[Episode #232] – Smart Meters and Appliances

Two decades ago, there was a surge of interest to make appliances, buildings, and utility meters smarter. Startups emerged to explore ways to monitor and manage electricity usage and optimize grid power, aiming to better align with the increasing supply of variable renewable energy.

At the same time, utilities began rolling out millions of so-called smart meters, promising to reduce costs for ratepayers. This advanced meter infrastructure would provide the information needed to use less electricity during peak times - shifting consumption to periods when renewable generation was abundant and prices were low.

However, the promise of a "smart" future didn't exactly happen as expected, with many efforts fizzling out.

Now, with the advent of new technologies, making buildings and appliances smarter and more grid-interactive seems more achievable than ever. This shift can lower costs for everyone and make the grid more responsive to variable sources of renewable energy.

But to achieve this goal, we'll need utility reform, proactive regulators, and leadership at the federal level. In this two-hour episode, we discuss the challenges that have held back the “smart home” vision with Mission:data founder Michael Murray. Michael has been on the front lines of this effort for 20 years, and has some clear ideas about what it will take to overcome the hurdles and turn this vision into a reality.

Guest:

Michael Murray is Mission:data’s co-founder and President since 2013. In 2004, he co-founded Lucid, an energy management software company serving commercial building owners. He made the product called “Building Dashboard,” one of the first real-time displays of energy usage on the web. He has twenty years of experience with building automation, energy management, metering and public utility regulation.

On Twitter: @mission_data

On the Web: Mission:data Coalition

Recording date: July 25, 2024

Air date: September 4, 2024

Geek rating: 9