What about managing your energy from afar? Myriad devices exist to remotely control your home's energy use, from programmable thermostats to complete systems that can be run on a home computer or remotely through any computer with proper access. Nexamp can help you sort through the enormous number of options in this highly developed area and find the best combination for your needs and budget. If a renewable energy system provides some of your power, you might be particularly interested in both monitoring and managing your total energy to save money and lower your carbon footprint.
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Related FAQ
What is “smart grid”?
“Smart grid” refers to intelligent controls added to the delivery and receipt of electricity. It is part of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) that will facilitate more efficient and cost-effective delivery of electricity. With AMI in place, new rate structures can be implemented that will price electricity closer to its true cost during the day and year. Homeowners and businesses will thus be able to see how much electricity they are using and how much it costs in real time. This will enable them to save time and energy by reducing consumption at “expensive” times.
Can I implement smart metering now without waiting for the smart grid?
Some utilities are beginning to experiment with smart meters and are offering them to customers, mostly on a pilot program basis. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has such a pilot program (see
www.sdge.com/smartmeterv2). Smart meters will give the homeowner information such as electricity consumption month-to-date, year-to-date, and instantaneous usage. Call your local utility to see if they have a smart meter program. If you are interested in home energy management, Nexamp can help you decide what systems would be best for your home, lifestyle and budget and then design and install the system, integrating any renewable energy systems you may have into the total energy management system.
When will the smart grids be available?
Implementing the smart grid is a massive undertaking. In the U.S., it will require approximately 3,300 utilities to develop interoperability standards so that they can seamlessly communicate electronically with one another. The U.S. Dept. of Energy is working on developing the smart grid through it Modern Grid Initiative (MGI). Utilities, such as San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), are using the MGI as the basis for designing their own smart grids. Many other utilities are also seriously looking at the development of a smart grid.