When a consumer has easy-to-access information about their energy use, they have the power to change their consumption patterns. Having real-time energy consumption data can potentially save you 10-35% . Come learn how the smart grid and smart meters will impact residential consumers' electricity rates and how a home energy monitoring system can assist you in being more energy efficient.

1. Home Energy Management
What you need to know…
Presented by
KC Jacobson
VP Business Development
giving people power over energy
in conjunction with

2. Knowledge is Power
How can
consumers
benefit?

3. What is the Smart Grid?
Inspired by
• increasing demand, especially at peak
• rising rates
• need to accommodate renewable input
• improve reliability & security
• need for more flexibility
Moving from 1-way centralized
network
Towards dynamic decentralized
networks with bidirectional flow of
energy AND DATA

4. Smart Grid:
It’s All About Communication
Electrical Power System From
Generation to End Use
Advanced
Sensors and
Computing
Interconnected by
Communications that
Reach Every Device

5. Today’s Reality for Consumers
Energy Prices Rising Retail Price of Electricity in
California
• Cost of electricity
increases every year 19.000
Deregulation
• New Smart Meters 15.500
Experiment
Cents/kwh
are coming 12.000
Increased “Green” 8.500
Sensibility
5.000
• Dependence on 1U.S.
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Energy Information Administration Report
2010
foreign energy
sources Consumers are
motivated to make
• Reducing carbon
footprint
changes.

6. Electric Company Motivation
Peak Demand is the Enemy
• Higher cost of generation
= Lower margins
• Operating costs are increasing
• Permits for new Cost of Electricity Generation in California
power plants 900
800
and distribution Total C os t of P roduc tion
700
(inc luding debt s ervic e and
lines increasingly 600
operating c os ts )
500
difficult to obtain
$/MWH
400
R etail
P ric e
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000
(MW)
1California Energy Commission, “An Action Plan to Develop More Demand Response in
California’s Electricity Markets”

7. Traditional Tools are are Limited
Information on the Electric Bill
• Utility bills hard to understand
• Tiered rates are confusing
• Consumers don’t know what
individual appliances, etc. cost to use
Electric Company Energy Audits
• Based on standard profiles & forms
• No actual data on personal energy use
• Recommendations can be expensive, inconvenient

8. Smart Meters Alone Won’t
Change This
Default communication is
utility  Smart Meter
Rate structures will become more
sophisticated
• Time of Use (TOU) Metering
• Rates can change every 15 minutes
to reflect utility costs
• Utility may offer rebates & discounts to
encourage energy efficiency

9. To Benefit…
Consumers MUST be Proactive!
What does this mean for me?
Need real-time data…
• Big picture:
Effectively reduce peak demand
• Closer to home:
Reduce utility bills
Can’t change behavior without feedback
Access to usable data will save you $$$
Don’t forget Privacy considerations

10. Home Energy Management
Systems (HEMS) are the Solution
Variety of Systems Available
• Meet needs of all types of consumers
• Many price points
• Levels of detail & control
Types of monitoring & management
• Monitor & control devices
(programmable thermostats)
• Monitor whole home – HW and/or SW
• Monitor circuit-by-circuit
or room-by-room

11. HEMS Communications
to Suit Every Need
Internet - Google, Microsoft
Device display –TED, KillAWatt,
Thermostats
WiFi – Tendril, Control 4
ZigBee – Control4, EcoDog, smart
appliances
PowerLine Carrier (PLC) – EcoDog

12. Control Philosophies
Set it & forget it – e.g. thermostats
Utility control – usually in exchange
for rate discount
Interactive consumer control
• Software
• Hardware
Hybrid models

13. Benefits of HEMS
“Prius” Effect: Awareness half the battle
Typical savings 10-25%
Added savings by identifying
“Energy Hogs”
• Faulty appliances
• Older devices
More savings from:
• Control capabilities
• Usage analysis

14. Impact on Alternative Energy
Home Energy Management can
enable consumer to optimize
alternative energy installations
Some systems include detailed
monitoring of energy input as well as
demand
Can enhance efficiency and help
calculate return on investment

15. Changing Consumer Behavior
‘Prius Effect’
Solutions as individual as consumers
• Utility bill vs affordability
• Choices for those who want more control
• Alternatives for those who want utility to
control
• Some will chose to do nothing
Utility Incentives will be key
• Rate structures
• Rebates & incentives
• How incentives delivered to consumers

16. The Results
Savings for consumers can be
significant
Potentially the most effective means to:
• Reduce costs
• Reduce energy consumption
• Reduce carbon emissions
• Reduce need for new power plants