Smarter Utility

While utility company and conservationist groups have been recommending smart metering technology to help manage and cut down on energy use in the home, the technologies themselves have been having some trouble finding their way into U.S. consumers' homes.

In an attempt to move forward with the push of smart metering into the home, energy and sustainability management company Ecova has announced an alliance with Aclara, a company that offers solutions in consumer engagement portals, utility data management, and intelligent infrastructure. Together, the companies are launching what they are calling the “Home Energy Plan.”

Once consumers sign up for the new plan, they can begin to review their historical energy consumption and other home data. The goal is to be able to identify potential areas for savings. The benefits are expected to be for both home owners and utilities, who have been seeking a better way to foster long-term consumer engagement over whole-house energy savings, say the two companies in a press release.

The Home Energy Plan will use proprietary algorithms to create an easy-to-read report called “My Energy Insights” that will contain real energy usage data and personalized efficiency tips for consumers' homes. During a subsequent home consultation, an energy expert can help install basic energy savings measures and guide consumers toward making bigger changes to help conserve.

“This program is a step towards a future where utilities and consumers engage in an ongoing dialogue to reduce energy use—and it is being implemented right now,” said Jon Thomsen, president of the Utility Division at Ecova. “Engaging consumers in energy efficiency programs is not unique, but the use of comprehensive and comparative energy use data to inform a home visit, and a robust follow-up campaign that provides pertinent recommendations is. The Home Energy Plan builds on our deep expertise helping utilities market energy efficiency to consumers and takes our current in-home energy efficiency programs to the next level.”

In essence, notes Greentech Media the two are promising to combine mobile workforce technology with smart grid consumer engagement to make each home efficiency retrofit project faster, smarter and longer-lasting. 

While smart grid technology is helpful for consumers to identify areas for improvement, without a solid plan for customer engagement and actionable follow-up, it becomes one more set of data that essentially lead nowhere.