ComEd pilot targets power savings through enhanced customer access to usage data

Dive Brief:

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) has tapped almost 6,500 customers and given them enhanced access to their energy use data via a partnership with customer engagement startup MeterGenius, Smart Grid News reports.
Those selected will have unlimited access to MeterGenius’ web and mobile applications, which give detailed energy usage analysis on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis.
MeterGenius is a creation of Northwestern University’s NUvention, an energy entrepreneurship course, and the program is part of ComEd's SmartGridExchange, which is a forum to connect the utility with local colleges and startups aimed at developing smart grid technology.

Dive Insight:

ComEd has partnered with a small startup from St. Louis to harness the power of smart meters. It's a trend that will likely continue as infrastructure installed by utilities enables third parties to offer new services that connect customers with their energy usage.

“Innovative smart meter solutions benefit our customers by giving them control to monitor their energy use, lower their consumption and reduce their monthly electric costs,” Val Jensen, ComEd’s senior vice president of Customer Operations, said in a statement released by the utility.

According to the statement, pilot participants will have unlimited access to MeterGenius’ web and mobile applications, "which will allow them to budget and track the details of their energy usage by the hour, day, week or month." Those selected will also receive monthly communications with "customizable tips on how to lower their electricity bills, and energy-efficient habit reminders such as defrosting your freezer on a regular basis in order to increase its efficiency."

“By providing incentives for customers to control electricity use, we believe we can help promote sustainable energy habits while also helping customers save money,” MeterGenius CEO Ty Benefiel said. “We are thrilled to be working with ComEd on this project and hope this can be expanded upon in the future.”

The company is a tech startup created in Northwestern University’s NUvention (an energy entrepreneurship course). It also won first place in the Illinois Clean Energy Student Challenge 2014, a business competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.