North Carolina smart grid project takes a big bite out of electricity use

September 25, 2009 · Posted in Energy · 1 Comment 

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A smart grid project in Fayetteville, N.C., that’s been up and running for a month has reduced electricity use by a whopping 20 percent.

This huge feat should give Boulderites inspiration and a taste of what may be possible when Xcel Energy’s Web-based portal for its own smart grid technology is up and running, allowing most folks in town to log on and check how much energy their air conditioners, clothes dryers and fridges are really sucking from the grid.

From the New York Times’ Green Inc. blog:

Those numbers are based on the first month of the project, a joint effort between Consert and I.B.M. that installed energy management systems for 100 residential and business customers of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, the local utility.

Consert attached controllers on hot water heaters, air conditioners and pool pumps and then let customers go online and set targets for their monthly electricity bill. Smart meters and a wireless communications system provide real-time electricity consumption data to allow the utility to cycle appliances on and off to achieve the savings and help it manage peak demand.

The customer sets up a profile detailing when they wake up in the morning, go to work, return home and what temperature they’d like in their home.

“The consumer can say ‘I want my utility bill to be not to be greater than $200 a month,’ and then we’ll look at their past bill history to see if that’s achievable and ask what they want to do to achieve their goals,” said Jack Roberts, Consert’s chief executive. Read more

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