1 Community Pilot Device Information The Customers’ Perspective on Tools and Technologies Information gathered by: Andy Mendyk Joe Kramer

2 Tools & Technology – Customer Input on Devices Community Pilot Device Information

3 Allouez Brillion Plover  3 communities  5 technologies  Interviews over 18 months

4 General Takeaways –Successes: Improve awareness of energy use prompting behavior change Customers appreciated the utility program/benefits Proud to be in the pilot Felt the devices had intrinsic value Conversation piece - word of mouth promotion of program and devices –Challenges: Education on device functions and purposes Quality of connectivity affects device performance Devices had design/production flaws Community Pilot Device Information

5 ecobee Smart Thermostat –Programmable thermostat with multiple access modes (Web and smart phone) –Tested in Allouez households –Phone interviews of 10 households Community Pilot Device Information

6 ecobee Smart Thermostat –Successes: Improved knowledge of energy usage & cost Remote access and user friendly Minimal use issues Checked often for weather information –Challenges: Remote scheduling is difficult Thermostat enrollment cumbersome Touchscreen complaints Community Pilot Device Information

7 Google PowerMeter –Web-based energy report with graphics Data feed on home page Weekly report on energy use Gave estimate of costs In-home interviews in Brillion and Allouez Community Pilot Device Information

8 Google PowerMeter –Successes: Customers liked energy use tracking over time Used the resource steadily over time Interface was easy to read quickly but could “drill-down” Interactivity with The Energy Detective (TED) –Challenges: Not coordinated with TOU rate Could not get appliance-specific data Could not get detailed data beyond 2 days past Was discontinued by Google Community Pilot Device Information

9 WPS Usage Graphs –WPS-hosted energy use data with graphs –Profile of energy use throughout the day in TOU periods –Customers could compare current with historical use –In-home interviews in Brillion and Allouez Community Pilot Device Information

10 WPS Usage Graphs –Successes: Found interface to be user-friendly Graphs easy to interpret Comparisons over time and to other households are useful –Challenges: Confused content with other WPS web content Used relatively infrequently Community Pilot Device Information

11 The Energy Detective (TED) –Handheld device that provides instant information on electricity being used in the home –Several modes of connection: Handheld device Dashboard web interface Via Google PowerMeter –Graphics of energy use and cost information –In-home interviews in Brillion and Allouez Community Pilot Device Information

12 The Energy Detective –Successes: Real time data helps users pinpoint energy issues – improved knowledge and control Used frequently and high satisfaction Device presence keeps energy use in mind Device caused “TED envy” –Challenges: Many flawed devices returned Many devices still without full functionality (signal/charge issues) Few would pay full price Community Pilot Device Information

13 Home Energy Management System (HEMS) –Central hub networked with other devices –Packages: Home base Home base, socket & strip Home base, socket & strip, and programmable thermostat –Control and monitoring of household energy use, and of specific items –Graphs and other visual displays of data –Remote access –2 rounds of in-home interviews in Plover Community Pilot Device Information

14 HEMS – Home Base –Successes: High overall satisfaction Easy to set up and use, unobtrusive Web and smart phone interface options Simple, understandable data presentation People used it analytically to make buying/energy use decisions Conservation customers appreciated threshold alerts Used to check current use, projected use, appliance use, use over time –Challenges: Reliance on home networks/connectivity Reconnection can be difficult Community Pilot Device Information

15 HEMS – Socket and Strip –Allows monitoring and control of appliances Community Pilot Device Information Socket used for: Refrigerator/freezer Dehumidifier Laptop/computer Space heater Coffee maker Microwave Strip used for: Entertainment center Computer and peripherals Fish tank and peripherals Toaster and can opener Paraffin hand bath Fans

16 HEMS – Socket and Strip –Successes: Used to learn about energy used by individual devices and make management decisions Used to manage equipment for load shifting/ bedtime enforcement –Challenges: Often not used or under-used, and usage declined over time Lack of surge protection Few locations where strip use made sense Customers overloaded/fried device Low motivation to use scheduling unless on TOU rate Community Pilot Device Information

17 HEMS – Thermostat –Allowed remote access and control –Successes: Several used “home,” “asleep,” “away” settings Smart phone remote access worked well –Challenges: None Community Pilot Device Information

What did they do with the information? –Load shifting – AC, laundry, dishes, pool pump, dehumidifier –Conservation – fish tank lights, cooking, plug load, lights –Buying decisions – CFLs/LEDs, The Nest, motion sensor, TV, refrigerator 18

19 Customer Recommendations: –Loan devices and rotate to new households –Include monitoring of natural gas use –More choices on packages –Expand information devices to provide: Information on what other homes are doing Rate plan comparisons based on home’s energy use Breakdown of energy used at each price level during the day Periodic usage reports by –Sockets/strips that can handle higher voltages –Hour by hour highs and lows for energy use Community Pilot Device Information

20 Thank you. Joe Kramer Energy Center of Wisconsin Community Pilot Device Information