be really powerful."

Download HydroHome at Apple's App Store or through Google Play.