FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


70% of Surveyed Utilities are Planning
Home Energy Management

Based 110 phone interviews with utility project managers, ON World’s recently published report reveals utilities’ residential demand response plans, preferred products and services, HAN technologies, distribution channels, opinion on third party service  providers, and more.

SAN DIEGO, CA, April 27, 2011— As utilities gear up to rollout tens of millions of smart meters over the next decade, residential energy management ranks high on the list of priorities, according to a recently completed phone survey by ON World.  In fact, 7 out of 10 utilities are planning in-home energy management solutions that integrate with their customers’ Home Area Networks (HANs).

“Multi-billion dollar AMI initiatives, the availability of low power sensor network technologies, and standards such as ZigBee Smart Energy have ushered in a wave of residential energy management innovations,” says Mareca Hatler, ON World’s research director.  “Utilities are quickly moving beyond the pilot testing phase and seeking new partners, products, and services.”

ON World identified hundreds of current Home Area Network pilots or programs that feature dynamic pricing, energy Web portals, smart appliances, and/or in-home energy management systems.  Some utilities such as British Gas, San Diego Gas & Electric, OG&E and the City of Leesburg are giving customers with smart meters access to their energy consumption that updates hourly or more frequently.  AEP Ohio and NV Energy will soon be distributing tens of thousands of Control4’s advanced energy management systems.

Some of ON World’s research findings include the following:

  • Sixty-one percent (61%) offer or are planning to give residential customers access to their energy consumption information, updated at least daily
  • 14% are planning energy consumption updates of several times per day or more frequently
  • Almost half are installing or planning meter-to-HAN gateways
  • ZigBee is preferred by a factor of ten over other HAN technologies   
  • Forty-four percent (44%) believe that third party alliances are essential or will be an important component of their residential programs after more planning

Although consumers have expressed high levels of interest in energy management products and services, utilities believe that customer education and acceptance is their biggest challenge.  Utility opinions on the best strategies for reaching the consumer, pricing models, and the utility’s responsibilities vary for cooperatives, municipals, and investor owned utilities; however, the similarities are growing.

ON World’s report, “Utility Views on AMI and Home Area Networks” presents the survey results from 110 recent phone interviews with IOUs, energy retailers, and municipal utilities.  The report may be purchased separately or part of a report set that also includes a report on the global smart metering market, a PowerPoint presentation, and detailed matrix on 400 AMI and HAN projects worldwide. 

More info: http://www.onworld.com/smartmeter

About ON World:
ON World provides global business intelligence on smart technology markets. Our research reports and information services are sold to Fortune 1000 companies, startups and investors worldwide. http://www.onworld.com

Media contact:
Mary Purvis
e: purvis at onworld.com
ph: 858-259-2397

 

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