Jay Nick Update and ecobee

Jay Nick has developed a couple of handy online tools for Power Smart Pricing. One of them is the "stoplight" tool featured at the top of the sidebar on the PSP Blog. He also developed a similar tool that mimics the Pricelight. The color of the orb changes depending on the price of electricity that hour. The tools can be embedded in a website (like this one) or it can be placed on your Google homepage.

He also developed a toolbar for Firefox web browsers. Once you download the software a bar showing the time/date and the price of electricity will automatically be displayed on your web browser. This is a very handy way to be able to see the prices all the time without having them in the way. For example, just a glance tells me that the price is currently 3.766 cents per kWh (current flat rate price: roughly 8 cents per kWh)

We recently had a conversation with him and he pointed us in the direction of a smart thermostat called ecobee. It takes advantage of a large display to make all its functions very user friendly. Like a traditional programmable thermostat you can set up a program to automatically manage your house's temperature.

It adds wifi so you can manage your household systems through a website. This would give you the added advantage of being able to change your program while you were away from the house. For customers with hourly electricity pricing this would be a nice feature to allow you to lower your cooling temperature during a higher priced time.

The next development with smart thermostats would be the ability to program the system to automatically respond to different price signals. For example, if the price for electricity is 6 cents and below keep the house at a particular temperature and so on. As variable pricing programs continue to emerge, so too will the tools. Many thanks to Jay Nick for advancing the ball.

http://www.jaynick.com

To his Firefox toolbars: http://www.jaynick.com/FirefoxAdd-ons.php
- Download the Ameren DAP toolbar to get price information directly into your Firefox web browser.

To the orb tool: http://www.jaynick.com/images/Ameren.svg

To the smart thermostat: www.ecobee.com

Business Week Presents the Wireless Energy Dashboards

Many thanks to Business Week for putting together a comprehensive collection of the wireless energy dashboards and displays competing to inform the public about their energy use. They did not include the Verizon Hub. Although they did directly mention the benefit this would serve to customers with variable pricing like Power Smart Pricing.

Here's a slideshow of the candidates.

Here's the relating article.

In Other News: Space-Based Solar Power

You read that correctly.

California based electric utility PG&E has reached a deal with solar energy company Solaren to purchase any power the company can produce from a proposed 200 MW solar plant to be launched into orbit. The project is scheduled to come online in 2016. On the surface, the deal looks as if PG&E's rate payers will be protected because the utility will only be obligated to pay for the electricity and not the construction.

As far as the technology is concerned, Solaren and its team of engineers have plans to launch their SSP (Space Solar Power) plant into geosynchonous orbit meaning it will travel around the earth at that same speed as the earth's rotation completing its cycle in one day. It will then obsorb power from the sun and direct it back to a receiving antenna on earth through microwaves.

So this all seems futuristic. It is, but the concept has been around for the past 30 years or so. The incentives for developing this technology are endless. In terms of energy, the solar power accumulated in space is 8 to 10 times more powerful than it is on earth because there is not any atmospheric interference. Also, the plant would constantly be in the sun so it would provide a steady base load of power.

If Solaren can pull this off for a reasonable price, then they deserve congratulations. Good luck!

To learn more check out PG&E's blog Next100.

Report from Illinois Smart Grid Initiative

The Illinois Smart Grid Initiative (ISGI)’s new report, “Empowering Consumers through a Modern Electric Grid”, explores the potential benefits of a modernized electric grid and maps a policy path for achieving those benefits for consumers and the economy. At a time when both President Obama’s Administration and Congress have prioritized electric grid modernization and the jobs potential it holds, Illinois is well positioned to become the national leader in the adoption of a truly consumer-focused smart grid.

Illinois residents face $6-11 billion annually in costs related to power outages and power disruptions, with many communities experiencing outage levels far above the national average. The ISGI Report outlines how a smart grid can fundamentally improve reliability and efficiency, integrate renewable energy on the local level, and empower consumers to take charge of and reduce their electricity bills–while saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.

The ISGI Report identifies several steps that can be taken right now to improve the electricity system for the benefit of all Illinois citizens. It encourages increasing consumer choice by pairing real-time electricity rates with smart technology, and urges regulatory rule changes that encourage public and private investment in energy efficient smart grids. Finally, investing in the smart grid can open the door to new ‘green power’, high-tech business opportunities in communities throughout the state.

Currently, Illinois is the national leader in offering residential customers real-time pricing options, and is among the leading states in mandating increased renewables and energy efficiency. Using the economic stimulus bill as one catalyst, the ISGI Report maps out how Illinois can transform the electric grid into a smart grid and set the standard for the nation in stimulating the economy and protecting the environment.
Download Summary Report (PDF, 363KB)
Download Full Report (PDF, 1.26MB)
Download Fact Sheet - Smart Grid: Status and Opportunities in Illinois (PDF, 119KB)

Summer Energy Saving Workshop 2009

It’s almost time to get ready for summer, and for summer electricity bills. This May the Power Smart Pricing team will host workshops to help Illinois households manage their summer electricity costs. Attend a Summer Energy Saving Workshop to get the information you need to enjoy the summer and while keeping your electricity bills under control.

• Get tips on managing your summer electricity usage and costs.
• Discover no-cost and low-cost ways to save energy at home.
• Get advice on how you can protect the environment by using energy efficiently.
• Learn about your electricity pricing options, including strategies for saving energy and money with Power Smart Pricing, an hourly electricity pricing option from the Ameren Illinois Utilities.

Space is limited, so to reserve your seat please RSVP to CNT Energy at 1-877-655-6028 or info@powersmartpricing.org.

Workshop Schedule

Monday, May 4, 6:30 p.m.
Carbondale Civic Center
200 S Illinois Ave, Carbondale

Tuesday, May 5, 6:30 p.m.
O’Fallon Public Safety Facility
285 North Seven Hills Road, O’Fallon

Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m.
Lewis and Clark Community College,
Trimpe Advanced Technology Center (TR 141),
5800 Godfrey Rd, Godfrey

Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m.
Collinsville Public Library
408 W Main St., Collinsville

Monday, May 11, 6:30 p.m.
Champaign Public Library, Robeson Pavilion Room B
200 W. Green St., Champaign

Wednesday, May 13, noon
Urbana City Building
400 S. Vine St., Urbana

Wednesday, May 13, 6:30 p.m.
Bloomington Public Library, Community Room
205 E. Olive St., Bloomington

Thursday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.
Peoria Public Library, 2nd floor meeting room
107 N.E. Monroe St., Peoria

Monday, May 18, 6:30 p .m.
Decatur Public Library
130 N. Franklin St., Decatur

Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m.
Quincy Public Library
526 Jersey St, Quincy

Thursday, May 21, 6:30 p.m.
Galesburg Public Library
40 East Simmons Street, Galesburg