The movement toward a cleaner, more efficient electrical grid has hit a wall recently. The first phase for most electric utilities has been to roll out thousands of smart meters — meters capable of wirelessly beaming energy-consumption data to utilities and consumer devices — as fast as they can to as many households as possible. But this hasn’t been a universally welcome change.
Since a band of residents in Bakersfield, Calif. decided to file a class-action suit against Pacific Gas & Electric alleging rate hikes linked with new smart meters, a lot of utilities have been slowing their once ambitious metering rollouts. The stall probably won’t last, but it has inspired a a new emphasis on consumer education and engagement around smart grid development.
via AEP picks OPOWER to hook consumers into the smart grid | VentureBeat.
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