I'm in BC, with BC Hydro. The smart meter means that everyone can see their own daily usage and trends. I'm sure most won't look, though I do. What I found more

I'm in BC, with BC Hydro. The smart meter means that everyone can see their own daily usage and trends. I'm sure most won't look, though I do. What I found more useful is the paired device from Rainforest Automation, e.g. https://www.rainforestautomation.com/rfa-z114-eagle-200-2/ https://www.rainforestautomation.com/rfa-z114-eagle-200-2/. I had to buy this, but it's paired to my specific meter. Basically it gives me a means to see my overall usage in real time, so that I know how whatever we are doing, affects the usage. BC Hydro has had programs such as a voluntary one, where you get an email about a 3-hour period the next day. They'd like you to drop your usage for that period by 20%, and you get a few dollars per successful drop at the end of the season. With our heat pump for heat, we just switch it off for that time, and skip using the clothes dryer then. At the end of the season, we got maybe $50 off our bill in credits. They have proposed a time-based plan, with discounts for night-time. I have not elected to try that out, because it also came with penalties for daytime usage.