Toronto Hydro and OPEN Technologies to offer AI-powered decarbonization planning tool for building owners
This collaboration underscores Toronto Hydro's commitment to reducing emissions in Toronto by helping to enable electrification and promoting the adoption of energy-efficient technologies such as heat pumps, electric vehicle charging, hot water heating, solar, and battery energy storage.
"We're always looking for ways to support our customers on their electrification journey," said Jana Mosley, CEO of Toronto Hydro. "By working with OPEN Technologies, we're harnessing the power of AI provide building owners with ways to advance their energy efficiency and decarbonization efforts."
OPEN Technologies, a leading climate technology company with offices in Vancouver and Toronto, specializes in using surrogate modelling and market leading expertise in deep energy retrofits to help accelerate decarbonization efforts.
The Virtual Decarbonization Planning tool helps building owners quickly and accurately assess the best retrofit strategies for their properties, leveraging advanced modelling to optimize energy savings and emissions reductions. By making it easier for customers to access this technology, Toronto Hydro is seeking to allow more building owners to take advantage of the benefits of smart energy planning.
"This relationship is a huge step forward in providing Toronto building owners with the tools and information they need to make deep energy retrofits more accessible and scalable," said Donovan Woollard, CEO of OPEN Technologies. "Our AI-powered platform is designed to empower building owners with accurate, data-driven insights that make it easier to plan and implement high-impact retrofits. We are excited to work with Toronto Hydro to bring this technology to its customers and help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon built environment."
Building owners interested in accessing the Virtual Decarbonization Planning tool can email [email protected] or visit opentech.eco/products/virtual-audits-and-decarbonization-planning for more details.
About Toronto Hydro
Toronto Hydro Corporation is a holding company which wholly owns two subsidiaries:
Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (THESL) — distributes electricity; and
Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. — provides streetlighting and expressway lighting services in the city of Toronto
The principal business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries is the distribution of electricity by THESL, which owns and operates the electricity distribution system for Canada's largest city. Recognized as a Sustainable Electricity Leader™ by Electricity Canada, it has approximately 797,000 customers located in the city of Toronto and distributes approximately 17 per cent of the electricity consumed in Ontario.
About Open Technologies
OPEN Technologies is a Canadian technology company specializing in energy and decarbonization solutions. With expertise in surrogate modelling and deep energy retrofits, OPEN Technologies helps to provide cutting-edge tools that help building owners reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and accelerate the transition to zero carbon economy.
SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
11 hours ago
- Cision Canada
New exhibition Powering Progress: Toronto's Electric Revolution opens at Casa Loma, sponsored by Toronto Hydro
TORONTO, Aug. 1, 2025 /CNW/ - Toronto Hydro is proud to sponsor Powering Progress: Toronto's Electric Revolution, an engaging and immersive history exhibition hosted at one of Toronto's most iconic heritage sites, Casa Loma. The exhibition, presented by Liberty Entertainment group, runs until August 24, 2025, in Casa Loma's Carriage Room. Tickets are on sale now at Powering Progress, Toronto's Electric Revolution, retells Toronto's journey to electric innovation through the lens of Sir Henry Pellatt, the visionary behind the Electrical Development Company. The exhibition offers a window into life in early 20 th century Toronto, as impacted by electrification of the streets, homes and transit systems. "Toronto Hydro is proud to sponsor this exhibit that celebrates the powerful journey of electricity in Toronto.," said Jana Mosley, President and CEO of Toronto Hydro. "Toronto Hydro has played an important role in helping to grow the dynamic and electrified city we serve today and is honoured to be a part of this story. As we look ahead, we remain committed to supporting the city's electrification and building a brighter tomorrow." "Liberty Group and Casa Loma are proud to be part of a historic moment, bringing hydro power back to Casa Loma through our collaborative exhibit with Toronto Hydro," said Nick Di Donato, President and CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group. "Sir Henry Pellatt was a visionary and a true entrepreneur. He harnessed the power of Niagara Falls and brought electricity to Toronto, lighting the city's streets as president of the Toronto Electric Light Company. Thanks to his efforts, Toronto became the second city in Canada — after Ottawa — to join the electric revolution. Today, in partnership with Toronto Hydro, we are excited to share the full story of electricity in Toronto. Together, we celebrate the innovation, ambition and engineering that have powered this great city for generations." The new exhibit follows the powerful journey of electricity from Niagara Falls to the heart of Toronto — a vision sparked by Sir Henry Pellatt's Electrical Development Company. Guests will discover how hydroelectricity lit up Toronto's homes, streets and industries, transforming daily life and shaping the city's growth. The exhibit traces more than a century of electrification, from the founding of Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited and its appliance store to the evolving technologies that power modern life. Archival photos reveal how electricity changed the cityscape — and how access to that power wasn't always equal. Explore the electric artifacts and stories that bring Toronto's adaptation to light and power to life. From turn-of-the-century innovations to today's smart grid, see how Toronto Hydro has energized the city and connected its people through every stage of electrification. Sharing Toronto stories Beyond the façade of innovation and exorbitant wealth, Casa Loma offers a lens to uncover the multitude of histories that existed within Edwardian Toronto. Visitors may trace the technological advancements of electric technology through the homes, streets and industries of Toronto, and across decades of Toronto Hydro's development. Visualize the lived experiences and disparities in access to electricity throughout the city and the first twenty years of hydro development with archival photos of the city's adaptations of light. The electric artifacts of this exhibition encompass the various uses of electricity at the turn of the century and highlight how dramatically life has changed since. Legacies of sustainability Hydroelectric power, the first large-scale sustainable renewable energy source of the 20 th century, helped keep the smog at bay and laid the foundation for meeting today's clean energy goals. The exhibition explores how hydroelectricity expanded early Torontonians' understanding of power and consumption. Discover how Toronto Hydro's Hydro-Electric Shops helped a society unfamiliar with — and even scared of — navigate electricity. Trace the legacy of sustainability through wartime energy conservation, technological advancement and Toronto Hydro's modern initiatives. ABOUT CASA LOMA Casa Loma is one of Toronto's most recognized landmarks, a museum offering a grand and unique historical setting for exhibitions, events, and performances. The castle was built in the 1910s by wealthy Canadian financier, Sir Henry Pellatt, who lived at Casa Loma with his wife, Lady Mary Pellatt, until 1924. Sir Henry brought Hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls to Toronto, investing in the city's infrastructure and powering its transit and streetlights. Today, Casa Loma, known for its historical and architectural significance, is a heritage site that draws in visitors from all over the world. Situated on five acres, it was once the largest private residence in Canada, with ninety-eight rooms designed by architect EJ Lennox, featuring secret passageways, elaborately decorated rooms with authentic period furnishings and breathtaking views of the Toronto skyline from its towers. For more information visit and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @CasaLomaToronto ABOUT LIBERTY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP For over three decades the Liberty Entertainment Group, led by Nick Di Donato, has been redefining Toronto's restaurant, nightlife, and special event experience. As developers and operators of landmark establishments, the Liberty Entertainment Group has become recognized as one of the most successful and innovative companies in the industry. The company continues to gain success and acknowledgment for its impressive roster of unique venues, including Toronto's premier special event facilities, Casa Loma, and Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex and is also responsible for the development of Toronto's most prolific restaurants including BlueBlood Steakhouse, Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890, Michelin-starred DaNico, two Cibo Wine Bar locations (King St. West, and Yorkville) Blue Bovine Steak and Seafood House and Bovine Wine Club at Union Station, and Rogers Downsview. With over 500,000 square feet of hospitality space, the Liberty Entertainment Group caters to a diverse clientele of upwards of 1.75 million people per year including A list celebrities, sports personalities, and industry leaders. Visit ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO Toronto Hydro is a holding company which wholly owns two subsidiaries: Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (THESL) – distributes electricity; and Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. – provides streetlighting and expressway lighting services in the city of Toronto. The principal businesses of Toronto Hydro and its subsidiaries is the distribution of electricity by THESL, which owns and operates the electricity distribution system for Canada's largest city. Recognized as a Sustainable Electricity Leader™ by Electricity Canada, if has approximately 796,000 customers located in the city of Toronto and distributes approximately 18 per cent of the electricity consumed in Ontario. SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation
CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
Toronto almost lost $2.5 million in electricity fraud involving retired city worker's credentials
Toronto almost lost $2.5 million in an attempted electricity fraud involving a retired city worker's credentials, which were used to fraudulently sign contracts with third-party energy companies, according to the auditor general. In a report dated June 21, the city's watchdog said it began investigating after Toronto's Corporate Real Estate Management identified 'unusual invoices' as part of their routine account review in Oct. 2019. It was discovered that the electricity accounts for 14 City of Toronto properties had been switched from Toronto Hydro in July 2019 to two different third-party energy retailers without the city's knowledge. The contracts held an estimated value of $4.2 million, and the report noted that $2.5 million of that total represented 'what would have been lost' had the unusual invoices not been identified. 'This estimated potential loss was based on the difference between what the City would have paid Toronto Hydro versus what would have been paid to the energy retailers over the contract term,' the AG said. The report found that the contracts were signed after the employee retired and that they did not have the authority to sign contracts of this value. According to the AG, the city directed the energy retailers to revert the accounts back to Toronto Hydro and the payments made to the retailers under the void contracts were returned to the city. The investigation found that over the five months when the contract was active, the city paid roughly $250,000 to the two retailers from the start of the agreement in 2019 to Jan. 2020, when it was terminated. While all of the electricity in Toronto is physically distributed by Toronto Hydro, the report highlighted, Ontario has an energy market where consumers can purchase their electricity from the city utility or a licensed energy retailer. 'In some cases, energy retailers pay commissions to consulting firms that bring in new contracts to them. The consulting firms act as intermediaries between the energy retailers and consumers. It appears that the commissions received by the consultants was the motivation to enter the City into these contracts,' the report read. The consulting firms were not named in the report. Following the investigation, the AG found that the retired employee did not sign the contracts, and the consulting firm owners 'appeared' to have some involvement in setting up the new contracts, although that could not be substantiated. It also found that retired employees' credentials were fraudulently used to set up the contracts. The AG added it was unable to identify if a city employee was involved in this case. The AG said the matter has been referred to Toronto police to assess whether criminal charges should be laid. In the meantime, the AG is recommending that the city manager forward the investigation to other agencies in Toronto 'to encourage diligence in reviewing and approving invoices, with emphasis to those Agencies and Corporations that are responsible for reviewing their own electricity invoices.' The report will go before the audit committee on Friday.
Cision Canada
08-07-2025
- Cision Canada
Toronto Hydro and OPEN Technologies to offer AI-powered decarbonization planning tool for building owners
TORONTO, July 8, 2025 /CNW/ - Toronto Hydro and OPEN Technologies are pleased to announce that they will work together to help enable building owners to plan energy-efficient retrofits using OPEN Technologies' Virtual Decarbonization Planning tool. Through this initiative, Toronto Hydro is expected to offer virtual building audits or virtual decarbonization plans to eligible customers at no cost. OPEN Technologies' tool uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help building owners and managers understand their current energy use and the specific retrofits that they can implement to help lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy costs. This collaboration underscores Toronto Hydro's commitment to reducing emissions in Toronto by helping to enable electrification and promoting the adoption of energy-efficient technologies such as heat pumps, electric vehicle charging, hot water heating, solar, and battery energy storage. "We're always looking for ways to support our customers on their electrification journey," said Jana Mosley, CEO of Toronto Hydro. "By working with OPEN Technologies, we're harnessing the power of AI provide building owners with ways to advance their energy efficiency and decarbonization efforts." OPEN Technologies, a leading climate technology company with offices in Vancouver and Toronto, specializes in using surrogate modelling and market leading expertise in deep energy retrofits to help accelerate decarbonization efforts. The Virtual Decarbonization Planning tool helps building owners quickly and accurately assess the best retrofit strategies for their properties, leveraging advanced modelling to optimize energy savings and emissions reductions. By making it easier for customers to access this technology, Toronto Hydro is seeking to allow more building owners to take advantage of the benefits of smart energy planning. "This relationship is a huge step forward in providing Toronto building owners with the tools and information they need to make deep energy retrofits more accessible and scalable," said Donovan Woollard, CEO of OPEN Technologies. "Our AI-powered platform is designed to empower building owners with accurate, data-driven insights that make it easier to plan and implement high-impact retrofits. We are excited to work with Toronto Hydro to bring this technology to its customers and help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon built environment." Building owners interested in accessing the Virtual Decarbonization Planning tool can email [email protected] or visit for more details. About Toronto Hydro Toronto Hydro Corporation is a holding company which wholly owns two subsidiaries: Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (THESL) — distributes electricity; and Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. — provides streetlighting and expressway lighting services in the city of Toronto The principal business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries is the distribution of electricity by THESL, which owns and operates the electricity distribution system for Canada's largest city. Recognized as a Sustainable Electricity Leader™ by Electricity Canada, it has approximately 797,000 customers located in the city of Toronto and distributes approximately 17 per cent of the electricity consumed in Ontario. About Open Technologies OPEN Technologies is a Canadian technology company specializing in energy and decarbonization solutions. With expertise in surrogate modelling and deep energy retrofits, OPEN Technologies helps to provide cutting-edge tools that help building owners reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and accelerate the transition to zero carbon economy. SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation
