Skip to Main Content
DBT GPT
How the Ontario Energy Board Generated Responsible Energy Use
Play Video

To reduce strain on the power grid, we used data, gamification and the spirit of competition to inspire the people of Oshawa to use less — and less expensive — energy.

Client

Ontario Energy Board

Services
Strategy & Consulting
Customer Experience & Design
Technology & Engineering
Data & Artificial Intelligence
Industry
Energy & Commodities

Start a Conversation

The Imperative for Change

Today’s growing energy consumption puts a huge strain on the power grid. To address the stress, we helped the Ontario Energy Board shift from the inside, launching time-of-use pricing, which charges lower rates during off-peak hours as an incentive for customers to spread out their energy usage.

While the new pricing structure successfully reduced costs, people were still reluctant to change their longtime habits. So we set out to reach them in micro-moments, with the goal of small changes adding up to a four to six percent reduction in peak energy usage.

The Transformative Solution

We identified about 2,000 customers to participate in a pilot that makes analyzing energy usage fun. The pilot app we designed and developed helps them visualize their habits, identify actionable insights, compare their usage to their own history as well as the consumption of their neighbors and earn badges for a job well done. App alerts as well as texts keep customers tuned in to the importance of conscientious energy usage.

Oshawa Peak Power App

Screens from the app

The Business Impact

The app really resonated with Ontario Energy Board customers, making them more conscientious about energy use, and helping some save over 25%. Results showed impressive reductions at all times of use, with -2% vs. +3% winter on-peak usage impact, -6% vs. +5% summer on-peak usage impact, and -12.84% vs. -2.64% summer average critical peak price impact. The overall project goals of 4-6% energy savings were easily met.

Customer feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with people reporting a deeper understanding of their energy use and positive changes in their habits.

"Awesome program, fun challenging our household to do better in the rankings, we went from being ranked last, to second, with a few first place days."

Customer Review

Award-winning Work

  • Oshawa Power & Publicis Sapient: Public Sector
  • Oshawa Power & Publicis Sapient: Mobile Sites - Utilities & Services
  • Oshawa Power & Publicis Sapient: Excellence for Utility or Productivity Apps
Supratik Chaudhuri
Supratik Chaudhuri
Director, Energy & Commodities Lead

Let's connect

Related Reading

UK Mobile Experience Barometer Report 2021
Insight

UK Mobile Experience Barometer Report 2021

Our research shows that many expect energy suppliers to help them manage their energy consumption. Read on for more insights.

Read article
Energy’s Retail Future: How Innovation Drives Success
Insight

Energy’s Retail Future: How Innovation Drives Success

Energy retailers face a reshaped landscape, and they must embrace change to define the playing field on which they can compete. There are five things Publicis Sapient recommends energy retailers do to prosper. Read more here.

Read article
British Gas Mobile Experience
Work

British Gas Mobile Experience

How a new app smooths customer interactions, creates business value and encourages continuous innovation.

View case study