Smithville Electric System is partnering with a company called Intelligent Energy Solutions in a pilot program that could result in energy savings for up to twenty five customers. There is no cost to participate.
The Home Energy Management Service, an internet based system, works as your personal energy manager by helping make more efficient use of the key sources of power consumption in your home, namely electric heating and cooling systems and electric water heaters. In most homes, these two appliances account for as much as 55 to 60% of the total energy consumed in the home.
For those who sign up for the program, a specially designed Gateway, much like a wireless router or TV box, will be installed in the home. This Gateway communicates to a wireless thermostat that replaces the existing thermostat which controls the heating and cooling system. A wireless communicating load controller is also installed on the electric water heater that helps optimize how often and when the water heater needs to use power. The Gateway uses the home internet to communicate information and receive instructions from the Intelligent Energy Solutions’ Enterprise, which you can think of as a super computer. All information and the results about your home and how you use energy will be kept strictly confidential.
Customers who participate will have their own personal energy web page (portal) that can be accessed via the internet. It is designed to display how energy is being used in your home and it will present key results being achieved. Customers will also be able to receive insights and recommendations on actions they can make to further reduce energy consumption.
Twenty five homes served by Smithville Electric System will be selected for this program. Participating customers must have a broadband Internet connection (DSL or cable). The service will not interfere with your current Internet service or traffic as it only uses a small fraction of your bandwidth capacity, and it does not connect to your computer. The service is also secure. It does not access any information that you send and receive over the Internet.
No special effort is required on the part of the customers. If you are selected as a participant, the service will be installed for you. The set up takes about an hour. No modifications are needed to your home or to your electric water heater or HVAC system.
Plans are to begin installation in April. The program will run through the end of the year.
If you would like to be included in the program, contact Smithville Electric System at 597-4735 or Intelligent Energy Solutions at 1-855-418-0040. You may email ieshelp@intelligent-es.com.
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