Green Button Ontario Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQs below are publicly available on the OEB’s Industry-led Work Group pages at the Ontario Energy Board. We just made it easier to find and search them. This page will be updated as required. The OEB website is considered the source of the content and if there is any discrepancy, please consider the OEB as the source of truth. If you find any missing FAQ’s or differences in material from the OEB website, please contact us and we will consider your input and make the change as required.
- Besides Utilities and Vendors to Utilities, what’s NAESB’s rule on when to obtain the standard?
“The NAESB copyright most definitely extends to Third Parties/vendors that would need access to the standard to produce Green Button / ESPI streams or files. We have segments in each of our quadrants for service companies and many member service companies that provide support [to] the utilities, transmission providers, pipelines, local distribution companies, etc. “At the very least, if a company/ individual is offering a ‘product/service’ that conforms to the standard, then we expect the company/individual to have valid legal access to the standard.” — Jonathan Booe, North American Energy Standards Board
- Can a Utility deny a Third Party because they don’t meet the requirements of the Utility’s Terms and Conditions?
Yes. However, if T&C were overly restrictive or unduly punitive, Third Parties can escalate to OEB through the Industry Relations Enquiry (IRE) system: IndustryRelations@oeb.ca.
- Can Vendors be GBA Certified?
The GBA certification process is for Utilities. A Vendor to a Utility can be GBA Certified but Utilities using their products must still get Certified.
- Can we do Bulk Registration?
For a single Utility, yes; as this is GB-related. Across multiple Utilities, no. Section 3 (1) of the Regulation sets out that it is the account holder that may authorize the Utility to share data with a Third Party. The Utility must be able to identify that it is the actual account holder that is making the request.
- Do I need to Buy the Standard?
If you are an Ontario Electric or Natural Gas Utility or a vendor using the standard. YES. Also see NAESB Copyright.
- Do I need the NAESB v3.3 ESPI Standard to take part in the IWG or sub working Groups
No but you may need to purchase the
Standard as required by regulation, law
and or copyright requirements. The
IWG is not the NAESB. We need to
conform with the same rules as others
(as required by laws and or
Regulations) - Does the ESPI (GB) standard handle Line Losses?
Yes, there are fields for Line Losses.
- For bundled charges on the bill, do Utilities have to provide this or just provide what is on the bill (summed up)?
Breakout is not a requirement unless the Utility provides this information today in the normal course of business. Providing the breakout in any one-off discussion with a customer, is not considered normal course of business.
- For bundled charges on the bill, the regulation states that we may provide a breakout where possible. Do we have to provide this or just provide what is on the bill (summed up)?
The breakout is not a requirement unless the Distributor provides this information today in the normal course of business. If you can supply it, the standard supports it. See Best Practices section for more details.
- How Many times do I as a Utility need to certify?
If they are separate platforms or tested separately you will have to pay separately (same time and using the same engine).
- How do we deal with privacy and cybersecurity as a Utility?
The standard is capable of managing interaction between the Utility and the Green Button User. Utilities still take on responsibilities as normally required.
- How do we deal with privacy and cybersecurity as a Vendor or Third Party?
The standard is capable of managing interaction between the Utility and the Green Button User. Utilities still take on responsibilities as normally required.
- How do we report loss adjusted data?
The NAESB ESPI standard provides a means to report loss adjusted data. The Technical Subgroup will provide guidance.
- How far back in time do we need to provide historical data?
Utilities should provide 24 months’ data from the time of request, or as much account and usage history is available at time of request if less than 24 months.
- How is BR scope parameter used (real example)?
No real use case has been defined for the use of the BR scope parameter.
- How much time do utilities have before sending responses to a third party for the request of data?
The IWG is setting out Best Practices. These will be worked on through industry engagement and activities through Sub Working Groups.
- How will market-wide “Best Practices” be produced and managed?
The standard is capable of managing interaction between the Utility and the Green Button User. Utilities still take on responsibilities as normally required.
- Is DMD different than existing Green Button download available to customers right now?
Most legacy Ontario Green Button DMD platforms were not Certified by Green Button Alliance.
Likely, it will not be complaint. Reminder: the Ontario Government requires version 3.3 of NAESB REQ.21 ESPI.
- Is historical data required for former customers of a Utility?
Utilities are not required to pass data on to previous customers even if they move from within the Utility.
- Is there a privacy concern regarding Third Parties having access to whether a customer is on OESP as presented on the bill? Does it need explicit consent?
This should be addressed by the Utility’s privacy policy and explained as part of the authorization process.
- Must Utilities include deposit information on-hand on the bill?
Not unless it is commonly provided to the customer on the bill or online portals. See Best Practices section for more details.
- What are we looking to solve in these meetings when we’re mostly going to be engaging Third Parties to implement Green Button technology?
As the Utility, you should understand the technical elements of the standard such that if your implementation vendor has questions, you can help clarify the requirement.
- What consumption data will be made available by Utilities through GB: e.g. unadjusted (metered) or adjusted (after application of Total Loss factor)?
The Standard does hold these data sets.
Each Utility is required to determine what data is available.
- What happens if Utility ‘A’ accepts a Third Party and Utility ‘B’ rejects them?
If the Third Party has concern of a Utility rejecting them, they can go through the Industry Relations Enquiry (IRE) system, IndustryRelations@oeb.ca to engage the OEB.
- What is involved in GBA certification testing?
Look on the GBA website for more information. It is part of Ontario’s regulation requirement.
- What is the cost of GBA Certification?
- DMD Cert+Test is US$3,000.
- Cert+Test is US$3,200.
- The cost of DMD+CMD Cert+Cert+Test is US$3,700. (Both CMD and DMD Certification
must occur during the same Certification testing session).
- When Do the Utilities have to have their systems Operational and Certified by GBA?
Regulation states November 1, 2023
- When can Utilities become GBA Certified?
Utility implementations can enter the queue now; testing is live and being performed to ESPI v.3.3 with both Usage and Retail Customer Data components.
- Where Can I find the Ontario Regulation?
- Where can I find OEB staff guidance related to Green Button implementation in Ontario?
- Where can I get Best Practices for Ontario Green Button implementation?
The IWG is setting out Best Practices. These will be worked on through industry engagement and activities through sub-working groups.
- Who needs to get Certified by the Green Button Alliance?
All Ontario Utilities within the Regulation. Completed by November 1, 2023.
- Will we get handholding to understand the ESPI standard?
Yes. It is the intent of the Technical Working Group to assist in understanding the ESPI standard.
- Would it be helpful to have a centralized authorization/ authentication solution, where there is a single place for all Utility customers / Third Parties in Ontario?
It is not part of the existing implementation and is not a requirement under the regulation.
- Files we received are .xsd files. How can they be opened?
XML Schema Definition (.xsd) files can be viewed using a browser or open-source XML file viewing tool (Notepad++, Code Browser, Microsoft XML Notepad, XmlPad).
- How many options are there for Reading Quality (for the metered intervals)?
There are 19 options and more can be proposed, if needed.
- Which Function Block(s) or objects does Gas Usage and Utility Bill refer to in the ESPI Retail Customer schema?
Function Blocks 4, 10 and 15 for Usage Summary. Function Blocks 51-63 for Account Information.
- Do we need only the REQ.21 standard or the entire 3.3 version?
Version 3.3 refers to the latest available version of the NAESB REQ.21 ESPI (i.e., Green Button) standard.