Google Juices Up The Smart Meter for Energy Savings

Google who?, You know, search engine Google. Google may have come up with the ultimate energy spy tool for monitoring power bills.  According to reports, the first Google Powermeter Energy Monitor is being used in Britain by customers of first:Utility.

Here in the States, there are a few power providers testing the Google system: White River Valley Electric in Missouri, Wisconsin Public Service, TXU around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, San Diego Gas & Electric, and JEA in Jacksonville, Florida.

Here is the skinny on the Google Energy Monitor. First, the power provider removes your old electric meter and installs ( free of charge) a new smart meter. The smart meter reads the usage every 30 minutes ( or on a daily basis for gas ) and produces a 100 percent accurate reading. The smart meter sends the reading back to the provider ( no meter readers needed ) and the provider sends the reading to Google which in turn provides your computer, right in your home, with all it needs to show you real time, accurate power usage.

To see your power usage for the hour, the day, the month, etc. you simply log in and choose a detailed graph or report that details how you are doing on your power savings efforts.

Something else is coming along that is connected to these new smart meters, stay tuned to The Energy Spy Report for the continuing smart meter story. For now, check out www.google.com/powermeter

Donames is the host of www.detectenergy.com. If you are looking for ways to conserve energy at your home, give detectenergy a try.

Join the Energy Spy's...but, I won't leave the light on for you!  Don Ames