Smart meters will transform the way people understand energy. Four households, newly equipped with smart meters and the smart energy monitor that comes with them, are about to find out what it’s like to have more control over their energy use and bills.
Tag Archives | energy saving
How smart meter data helped cut building energy consumption
Commercial real estate company Colliers International used smart meter data to cut energy consumption in a Canadian buildings it manages by 26%. In a case study of how smart meters deployed in British Columbia have helped cut energy consumption in commercial property, Colliers International reports how they used the online portal MyHydro, supplied by Canadian electric utility BC Hydro to all customers, to track usage data.
Now utilities can tell customers how much energy each appliance uses
It must be at least a decade since I first heard the idea of “disaggregating” electric bills. The idea back then was to “listen” for the electric signatures of different appliances and gradually figure out which appliances were using how much power. Now a variation on this theme is in operation, as you will read in this guest editorial from Salim Popatia of Ecotagious. You’ll have to decide for yourself if it’s good enough in your territory. But I agree with his premise that this level of detail — this ability to see which devices in your home or business are consuming the most electricity — can be a powerful tool and motivator for customers. Continue Reading →
Interview about Aarhus, Denmark’s smart meter project
The City of Aarhus in Denmark is in the process of rolling out smart heat meters to 53,000 district heating customers. This will be part of Aarhus’s planned intelligent energy system and will contribute to the city’s goal of becoming CO2 neutral by 2030.
Utility companies create excitement around energy conservation
Utilities play a key role in the adoption of energy efficient practices by consumers and are showing continued strides in meeting increased energy conservation benchmarks nationwide. The utilities leading the way in energy efficiency are promoting economic growth, providing environmental benefits and helping to secure their communities’ endurance and longevity in a time of increasing energy costs and limited resources.
Central Maine Power: smart meter investments provide benefits
Central Maine Power’s (CMP) smart grid project has produced advancements in customer services, improvements in meter operations, and lesson learned that will be used for guiding future smart grid projects, according to a new case study from the U.S. Department of Energy.
More than half of smart meter customers have reduced their energy bills
More than half (54 per cent) of households that have a smart meter installed have seen their energy bills fall, according to research by British Gas. The study also revealed that 64 per cent of those that had recorded a saving had reduced their annual energy bill by up to £75. The report also stated that nine out of ten smart meter customers are now taking “simple steps” to reduce their energy usage. Continue Reading →
How Opower sells energy efficiency to utilities
At first glance, Opower’s mission—“to motivate everyone on earth to save energy”—seems to be in direct opposition to the electric utility business model. Which is, at its most basic level, to sell electricity. None of this would be a problem if Opower didn’t work directly with utilities. But Opower—one of the largest and fastest-growing energy efficiency companies in the country—partners with 90 utilities to reach 22 million of their residential customers around the world. So what’s the catch? Continue Reading →
New research shows consumers are happy with smart meters
Research from uSwitch has shown that households which have smart meters are not only enjoying more accurate billing but are also more satisfied with their energy providers. The survey revealed that 92% of households with a smart meter are happy to have it and a further 87% would recommend having one installed. The findings suggest that recently voiced concerns regarding how the population would respond to a general rollout of smart meters are misplaced.
Energy management apps to be piloted in Ontario
The Toronto-based MaRS Discovery District has launched a pilot in partnership with Ontario utilities Hydro One and London Hydro to make available new energy management apps to their customers to help them manage their energy consumption.
