Google dribbles out PowerMeter smart-grid service

Updated at 9:25 a.m. PT with comments from San Diego Gas & Electric.

Google has signed on smart-meter manufacturer Itron and eight utilities to offer Google's PowerMeter Web service for monitoring home energy use.

PowerMeter reads a home's electricity meter and gives the consumer a detailed readout of usage. The idea is that a better understanding of electricity usage--presented via daily trends and data on individual appliances--will help people figure out how to cut consumption.

PowerMeter creates a readout of a home's electricity use over the course of a day.

(Credit: Google)

Google's home energy-monitoring software relies on meters, or add-on devices, that can communicate usage information back to utilties. In a blog post on Tuesday, Google engineer Ed Lu said that the company is seeking to find more smart-meter vendors and utilities to offer PowerMeter.

"For now, Google PowerMeter is only available to a limited group of customers, but we plan to expand our roll out later this year," Lu wrote.

In a document prepared for utilities, Google says that PowerMeter is a free, opt-in service.

Google's push into home energy monitoring is likely to be well received by consumers who want details on how they are consuming electricity. It is estimated that simply surfacing information on trends and individual appliances will allow the typical consumer to lower electricity use by 5 to 15 percent.

Within the smart-grid industry, Google is poised to make an impact as well. A number of start-ups offer home energy monitoring, through Web sites or a small device in the home.

Large IT and telecommunications providers are developing smart-grid technology as well. Cisco Systems said Monday that it intends to offer home energy monitoring, potentially as an add-on to its home network hardware. Telecommunications companies including Verizon Communicationsare exploring adding energy monitoring to their broadband services.

San Diego Gas & Electric, which has been working with Google for a year on PowerMeter, plans to have over 200,000 Itron smart meters installed this year and have its entire territory of 1.4 million customers covered by the end of 2011.

The utility will offer the same information on usage, in addition to billing records, to its customers through its own Web site. It decided to go with PowerMeter because it ties into Google's popular Web services, which allows SDG&E to provide links to its rebate and energy-efficiency programs, said Hal Snynder, the vice president of customer solutions.

"It's about getting products and programs in customers' hands in the most efficient way we possibly can. Right now, it's a challenge to get that information to them. That's where Google can be a great conduit," he said.

Snyder said that tracking energy usage is the first step in a longer smart-grid plan the utility is pursuing. Automation tools will let consumers program home appliances to take advantage of the lowest electricity rates, he said.

[Cobralord]

This isn't about letting home users monitor their electricity usage. They can already do that with their bill. Smartmeters are designed to act as a throttle on customers energy usage. California law makers are already proposing that during peak hours, home owners electricity usage be curtailed. They were primarily concerned with people using air conditioners during hot days. They wanted to be able to dictate your home temperature and deny you electricity if you used too much. So instead of using the market to regulate energy distribution, they want to use the power of the government.
This also wouldn't be necessary if these same regulators had allowed more powerplants, especially nuclear to be built. But they didn't. So now we're getting ourselves into a situation where energy has to be rationed. And only the politically well connected will get what they want. We used to be better than this.

[cwbutler]

you monitor consumption but not usage - or the other way around, if you like.

The bill just shows you you ate x kwh. if you're monitoring your usage, you can see that a 2AM your heater kicked on and your usage at that time was y, which might prompt you to turn the heater down even further so it won't kick in as often.

I know, semantics, but still...

[Cobralord]

Thanks for clarifing that. But again, what's the point of having these if they're voluntary? Geeks and Greens would love them but the average person is just going to say "meh". And why is all the focus on cutting consumption when we really need to be working on increasing supply? We've never "conserved" our way out of a resource crisis. Populations grow, and jobs, especially tech jobs require power. Instead of focusing on rationing solutions we should be investing in transmission infrastructure and increasing generation capacity.

[terrylweb]

Actually, we really need to do both. The PowerMeter idea is bridging technology, to encourage those that are willing to make behavioral changes that can help in the short term. Eventually, most appliances, electronics, HVAC equipment, etc. will be smart and connected and will automatically cycle to help balance demand on the grid and flatten out some of the peaks. This already happens in many communities with systems that allow utilities to cycle AC units during times of peak demand (hot, humid); most customers are completely unaware of the cycling. If most electric things used the minimum amount of electricity, and could time usage for when demand was lowest, SOME of the need for extra power production could be delayed, perhaps. Point is, EVERYTHING has got to be on the table...

[notsofastnow]

That's a pretty convenient way for Google to figure out who you really are. Exchanging the power usage details that my utility company should really provide itself for identifiable information to Google is a no go for me. Knowing my IP address and email account is not enough to you, Google? You really have to hunt down where I live, do you? Did someone say "do no evil?"

[kjam_productions]

Uh, they already have Google Earth and can track you down by your IP address via satellite. Sorry, but they already have the goods on you whether you like it or not.

[JonFraudCarry]

The only reason that the idea of a "Smart Grid" exists is for the utilities to control your consumption. Not the other way around. We need more power from more sources, and silly schemes like solar and wind are not going to get it done.

[open4energy]

We are helping find participants for an on-line survey of home energy monitors. There is a list of qualifying devices and you need to be using one of them.

The study ends August 30 2009, is offering a $10.00 Starbucks card for completed surveys. We vouch for the fact that there is no "trickery" with this request.

http://www.open4energy.com/forum/home/dev/home_energy_monitoring_device_survey_0907291255

This is an important subject for we need changes to our attitude, we need to change how we use energy, and we need technology to assist us where it can help and is energy effective. If you are using a device to monitor your home energy please help with your feedback.

[open4energy]

Following up on the survey (it has ended) above, we are looking for comment from actual users of Google PowerMeter.

http://www.open4energy.com/forum/home/gpm/google_powermeter_090814020

I understand that PowerMeter does not literally reduce energy use, but we would like to hear from users on how having actual usage data helped or did not help with saving energy?

[jonnyg47]

Here is the deal with google power meter.
You need either a smart meter installed on your home, or currently a TED power monitor ($199). There is a device available that does everything that the google power meter thing does - its called Energy Owl EMS and sells for $119. It does not share your electricity usage data with anyone and no one can access it because it is a stand alone system. It provides real time data (once every minute compared with next day smart meter setup) , and is 100% accurate. www.TheEnergyOwl.com