Apple’s new EnergyKit helps apps cut cost & carbon

EnergyKit is a new framework for developers

Apple is introducing a new tool for developers in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 that could make energy use smarter and more sustainable. Here’s how.

The EnergyKit framework gives apps access to a personalized grid forecast. It shows when electricity is cleaner and, if users connect their utility account, potentially cheaper.

EnergyKit, part of Apple’s environmental responsibility initiative, enables apps to support this effort from home devices. Designed for residential use, it targets common electricity demands like HVAC systems and electric vehicle charging.

With EnergyKit, developers can build apps that recommend when to use electricity based on grid conditions. The system analyzes environmental data and local energy mix to highlight periods of relatively clean energy.

For users who’ve connected their electric utility account via the Home app, the framework can flag peak and off-peak hours based on their time-varying rate plan. That allows the app to suggest optimal times for running a dryer, pre-cooling a house, or delaying EV charging until the power is cleaner or cheaper.

Built for home energy management

EnergyKit isn’t meant for industrial or commercial systems. Instead, it focuses on what Apple calls “behind-the-meter” devices.

Devices like home appliances or electric vehicles that draw power from the grid. Developers can track how these devices consume electricity by sending “load events” to EnergyKit, enabling insights into usage trends and cleaner energy periods.

Built for home energy management

The system can also return environmental impact data through what Apple calls Electricity Insight Records. These show the carbon intensity of electricity use and can help users understand the impact of their energy behavior.

Still in beta

EnergyKit is currently available as a beta in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. Developers need to enable a specific entitlement in Xcode to use it, and support is limited to development builds and Ad Hoc testing for now.

Apple says support for TestFlight and App Store submissions is coming later in 2025.

EnergyKit’s guidance features are only available in the contiguous United States, which means developers targeting users outside that region will need to account for the limitation. This obviously excludes Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories.

While still early, EnergyKit could pave the way for more intelligent home energy management. If Apple continues expanding the framework, it may eventually help shift energy usage patterns at scale.

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