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If you're still clutching your chest over that last sky-high electric bill and wondering how to keep it down next month, you'll be heartened to hear that help may be on the way from the company behind the world's largest search engine. Google this week announced that it's developing software called PowerMeter, which will let consumers check out their home energy use  in near real-time on their computers. The company says on its blog that it's working with  utility companies to ready for the market. No word on how long the testing will last before PowerMeter will be available for download.

PowerMeter will first be available through iGoogle, a Google service that lets you make a customized Web browser homepage. For those concerned about placing more information about their lives online for everyone to see, Google notes on its blog that it will not share personally identifying information with the user's utility company. Users will also be able to delete their energy data or ask their utility to stop sending data to Google PowerMeter at any time.

Google on its blog cites a 2006 Oxford University study that indicates that consumers who monitored their home energy use lowered their monthly bills by 5 to 15 percent "If half of America's households cut their energy demand by 10 percent," the  company adds, "it would be the equivalent of taking eight million cars off the road."

Homes will need to be equipped with so-called smart meters to take advantage of the program. These meters, which have been installed in about 40 million households worldwide, provide more detailed information about energy use than do normal meters and communicate directly with the utility company (no one needs to come to your home to read your meter). Google's  drive for such technology given that the search engine has invested in smart grid companies Germantown, Maryland-based Current Group and Redwood City, California-based Silver Spring Networks, Reuters U.K. reported.

Google's investments in energy conservation come as Congress hammers out an economic stimulus package poised to include billions of dollars for technology that will enable more efficient energy consumption as well as better monitoring of energy use. The Senate this week approved its $838 billion economic stimulus bill, which includes $4.5 billion for smart-grid related activities, including work to modernize the nation's electric grid, enhance security and reliability of it, perform energy storage research, development, demonstration and deployment, and provide worker training. Not to be outdone, the House's own $820 billion economic stimulus bill passed last week calls for $32 billion to transform the nation’s energy transmission, distribution, and production systems by allowing for a smarter and better grid and focusing investment in renewable technology. Negotiators will hammer out the differences between the two bills in a conference committee.

Of course, Google isn't the only tech company looking for a piece of the stimulus package. IBM in 2007 created the Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition, a group of utility companies working with IBM to accelerate the adoption of smart grid technologies and business solutions throughout the world. Last week, the company announced a five-year, $90-million deal with National Electricity and Water Utilities—Enemalta Corporation and Water Services Corporation—to design and deliver a nationwide smart grid for the Republic of Malta. And earlier this week, Microsoft announced it will let its business customers see information about their energy consumption and impact on the environment via Microsoft Dynamics AX software.

It's unclear how much these tech giants are willing to clean up their own IT operations, according to Science First Inc., whose Solve Climate blog this week pointed out a BPM Forum study that concludes that, while IT workers are talking about the need for green IT, only about a quarter of those surveyed were actually embracing high standards that would force them to clean up their act.

Image of an EVB Energie AG smart meter courtesy of Sina Luckhardt

11 Comments

1. 1. beyondgreen 08:14 PM 2/11/09

   There could be no better investment in America than to invest in America becoming energy independent! We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources. Create cheap clean energy, new badly needed green jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. The cost of fuel effects every facet of consumer goods from production to shipping costs. After a brief reprieve gas is inching back up. OPEC will continue to cut production until they achieve their desired 80-100. per barrel. If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV's instead had plug-in electric drive trains, the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota. There is a really good new book out by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com
   

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2. 2. Robb_Henshaw 01:31 AM 2/12/09

   With PowerMeter, Google is validating the valuable role of energy monitoring in empowering end users with the information they need to take control of their personal energy consumption. I work with Fat Spaniel Technologies (www.fatspaniel.com), and we absolutely support Googles stated principle that open protocols and standards should serve as the cornerstone of smart grid projects (from their blog). Last year we announced the industrys first open energy monitoring solution  the Fat Spaniel Insight Platform

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3. 3. Robb_Henshaw 01:33 AM 2/12/09

   With PowerMeter, Google is validating the valuable role of energy monitoring in empowering end users with the information they need to take control of their personal energy consumption. I work with Fat Spaniel Technologies (www.fatspaniel.com), and we absolutely support Google’s stated principle that “open protocols and standards should serve as the cornerstone of smart grid projects” (from their blog). Last year we announced the industry’s first open energy monitoring solution – the Fat Spaniel Insight Platform™. We believe that in order to provide users with a complete energy solution, it must be an open platform that can monitor all devices and systems and distill the data into usable information. As such, Fat Spaniel will extend its open, standardized interface to Google’s PowerMeter once it is publicly released. We currently provide the monitoring technology for more than 2,000 renewable energy plants across 17 countries today, and we think that Google’s validation of the energy monitoring market will help spread the technology for adoption across all energy systems universally.

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4. 4. Robb_Henshaw 01:37 AM 2/12/09

   With PowerMeter, Google is validating the valuable role of energy monitoring in empowering end users with the information they need to take control of their personal energy consumption. I work with Fat Spaniel Technologies (www.fatspaniel.com), and we absolutely support Google’s stated principle that “open protocols and standards should serve as the cornerstone of smart grid projects” (from their blog). Last year we announced the industry’s first open energy monitoring solution – the Fat Spaniel Insight Platform™. We believe that in order to provide users with a complete energy solution, it must be an open platform that can monitor all devices and systems and distill the data into usable information. As such, Fat Spaniel will extend its open, standardized interface to Google’s PowerMeter once it is publicly released. We currently provide the monitoring technology for more than 2,000 renewable energy plants across 17 countries today, and we think that Google’s validation of the energy monitoring market will help spread the technology for adoption across all energy systems universally.

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5. 5. riborp2 09:52 AM 2/12/09

   This is a very ethical step by google as the reservoir of energy is limited. Moreover, saving energy is better than producing it. As far as electrical energy is concerned everybody needs to be alerted as there is much natural upheaval in producing it than most other forms which are more harmful to use.

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6. 6. pgtruspace 02:35 AM 2/14/09

   Smart monitoring of all devices over the electric grid. Damn, soon the fat police will know every time I open the frig., and charge me extra for the feature. Another reason to go off grid!!
   at least mr. robb got to advertise his company connections.

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7. 7. jimbaber 05:23 PM 2/16/09

   This is important - PG&E in Northern California is installing these smart meters currently. I am anxious to have 1 installed since I will be able to then read my meter via my computer automatically instead of having to go outside in the rain and heat. This is something I have wanted since I started my Solar system on line.
   

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8. 8. pgtruspace 11:23 PM 2/16/09

   jimbaber -- you must be an outlaw, great for you. We hope to have our own photovoltaics soon. But I'am sure Public Graft & Extortsion will use the smart meter to manipulate charges and fees. They have been fighting gridties for over 40 years and never misses a trick to increase their returns.

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9. 9. timrsimpson 06:35 PM 2/17/09

   To be able to constantly monitor power use is a great way to get conservation. Ask any solar investor who is really outside watching the power meter(s). Just using instant hot water, either gas or electric, would eliminate wasted kilowatts (BTUs) that go into keeping water hot when no one is home. Electric flywheel technology, which can be bought today, should be put in areas to stop power dips and surges. There needs tot be some storage.

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10. 10. uxiim 12:41 AM 12/25/09

    Try Power saver it works good and helps to reduce bills to 25% amazing i am using it and i am satisfied would recommend it !!!!
    www.hydropowersaver.co.cc

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11. 11. romerz67 02:41 AM 5/29/11

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