Xcel Energy and GridPoint deploy next-generation home energy management solution

DENVER, USA: Xcel Energy and GridPoint, Inc., today announced that 1.4 million residential Colorado utility customers now have access to the My Account site on www.xcelenergy.com using GridPoint’s recently released home energy management solution.

The new portal allows customers to design and personalize both their electric and natural gas energy usage strategies based on their historical energy use. This could potentially save customers money and reduce their carbon footprint, as well as view and soon pay their bill online.

The initial deployment encompasses Xcel Energy’s Colorado service territory. Xcel Energy has the option to extend the program across its entire eight-state service territory after successful implementation in Colorado.

“GridPoint’s software integrates with the utility’s meter data systems and empowers our customers to meet individual energy budget and conservation goals, while providing a rich user experience that we believe our customers will appreciate,” said Jay Herrmann, Xcel Energy regional vice president. “Additionally, GridPoint’s solution will enable us to continually and easily integrate smart grid programs to further increase energy efficiency and reliability.”

Boulder, Colo., customers who qualify for a Demand Side Management pilot project as part of the SmartGridCity pilot program will soon have the ability to control some household devices through the site.

“We are delighted to work with utilities like Xcel Energy that share our belief that empowering residential consumers is fundamental to the success of the smart grid,” said Peter L. Corsell, GridPoint CEO. “Our one-stop home energy management solution encourages frequent, regular engagement that results in the benefits both utilities and consumers desire – cost-effective, efficient energy consumption.”

Key characteristics about the consumer’s home and energy use are gathered through a simple four-step survey and used to provide consumption, cost and carbon footprint estimates. Customers who desire a deeper understanding of their energy use can take advantage of advanced functionality, including graphically displayed billing information and historic consumption patterns.

Enterprise-class server technology allows GridPoint’s home energy management software to deploy rapidly and support millions of households. The customizable design of the consumer portal offers maximum flexibility for future integration of additional smart grid programs like load management, renewable integration, storage management and smart charging programs for plug-in vehicles.