The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), has developed a gadget that lets users monitor and control their electricity consumption through a web-interface. The gadget was developed in collaboration with Energy Response and Saturn South, and was debuted at the CeBit exhibition at Sydney.The mini smart meter is installed in the main switchboards of the household/office of smaller energy users, and allows them to control their energy consumption, even remotely, i.e., over a broadband internet connection.
CSIRO project leader, Martin de Groot, had this to say about the technology: “By taking advantage of common broadband Internet connections we are now able to build and deploy a very cheap, real-time platform to deliver energy services to individual dwellings…Until now this has been logistically impossible and cost prohibitive.”
“Once regulatory approval has been given, energy service companies will be able offer householders more favourable electricity supply agreements and enable them to be more adaptable in their consumption patterns. Householders can even receive alerts on their mobile phones notifying of any significant changes in energy use in the home.”
It is estimated that the installation of this meter would save household users could save up to $200 (Rs. 7,750 approx) annually and small businesses up to $1,300 (Rs. 50,400).