San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has announced that customers can now purchase and install home area network (HAN) devices that connect to their smart meters. With in-home energy display devices connected to their meters, SDG&E customers will have access to a new tool to help them make smart energy-consumption decisions, the utility says.
"Now that this technology is enabled through SDG&E's smart meter system, customers can see how much energy they are using in their home in near-real time, which gives them greater control of their energy use on a daily basis," explains Ted Reguly, SDG&E's director of customer programs and projects.
SDG&E says it has developed a simple process by which customers may purchase a validated in-home display device in the retail market and pair that device with the utility smart meter. Utility customers can start the process to connect an in-home display device to their meter by completing the online form at sdge.com/han.
New HAN technology was recently pilot-tested with approximately 1,300 SDG&E customers and 2,500 devices. According to the utility, these devices have demonstrated effectiveness in increasing energy efficiency among customers who report they are turning off more lights, increasing air conditioning temperature, watching less TV and unplugging devices.
