Google wants to change the way you think about electricity. The company is applying their mission to organize the world’s information to your home electricity bill. If you don’t know how much power each appliance uses, how will you be able to reduce your bill?
So they came up with PowerMeter, a device you clamp onto your main circuit breaker that feeds real time information to your computer. When you turn on the TV, do a load of laundry, or accidentially leave the toasater on, a chart showing your electricity usage spikes. Folks who had instant information about their power usage reduced their bill by 15 to 44 percent, according to a NY Times story on the device.
Google does not plan to charge for the device, but could collect valuable information about how we use electricity through the devices. I’m not so worried about other folks knowing when I run the dishwasher if it saves me a bundle. Now, to get PowerMeter on the market!
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
I want one of these! Please tell me where to get it ! Great information–way to go google.
Hi Ann, I want one of these too! Unfortunately, Google is still testing them and only a handful of perfect Google employees get to test them right now. But as soon as they come out on the market I will let you know.
DWP has no plans to install smart meters
Hello Bargainbabe,
I would like to have one of these as well, at least for a short while.
My only concern regarding them tracking my usage would be if my home address or phone number was somehow attached to the collected information.
The usage would/could clearly show over a short period of observed time what my regular schedule was, such as when I get home (a sustained spike in electrical use above base levels), when I shut down most everything and went to bed (a decrease in the sustained spike above base levels) and when I wasn’t home (a return to a more or less steady base level).
In a longer period of observed time it would also be able to show what days I most often modify my schedule to work late or when I am most likely to go out after returning home and at what times.
As I do not have much of anything that anyone might want to take I don’t have much to fear from all of this, but if this information was packaged and sold to tele-marketers they would know exactly when to call as we sat down to supper (due to a decreased spike from cooking after arriving home) and that would be really scary.
Keep up the good work.
I really appreciated Andy’s comments–thoughtful and thought-provoking.