All About the Smart Power Meter

The Smart Grid will benefit consumers by saving them money and give them easier access to their accounts. It will be simple for the consumer to view the amount of energy they are using and how much the energy costs at different times throughout the day. This information will allow consumers to save money by using less electricity during peak times. Consumers also have the option of adding electricity back into the system with solar and/or wind power they have generated onsite. This extra energy can then be sold back the power company.

The environment would also benefit from this system. Greenhouse gas emissions can be decreased by this technologically advanced system. Because consumers can monitor the peak energy portions of the day, they can program their smart appliances to run at night or other low energy times of the day. This benefits the environment as well as the consumer.

In addition to the above benefits, the Smart Grid can help to enhance our nation’s security by strengthening our power system. This will allow our nation’s power system to be better prepared in the event of a natural emergency such as ice storms, hurricanes, tornados, or even a terror attack.

All in all, a Smart Grid system will provide many benefits and help to improve our current power system.

The Smart Grid is a technologically advanced power grid system. This system uses digital technology to transfer electricity from suppliers to consumers. The Smart Grid system allows power to be transmitted in a more efficient manner. This will allow the power companies to respond more capably to a large array of conditions, such as lack of sunlight for solar power or other weather related conditions. This system will improve the way in which electricity moves from the power plants to the consumers.

Microsoft has a great free web-based service that lets households track their energy usage and offers home specific tips to reduce power usage in your home. The Microsoft “Hohm” uses algorithms developed by the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory and the US Department of Energy to help users find out where they can make changes and improvements in their home to reduce energy usage.

Once you sign up you begin the survey by answering questions about your home and about your energy usage. So far the service is still in beta, but it is worth checking out. Another great way to save on energy consumption.

TED is a simple at home whole house monitoring device that shows you energy usage in real time.

The unit hooks into your homes electrical panel and feeds data into a remote unit that can sit in a high visible spot inside your home. Optional software called “Ted Footprints” is a data logging software that looks like it will give you all the data and graphs you could desire.

This looks like a a great tool not only for monitoring, but for teaching your kids the connection between energy usage and dollars.

Check out the TED.

What is Advanced Metering Infrastructure?

Advanced Metering Infrastructure, also known as AMI is an infrastructure plan for new electric meters show real-time data as well as pricing information to the end user of the meter. The infrastructure will be some type of network of communiction with hardware, and software enable detailed power data to be shared. Having the this metering infrastruture in place is the backbone of the power meter goal.

Having energy usage information, telling you how much energy you are using in your house, will help you make better choice and help you to save resources like energy and money.

So the goal here is to use software to accurately measure and track your energy usage.