{"id":17177,"date":"2010-04-20T17:49:46","date_gmt":"2010-04-21T00:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=17177"},"modified":"2020-02-20T17:53:04","modified_gmt":"2020-02-21T00:53:04","slug":"google-urges-barack-obama-to-promise-smart-meters-for-every-us-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=17177","title":{"rendered":"Google urges Barack Obama to promise smart meters for every US home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Internet giant joined by Nokia, General Electric and Intel in calling on US goverment to upgrade electricity grid using IT<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Suzanne Goldenberg<\/a>, US environment correspondent \u00a0@suzyji<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0

\"Smart<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Smart meters are intended to help consumers reduce their consumption. Photograph: Christopher Thomond<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/header>\n
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American presidents used to promise a chicken in every pot. If it were up to Google<\/a> it would be a smart meter in every home.<\/p>\n

In an initiative with the Climate Group<\/a>, the company this week wrote a letter<\/a>\u00a0and hosted a summit at its Washington DC offices to urge Barack Obama to adopt a goal of providing every household with real time information about their electricity use.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“By giving people the ability to monitor and manage their energy consumption, for instance, via their computers, phones or other devices, we can unleash the forces of innovation in homes and businesses,” says the letter, signed by more than 40 leading businesses and environmental groups.<\/p>\n

As the roster of signatures – which includes Nokia, General Electric<\/a>, AT&T, Intel and Hewlett Packard<\/strong> – suggests Google is not the only company to see huge potential in upgrading America’s antiquated grid with modern information technology.<\/p>\n

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More than 200 start-ups are now working on energy information devices<\/strong> to provide consumers with actionable information on how their electricity is generated, eg coal or solar; the cost of running appliances; and the price according to the time of day.<\/p>\n

Google has already launched its PowerMeter<\/a>, a free web device that allows people to track their electricity use from their computers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The companies claim devices such as these can make an immediate difference in behaviour, getting people to switch off lights or do their laundry at night, when electricity is cheaper.<\/p>\n

Charlene Begley, the chief executive officer of GE’s home and business solutions, said they were finding a 7% to 10% reduction in energy use after installation of real-time metering devices.<\/p>\n

But there is a lot the companies still don’t know. How much information do consumers really want?<\/strong> Do they want to be nagged to switch off the lights every night, or will they rebel? It’s not even clear how they want that information delivered: by smart phone, computer widget, or television (if at all). “We are not ready to place a bet on any one format,” said Lorie Wigle, the head of Intel’s eco-technology unit.<\/p>\n

Who owns the highly personal information collected in private homes?<\/strong> How do you protect consumers’ privacy? “It could be very attractive to package this and sell it in all kinds of ways,” said Leslie Harris, president of the Centre for Democracy and Technology. Then there is the problem of hackers.<\/p>\n

And, even as the Obama administration funds the roll-out of some 18 million smart meters (with some $3.4bn alloted under last year’s economic recovery plan)<\/strong> it remains unclear who is to pay for the transition.<\/p>\n

The summit was told the administration has to do more to promote the deployment of new technologies, such as offering rebates to consumers and helping companies with the initial expense of smart technology.<\/p>\n

Begley said it could cost GE more than $200m to develop a refrigerator capable of automatically adjusting functions according to the time of day. “We have to be able to show shareholders a promising return,” she said.<\/p>\n

It is also crucial to reassure consumers that they will indeed be better-off having the new technology in their home. In Texas and California, initial limited rollouts of smart meters have generated thousands of complaints and even lawsuits claiming that the meters led to much higher electricity prices.<\/p>\n

California’s regulatory authority ordered an independent audit of the smart meters deployed by one company, Pacific Gas & Electricity<\/a>. In some cases, customers reported bills three times higher than normal even when they were away on holiday.<\/p>\n

For the rollout of a new technology that doesn’t look very smart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/blog\/2010\/apr\/08\/google-barack-obama-smart-meters<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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President Obama Announces $3.4 Billion Investment to Spur Transition to Smart Energy Grid<\/h1>\n
OCTOBER 27, 2009<\/div>\n
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Home<\/a> \u00bb President Obama Announces $3.4 Billion Investment to Spur Transition to Smart Energy Grid<\/div>\n
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ARCADIA, FLORIDA – Speaking at Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, President Barack Obama today announced the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history, funding a broad range of technologies that will spur the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.\u00a0 The end result will promote energy-saving choices for consumers, increase efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.<\/p>\n

The $3.4 billion in grant awards are part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and will be matched by industry funding for a total public-private investment worth over $8 billion.\u00a0 Applicants state that the projects will create tens of thousands of jobs, and consumers in 49 states will benefit from these investments in a stronger, more reliable grid. Full listings of the grant awards are available by\u00a0category<\/a> and by\u00a0state<\/a>.\u00a0 A map of the awards is available HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates that the implementation of smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent by 2030.\u00a0 That would mean a savings of $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers around the country, and $1.6 billion for Florida alone — or $56 in utility savings for every man, woman and child in Florida.<\/p>\n

One-hundred private companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and other partners received the Smart Grid Investment Grant awards today, including FPL, which will use its $200 million in funding to install over 2.5 million smart meters and other technologies that will cut energy costs for its customers.\u00a0 In the coming days, Cabinet Members and Administration officials will fan out to awardee sites across the country to discuss how this investment will create jobs, improve the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid, and help bring clean energy sources from high-production states to those with less renewable generating capacity.\u00a0 The awards announced today represent the largest group of Recovery Act awards ever made in a single day and the largest batch of Recovery Act clean energy grant awards to-date.<\/p>\n

Today’s announcement includes:<\/p>\n