Access your electric meter data

If you want to take control of your power you need get access to your own real-time energy consumption data. (Preferably on your smartphone or at least through a web-service). Don’t worry we’ll walk you through the process, no matter where you live, nor which Utility services you.

Taking Control of your Power

Check out our cheesey video starring Carson Riley.

First, determine whether you have a SmartMeter™. (Just take a look at your meter, it will say “SmartMeter” or have a digital read-out). Many utilities are rolling them out right now. Check your Utility’s Smart Grid plans here.

If you have a SmartMeter (and your Utility has turned it on)

If you have a SmartMeter™, and your Utility has turned it on, you may be able to get near real-time data right from your Utility. (Check their website, search for SmartMeter). Unfortunately, most Utilities are not yet providing access to the real-time data– normally its an hour delayed, or perhaps even a day delayed. (Check out our previous post about this here).

If your data is delayed (at all), you will still need to hack your own real-time consumption data (don’t worry, its totally legal. After all, its your data.) (In fact the California Public Utilities Commission has mandated California utilities to provide this data to consumers, and their trusted 3rd parties). We recommend getting the RAVEn from Rainforest Automation (You may need to provision it for your specific SmartMeter (tm) with your Utility, but we can help with this). Essentially, the RAVEn grabs the data from the SmartMeter (tm), and then you can use a webservice (discussed below) to track it, view it, parse it, etc.

No SmartMeter?

You could install a whole home or even a plug level monitor. Check out this blog for a roundup.

Then what?

Once you have your data online, you are ready to take the next step: finding the right rate plan.