Google gets into energy
Internet pioneer Google has announced partnerships with eight international energy suppliers to begin the process of connecting domestic smart meters to the world wide web.
It is working with six US-based firms supplying energy to Texas, Kentucky, California and Wisconsin along with one firm in Canada and another in India.
The expansion of smart meter usage prompted Google to develop its PowerMeter tool that will be embedded in its Internet browsing software allowing users to monitor their energy usage via their own PC or laptop home page.
Google believes that simply by making access to the information quick and easy, this will lead to domestic users reducing their consumption by between five and 10 per cent.
"Google PowerMeter receives information from utility smart meters and energy management devices and provides customers with access to their home electricity consumption right on their personal iGoogle homepage," explains Google.
The company says it is still testing the PowerMeter tool with the energy firms, but expects to "expand our rollout later this year".
The UK government has announced plans for all British households to have smart meters by 2020 in a £7bn roll out programme.
For more information about smart meters click here.