Energy News

Cut your energy bills with Google PowerMeter

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

By Hazel Cottrell - hazel@consumerchoices.co.uk

Google’s latest tool allows consumers to monitor their home energy consumption online, to help them reduce their energy bills.

Google has launched an online tool that allows consumers to view live information about their household’s energy usage.

PowerMeter is a free service that is used with a smart meter (or add-on for conventional meters). It sends information about your household energy use to your iGoogle page.

Ed Lu, Google PowerMeter’s lead engineer, said: “We want to empower consumers to take energy information into their own hands.”

For now the service is only available to homeowners who switch to smaller energy supplier First:Utility, or who buy a gadget called AlertMe Energy.

AlertMe Energy is an easy-to-use energy monitoring tool that offers its own online service, as well as being compatible with the Google PowerMeter. It costs £69, with a £3 monthly subscription fee and can be bought directly from AlertMe (www.alertme.com) or through British Gas (www.britishgas.co.uk).

Pilgrim Beart, founder and CEO of AlertMe, pointed out that many consumers feel powerless against rising energy costs.

Beart said: “AlertMe gives consumers the power to monitor, control, and reduce the energy they use, saving money and reducing their carbon footprint.”