DMN3 Becomes the Newest Smart Energy Summit 2011 Sponsor

Parks Associates welcome DMN3, a direct marketing firm and advertising agency that offers both offline and online marketing campaign services, as the newest sponsor for the 2011 Smart Energy Summit in Austin.

For the first 10 years, the marketing agency focused on the financial market. Today, the DMN3 staff comes from the advertising agency, online, technology and direct marketing disciplines. Our service offerings moved from solely direct mail to integrated programs. The marketing firm has offices in Houston, TX and Dallas, TX. They also have a strategic partner in Westport, CT.

For more information about the company, visit www.dmn3.com

We thank you for your continued support!

Next Energy Becomes the Newest Sponsor for Smart Energy Summit 2011

Parks Associates welcomes Next Energy as the newest sponsor for the 2011 Smart Energy Summit in Austin, TX.

NextEnergy is a solar PV contractor with over 30 years experience demonstrating innovation in home energy management. Our goal is to scale cost effective energy management solutions and create partnerships that will enhance our sales and installation programs. We empower customers to take control of their energy use with a selection of products and services marketed under the PowerNab brand.

For more information about the company, visit www.nextenergy.com.

We thank you for your continued support!

Ingersoll Rand Becomes the Newest Sponsor for Smart Energy Summit 2011

Parks Associates welcome Ingersoll Rand, a company that has recently transformed itself into a multi-brand commercial products manufacturer serving customers in diverse global markets, and away from the capital-intense, heavy-machinery profile of its past, as the newest sponsor for the 2011 Smart Energy Summit in Austin.

Ingersoll Rand is a global diversified industrial firm providing products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and enhance industrial productivity and efficiency,

For more information about the company, visit www.ingersollrand.com

We thank you for your continued support!

Itron and Silver Spring Networks Expand Agreement

Itron Inc. and Silver Spring Networks announced today that they have finalized an expanded agreement to integrate Itron’s CENTRON® II electricity meters, 100G gas ERT® modules and 100W water ERT® modules with Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies have addressed the technical, functional and solution delivery issues required to deliver a robust, multi-vendor advanced metering solution for gas, water and electricity providers. This further extends our existing agreement which provides for compatibility of the Itron CENTRON I electricity meter with the Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform.

Integration between the Itron modules and Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform is underway. Orders will soon be accepted for delivery in mid-2011.

For the complete article, please click here.

Parks Associates reports 28% of U.S. households looking to adopt electricity usage displays

Rising energy costs and economic conditions are motivating consumer interest in energy management solutions but also setting high expectations for these technologies, according to Parks Associates, which will host Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer on January 24-26, 2011, in Austin, Texas.

The conference agenda features the session "Solutions that Deliver on the Promise," January 25 at 11 a.m., with executives from ecobee, Oncor Electric Delivery Company, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory discussing business strategies that align with user needs and expectations.

Over one-fourth of U.S. consumers are very interested in an in-home display that shows their current electricity usage, with 90% willing to pay $90-$100 for this solution. However, this level of interest comes only if it can help save 10-30% off their electric bill. Our Residential Energy Management project is finding, behind the high overall interest in energy-saving solutions, consumers have very specific expectations that must be met before they adopt.

Confirmed speakers for "Solutions that Deliver on the Promise":
• Stuart Lombard, President and CEO, ecobee
• Bill Muston, Manager, Research & Development, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC
• Steve Widergren, Principal Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Smart Energy Summit is the premier event examining business opportunities and technical challenges as smart grid technologies move into the home. The agenda features keynote speakers from IBM, Grid Net, and the U.S. Department of Commerce and includes interactive panels and presentations focused on strategies to demonstrate the value proposition of new energy management products, services, and standards.

HomeGrid Forum President Re-Elected to SmartGrid Interoperability Panel Governing Board

HomeGrid Forum, the non-profit trade group promoting the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union’s G.hn and G.hnem energy management technologies, announced in December that Matthew Theall, President of HomeGrid Forum and a Technology Strategist at Intel Corporation, was re-elected to another two-year term on the SmartGrid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) Governing Board.

The mission of the SGIP is to provide a strong framework for coordination of all stakeholders of the Smart Grid to accelerate standards harmonization and development. The SGIP does not write standards, instead it develops and reviews use cases, identifies requirements, lists approved standards, and proposes action plans for achieving Smart Grid interoperability and coexistence goals.

The SGIP is managed and guided by a Governing Board that approves and prioritizes work programs and arranges for the resources necessary to carry out finalized priority action plans. The Governing Board’s responsibilities include facilitating a dialogue with standards development organizations to ensure that the action plans can be implemented. The SGIP Governing Board provides guidance to the SGIP. This guidance includes a broad perspective of the NIST Interoperability Framework and Roadmap vision.

For the complete article, please click here.

Itron Expands Its End-to-End Solutions Portfolio with Acquisition of Asais

Itron Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Asais, an energy information management software and consulting services provider, headquartered in France, for an undisclosed sum. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011.

Asais is a leader in energy information management and multi-vendor data collection capabilities. For the past 25 years, the company has developed and implemented advanced energy information management solutions through state-of-the-art software and online services. Asais delivers competitive flexibility to every segment of the energy industry by providing customers with data collection, data analysis and smart grid management software solutions and services.

Itron has been partnering with Asais globally for the past four years. Joint projects include smart metering and smart grid initiatives with many major utilities across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The acquisition enables Itron to offer integrated, end-to-end solutions with a strong expertise in energy information management and efficiency—fundamental components for success in today’s utility industry.

Asais’ leading data collection software will complement Itron’s field-proven meter data management and analytics systems, creating a platform for successful smart metering deployments in Europe and across the globe. In return, Itron will provide Asais opportunities for accelerated growth into international markets. Asais’ consultancy expertise will afford Itron’s utility customers expanded options to optimize the management of their resources.

For the complete article, please click here.

The Residential Energy Management Ecosystem

Numerous firms are developing solutions for both utilities and consumers to monitor, manage, and control their electricity consumption. Companies developing solutions for the residential market represent only one group within the rapidly expanding universe of participants in the residential energy management ecosystem.

The basic structure of the ecosystem has three primary levels:

-- Technology Enablers: firms developing the building blocks of solutions from control communication technologies to software platforms on which communication service providers can provide applications over the top of their current offerings.

-- Products and Systems: companies integrating these building blocks with their own technologies to offer solutions designed to take advantage of the smart grid capabilities.

-- Distribution Channels: organizations that touch the consumer, or perhaps more specifically, have a billing relationship with the consumer.

To read more about the The Residential Energy Management Ecosystem, subscribe to Parks Associates' Home Systems and Home Controls Newsletter.

Click here to subscribe to other Parks Associates complimentary newsletters.

At CES, Green Plug to Debut Advanced System-on-Chip (SOC) Designed Expressly for Smart Power Supply Control

WHO: Green Plug develops and licenses innovative technology and components that enable consumer electronics manufacturers to upgrade from traditional analog power adapters to “smart” digital controllers that save power and significantly reduce environmental waste. The company is the first developer of digital technology enabling communication between electronic devices and their power sources.

WHAT: Capping three years in development, Green Plug will preview its first product at CES, bringing intelligence, power monitoring and advanced control to AC/DC power adapters and the consumer device ecosystem.

WHEN: January 6-9, 2011

WHERE: Platinum Hotel, 211 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas

For the complete press release, please click here.

GE’s Nucleus™ Energy Manager is First Energy Gateway to be ZigBee®-Certified

GE announced that its Nucleus™ energy manager with Brillion™ technology will be the first ZigBee®-certified home energy gateway for smart grid communications and home energy management. Nucleus is the first ZigBee device to act as both an in-premise display device and energy services gateway that can communicate inside and outside of the home. In this regard, consumers need only to connect the Nucleus to the utility smart meter, and then have the option of connecting smart home devices, and a smart phone interface that is currently under development, to the Nucleus.

Using the ZigBee communication protocol, GE’s Nucleus will be capable of communicating with the smart grid and allowing consumers to manage their smart appliances and thermostats in response to utility price signals and take control of their energy consumption and costs.

ZigBee is a standards-based (IEEE 802.15.4), wireless communications protocol that is embedded in, and compatible with, a wide-range of energy-management devices in the home. ZigBee enables smart technologies – like appliances, thermostats and energy gateways – to receive signals from the utility through the home’s smart meter. Products that receive ZigBee certification are able to communicate with a broad range of devices, ultimately providing flexibility, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

For the complete article, please click here.

Energy management session featuring Verizon, Direct Energy, Reliant Energy, and PG&E at Smart Energy Summit 2011

Executives from Verizon, Direct Energy, Reliant Energy, and PG&E will examine the new competitive market for residential energy management in the special session "Energy as a Service" on January 25 at Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer.

Regulatory changes and technology advancements, including the proliferation of broadband, are adding a competitive dimension to the energy business. Electricity providers can supplement their power offerings with monitoring and management services, but other players, including communications service providers, are looking to enter the consumer energy management market. We predict adoption of non-utility residential energy management solutions, including systems from firms such as AlertMe, Control4, and HAI and services from providers such as Verizon and Comcast, will grow more quickly over the next five years.

Confirmed speakers for the "Energy as a Service" session:

• Eric Bruno, SVP, Consumer Product Management & Development, Verizon

• Christopher Deutschen, Senior Manager, Direct Energy

• Brent Hodges, Director, Smart Energy Partnerships, Reliant Energy

• Steve Malnight, VP, Integrated Demand Side Management, PG&E

Smart Energy Summit includes interactive panels and presentations focused on strategies for manufacturers, utilities, and other service providers to demonstrate the value proposition of new energy management products, services, and standards. The agenda includes keynote speakers from IBM, Grid Net, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

For more information, visit www.smartenergysummit2011.com .

ZigBee Smart Energy Makes Electric Outlets Smart

Energy Optimizers Limited (EOL) has launched a new ZigBee Smart Energy version of its existing plug-in electricity meter for the Canadian market that can help utilities and households understand better the load demand on the grid. The U.K. company’s device, called the plogg, allows utilities, home and building-owners to monitor how much electricity is being used by individual appliances and electronic devices so that energy efficiency across the grid can be improved. The plogg has gained approval to CSA C22.2 No 61010-1 for use in Canada.

The plogg is a combined smart meter plug and data logger, based on Ember’s EM357 ZigBee wireless technology running on a Telegesis module. It can be attached to any electrical appliance or device that uses a standard NEMA 5-15 15 Amp North American plug. The plogg stores the measured electricity data and wirelessly communicates this information through an Internet-linked Ethernet gateway. For instance, BC Hydro in Vancouver is using the plogg in trials designed to test demand side management (DSM) programs that provide accurate load data for the following residential end-uses: Appliance Loads, Standby Loads, Reactive Loads, Voltages.

For the complete article, please click here.

GE Executive Reveals Promise of Energy Evolution for EU

The European Union can be a leader in the implementation of a 21st century energy infrastructure, according to the keynote address by GE’s Bob Gilligan at the IEEE Smart Grid World Forum in Brussels today. While outlining the challenges of growing electricity demand and its environmental impact, Gilligan showed how emerging energy solutions can enable Europe and the world to sustain and improve our energy-dependent lifestyles. The key, he said, is starting with a viable roadmap to guide measured improvement over the coming decades.

He sees tomorrow’s breakthroughs, like the European Union’s proposed “Energy Highways” for transporting remote wind and solar power to urban consumption centers, as an important element of an overall energy plan to meet our growing energy needs in a more sustainable way. We need clear government policy, with funding support, to drive the utility investments needed to assure reliable, clean power and improved energy efficiency from energy generation, through delivery, to consumption.

The European Parliament and Council’s 20/20/20 initiative to increase energy efficiency by 20 percent, produce 20 percent of its energy from renewable resources and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent is a positive demonstration of the region’s commitment to responsible energy leadership, Gilligan said. He called on governments and regulators at the national level to provide the leadership, incentives and accommodations needed for the transformation to a low-carbon economy.

For the complete article, please click here.

Burbank Water and Power Selects Tropos Wireless Mesh Network for Smart Grid Communications

Tropos Networks, the leader in high reliability outdoor wireless IP networks, was selected by Burbank Water and Power (BWP) as a key element in their Smart Grid network of networks. To improve service and empower its 51,000 electricity customers to use energy wisely, BWP is implementing comprehensive Smart Grid systems across the utility’s entire coverage area. Tropos’ GridCom® architecture will be used as the high performance wireless distribution area network, providing secure connectivity for multiple utility Smart Grid applications.

Key goals of the Smart Grid initiative include enabling customer energy efficiency and demand response, improving operational efficiencies, reducing CO2 emissions, supporting Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PEVs), and integrating renewable energy sources to meet California’s mandate of 33 percent renewable power by 2020.

Upcoming Smart Grid program phases include full AMI deployment to all customers, distribution automation, demand response, thermal energy storage systems at select customer sites, and new control systems. Several retail services are planned that utilize the Smart Grid to enable energy efficiency, demand management and other programs that will give customers greater information and control over energy usage. BWP does not expect to raise rates to fund the program; instead, it will cover costs with the SGIG, cost reductions related to operational efficiency improvements, and selling services utilizing excess capacity on its communication systems.

For the complete article, please click here.

Duke Energy and ITOCHU to Develop Strategies for Reusing Electric Vehicle Batteries

Duke Energy and Tokyo-based ITOCHU Corp. signed an agreement today to collaborate on advanced energy technologies, starting with the evaluation and testing of second-life applications for electric vehicle batteries.

According to some auto industry estimates, electric vehicle (EV) batteries that can no longer charge to approximately 80 percent of their original capacity may be candidates for replacement. Duke Energy and ITOCHU believe batteries that become unsuitable for use in EVs could live on in other applications. Reuse possibilities for these batteries include providing a supplemental home energy supply, storing renewable power and providing a fast-charging power source for EVs.

The companies will assess how EV batteries perform in their "second lives," including stationary applications in homes, neighborhoods and commercial buildings. This pilot project will help Duke Energy and ITOCHU validate potential business models for future commercialization. In addition, the companies believe increasing the total lifetime value of batteries through second-life applications could help reduce initial battery cost.

For the complete article, please click here.

Verizon Wireless Partnering With EPA's ENERGY STAR to Improve Energy Efficiency

Furthering its commitment to protecting the environment, Verizon Wireless has become an official ENERGY STAR® Partner. Through its voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Verizon Wireless will work to improve energy efficiency and fight global warming. Seventy-five Verizon Wireless Communications Stores have already earned the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance.

In partnership with ENERGY STAR, Verizon Wireless will:

•Measure and track energy performance at hundreds of company Communications Stores, switching centers, cell sites and other facilities throughout the United States.

•Integrate ENERGY STAR resources into Verizon Wireless' energy management strategy.

•Spread the word about the importance of energy efficiency to employees, partners and community members in the 49 states where Verizon Wireless operates.

For the complete article, please click here.

Motorola enters the connected home market through the acquisition of 4Home

Connected home platform developer 4Home was acquired by Motorola today (12/01/10). 4Home will now become a part of Motorola’s Mobility division; terms of the deal have not yet been announced.

4Home’s solutions include energy management, healthcare monitoring, home security monitoring and entertainment management. 4Home, a Sunnyvale, CA based company, was founded in 2005 and has been a regular participant at Parks Associates’ CONNECTIONS conference. To date the company has raised over $9 million in venture capital funding from Pond Ventures, Parker Price and Verizon Ventures.

Motorola is one of the leading Set-Top-Box (STB) brands and we predict that 4Home’s platform will be embedded on their (Motorola’s) STBs enhancing the company’s offering. We expect more details on the deal to be available soon.

In our opinion this is another great example of a market mover, such as Motorola, building the foundation for the connected home systems and services market to blossom. We have repeatedly stated that there are multiple paths to the connected home. 4Home developed a robust platform and Motorola is well-positioned to deploy it. Other recent examples of companies with market clout getting behind the connected home solutions include cable MSOs Comcast and Rogers, both deploying services based on the iControl/uControl (a recent merger) platform(s).

The bottom line for industry participants is that these firms, and others we expect to hear from shortly, will build awareness of the capabilities monitoring and control technologies can add to consumers’ lifestyles. 2011 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the connected home systems and services market. So much so, that we are formulating a new market intelligence program aimed at characterizing and quantifying opportunities in this arena for manufacturers, service providers, utilities, retailers and a host of technology enablers. Stay tuned.

No one said it was going to be easy

The smart grid is fast becoming a reality. The U.S. power grid is aging and is in need of an upgrade. Smart meters are being installed on residences across the U.S. as part of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployments. Pilot programs testing a variety of residential energy management programs are well underway, including the latest from CPS Energy in San Antonio, TX. As part of the pilot program, 40,000 residential customers will receive smart meters. Over the next 10 years, more changes and developments will take place on the grid than they have over the last 100 years. However, it is not going to be easy.

The smart grid has benefits for all involved; however, failure to convey the benefits has become a major challenge. Utilities like the idea of cutting labor costs and being able to manage electricity usage more efficiently; environmentalists want to integrate renewables onto the grid; manufacturers want to sell appliances and consumers want to cut expenditures on electricity. These are all different goals and not necessarily compatible in every respect. For instance, some utilities are developing the capability to shed load by remotely adjusting consumers’ thermostats or appliances. This helps them avoid paying premium prices for power during times of peak usage, but not all consumers want to participate in these programs. Parks Associates 2010 Residential Energy Management Survey shows that about a third of households don’t mind utilities controlling systems in their homes; on the other hand, 40% of households don’t like the idea.

Another hurdle is lack of communication. Utilities are accustomed to acting unilaterally once public utility commissions approve a program. Many didn’t place a priority on customer education. This has changed significantly and utilities are taking an active role in building stronger relations with their customers. Both California-based Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Dallas- based Oncor have established C-level positions, Chief Customer Officer (CCO), to build stronger relationships with the customers. The CCOs and their staff are responsible for addressing customer concerns answering billing inquires and educating customers about the benefits of smart meters and more.

Not being easy doesn’t mean impossible. Meter data management firm eMeter’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Chris King, briefed congress in July, 2010, on the results of the PowerCentsDC smart grid pilot program in Washington, DC. Conducted in collaboration with DC utility PEPCO, King reported that the overall results of the pilot were very positive, “Over the course of the pilot, 90 percent of customers saved money -- an average of $44 per year -- and more than 90 percent said they would recommend the program to friends and family.”

Parks Associates’ 2^nd Annual Smart Energy Summit in Austin, TX on January 24th-26^th, 2011 will provide utilities and other interested parties a forum to share and discuss these initiatives as well as other lessons learned with an eye to identifying additional ways to engage in energy conservation and management programs.