Cisco Home Energy Controller

Cisco has developed a home energy "controller" which it will be testing with consumers through utilities, including Duke Energy later this year. This $900 touch-screen device shows consumers how electricity is used in the home and alerts them when higher prices are in effect. It also connects to other wireless devices, such as a smart thermostat, to let people program a home to be more efficient. Cisco envisions that the system will be used for many applications, including managing electric-vehicle charging and storage.