In smart-meter pilot, a majority change energy habits

More than two-thirds — 71 percent — of the people who took part in a smart-meter pilot program in Texas last fall say they have changed their energy consumption habits as a result of the usage data they could view on in-home displays.

A survey of the 500 participants was released today by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, a subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy.

The results were released while US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel B. Poneman visited Houston to see how smart meters and intelligent grid technology — partially funded with a $200 million Smart Grid Investment Grant from the DOE — are enabling consumers to better monitor and manage their electric use and helping modernize the electric infrastructure.

Among the survey results:

• 83 percent of respondents reported turning off lights at night or when not in the room,
• 51 percent of respondents reported adjusting the temperature on their thermostat,
• 93 percent of respondents reported they are satisfied with their in-home display, and
• 97 percent of respondents reported they will continue using it.

“Smart-grid technologies like those we are seeing here today will provide families and businesses with real-time information about their energy use, helping them to save money every month,” Poneman said.

CenterPoint customers who have already received smart meters no longer have to wait for their bill to access their electric consumption information. After a two-month acceptance period following the installation of a smart meter, they can get detailed information on their electric usage at the website SmartMeterTexas.com.

In the future, customers will have the option of purchasing an in-home display, providing them with up-to-the-minute usage information.

To date, CenterPoint Energy has installed nearly 1.5 million smart meters in its 2.2 million-meter system. The company is scheduled to complete deployment in mid-2012. By automating routine transactions, the new meters have eliminated more than one million routine service visits by employees in vehicles since 2009, according to the utility.