Electric easy street

• Autores: Hal Hodson
• Localización: New scientist, ISSN 0262-4079, Nº. 2931, 2013, pág. 20
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Several start-up companies aim to help people cut costs, flex their muscles as consumers to promote green energy, and usher in a more efficient energy grid--all by unleashing smart software on everyday electricity usage. Several states in the US have deregulated energy markets, in which customers can choose between several energy providers competing for their business. But the different tariff plans, limited-time promotional rates and other products on offer can be confusing to the average consumer. A new company called Lumator aims to cut through the morass and save consumers money in the process. Their software system, designed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, asks new customers to enter their energy preferences--how they want their energy generated, and the prices they are willing to pay. The software also gathers any available metering measurements, in addition to data on how the customer responds to emails about opportunities to switch energy provider.