There's a multi-year opportunity to install utility-independent energy monitoring and management systems like this eMonitor from Powerhouse Dynamics.
In a recent report, research firm Parks Associates’ forecasts that for the next several years, more independent/non-utility residential energy management networks (IREMs) will exist than utility-based home area networks (HANs).
The report, Home Area Networks: Analysis and Forecasts, predicts that by 2015, there will be 10 million independent residential energy management services versus 6 million put in place by utilities implementing smart grid programs. Parks will be covering its report in more detail, as well as discussing consumer attitudes, at its Smart Energy Summit, January 24 to 26 in Austin, Texas.
“There is a window of opportunity for those who want to precede the home area networks installed by the utilities,” says Bill Ablondi, director of home systems research at Parks Associates.
Some utilities rolling out smart grid programs are looking to go beyond new two-way smart meters by offering energy management systems in the home. “There are 3,000 utilities in this country,” says Ablondi. “And there are lots of flavors in all of those categories.
Some are interested in going into the home, and some are not.”
The thermostat is one home device that utilities have connected to, Ablondi says, but venturing beyond that with energy management systems and networks: “They’re not used to that.”
And therein may lie some long-term opportunities, for HVAC installers and others, such as custom electronics dealers.
In the meantime, though, there will be plenty of opportunities to sell energy management systems in homes. Parks Associates predicts that utility-based systems won’t start to outpace non-utility systems until later in the decade, around 2017 to 2020, says Ablondi.
Opportunity for the Big Guns, Too
Competition in both selling energy management systems and working with electric utilities will come from the companies that may do the most to promote energy management in the home: big broadband providers like cable companies and telcos.
Security company ADT is already offering mass-market “connectivity solutions” that will soon include more energy management, and systems from Comcast and Verizon should roll out this year as well.
Ablondi says the broadband providers see energy management as a revenue generating unit. Some research shows that people will even pay a monthly charge for it.
“But what’s needed is awareness of the capabilities that are out there,” Ablondi, says. “Cable companies and telcos have tremendous reach to educate consumers.”
But can the big service providers install energy management systems that work well enough to satisfy their customers?
“They’re capable of figuring out how to do that. It’s not rocket science in a lot of ways. In many cases, they will partner with utilities.”
Think about it: The cable companies and telcos can provide the truck rolls to roll out energy management systems into many homes. But that’s largely for later.
In the meantime, Ablondi sees opportunities to sell non-utility based energy management systems into homes. “I see opportunities for point solutions as opposed to whole-home automation. For example, the water heater is keeping water warm when I’m not home, and I don’t need that. Or I can gradually heat and cool my home, instead of it coming on at once.”
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Home-automation seen from another point of view. And Ablondi is righ about a degree of manualapplication on home devices. Some of these ideas are featured on Science Business(http://www.sciencebusiness.net/ecomagination) website about creating a more eco-friendly house.