Reliant Reports Result from Smart Energy Innovation Avenue Laboratory

Reliant announced that after one year, residents of its Innovation Avenue pilot reduced their electricity usage by an average of 16 percent, with one home achieving a 32 percent reduction in electricity usage.

"These results strongly suggest that when homeowners are given the right tools, upgrades and information about their electricity usage, they can change their habits and significantly reduce electricity use," Reliant said.

Innovation Avenue included 12 homes in Houston used as a laboratory to evaluate a suite of smart energy tools and services. See prior story for details on Innovation Avenue

Various tools included home energy monitors, weekly summary emails detailing energy usage and estimated costs, solar panels, and home automation. In addition, several residents received insulation and an air conditioning inspection and tune-up based on their individual needs. Residents also participated in a pilot program for smart appliances and Reliant's Filters Made Easy service in which new filters were delivered directly to the residents' homes when it was time for replacement.

Residents saw decreases between 1% and 32% in electricity used over the last year as compared to the previous year. The results varied from one home to the next depending on services provided and the residents' engagement with the technologies installed in their homes.

Reliant said that residents "consistently" utilized the Reliant e-Sense Home Energy Monitor.

"Residents said the Reliant e-Sense Home Energy Monitor, manufactured by Tendril, was one of their favorite tools," Reliant said.

Reliant has distributed the Reliant e-Sense Home Energy Monitors to over 10,000 customers across Texas.

Using the direct feedback from Innovation Avenue residents, Reliant developed the Reliant e-Sense "Now" application, a second generation smart energy tool designed to bring the real-time information available on the Reliant e-Sense Home Energy Monitor along with additional electricity usage information directly to the customer's smart phone or tablet.

The e-Sense Now Gateway connects to the customer's broadband Internet router, collecting and storing your electricity usage information every 5 to 10 seconds. Customers can download the e-Sense Now App to access this information in real time.