In February 2009, we reported that Google had launched the first test of a prototype home energy-use monitoring software called Google PowerMeter. The tool is devised to help consumers save money by making informed energy decisions based on real-time information.
Now Google has announced the beta pilot test phase of the program; the identity of its integration partner—Itron, the largest manufacturer of smart meters; and the names of the first eight utility partners in the United States, Canada, and India that will offer Google PowerMeter to their customers. The service will allow affected homeowners to access detailed information about their home energy use from their personal computers. The following PowerMeter utility partners represent more than 10 million customers:
San Diego Gas & Electric (California)
TXU Energy (Texas)
JEA (Florida)
Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (Wisconsin)
White River Valley Electric Cooperative (Missouri)
Glasgow EPB (Kentucky)
Toronto Hydro-Electric System Ltd. (Canada)
Reliance Energy (India)
PowerMeter works by receiving information from a participating utility’s smart meter and displaying the details as a gadget on the homeowner’s iGoogle homepage. The program is free to the homeowners and utilities that use it. Consumers concerned about privacy needn’t worry; homeowners must opt in to participate, and no personal identification information will be shared through the service, Google says. The company also promises that all information will be securely stored, noting that homeowners can choose to delete any energy data they receive and request that their utility stop sending energy-use data to their PowerMeter account.
Initial PowerMeter testing among Google’s own staffers yielded promising results, showing users exactly which of their home appliances were responsible for excessive electricity demand and illustrating how the simple steps they took to correct the issues—like cleaning refrigerator coils or resetting timers—helped reduce electricity loads and save them money.
Google plans to continue rolling out PowerMeter through additional utility partners later this year.
