Why the success of the Energy Smart grid requires one on several fronts

Eric Dresselhuys is the Executive Vice President and Director of marketing for Silver Spring networks and has over 13 years of experience in the development of solutions for smart grid industry to more pressing problems. Dominant debates surrounding the smart grid are rightly focused on the commitment to customers. Unfortunately, that discussion has transformed into an argument of gadgets versus the behavior modification tools - poster at home and programmable thermostats from comparisons of community and social media. This argument creates a false dichotomy and runs the risk of keeping entire segments of people to engage in their consumption habits. The reality is that energy efficiency is too important and large for any single solution. A portfolio of choices must be available, including those who have not yet thought yet.

[More from Mashable: Sundance community of music inspired by the Institute puts the power between the hands of gangs & Fans]

Most of the businesses you, the consumer, to think that you have only one option for the reception of energy consumption of your data. For example, a leading software developer smart grid offers the customers behaviour change tools as a summary monthly energy - after they have already used their power. On the other hand, companies smart home thermostat offers a range of gadgets like a thermostat at home which shows how much energy is used in real time, but do not editing tools of behaviours that promote a change in habits have energy.

Offering an approach neglects did not resonate with the general population. If public services offer only tools of behavior modification, as a declaration of the energy of the utility that shows you how to save, they are reaching only a fraction of consumers. This unique option is not good enough because only 29% of people trust their suppliers of electricity to help optimize their energy use. Similarly, in a February 2011 pilot program, headed by Cape light Compact of Barnstable, Massachusetts, where consumers were offered only gadgets, such as the use of a measuring device and a Web site to monitor their energy25% of the participants actually increased their energy consumption.

[More from Mashable: grant of the Mythbusters provides advice for hackers who want Hardware]

The approach fails to resolve the debate of energy use highlights the fact that we were referred by the internal operation of our system of electricity for years. Get us our monthly invoice and pay for what we have eaten without great thought or discussion. This explains why some participants have increased their use in the study of Cape light - they lacked tools to change their supplier free behaviors. When customers are only offered the option of gadgets, they can follow their consumption of energy at that time, but are not available perspective after changing their long-term use. It is then likely that consumers want and need for options on how they receive information on their energy consumption.

Think about ways that we can communicate: email, text, social media, telephone calls or face to face meeting. We are linked to a broad range of options for how to save energy. In my family alone, there are different levels of commitment to our energy consumption. I want more interactive automation and control, my wife wants an option "set-it-and-forget", and my 80 year old father can wish a simple signal, and easy to implement the price proposals. Commitment must be done in a logical way for individual consumers.

It is clear that those who seek to serve the consumer engagement smart grid market attracted an imaginary line in the sand. Vendors without gadgets say only tools of behavior modification needs of customer engagement. Vendors without a change of behaviour say commitment to customers requires only gadgets. Only an approach cannot possibly solve the magnitude and diversity of energy consumers.

To prove that consumers have need of gadgets and tools for modifying behaviour, Oklahoma Gas & Electric has recently completed the first part of a two-part study, and preliminary results have been positive. When educated and power customers have demonstrated that they could join OG & E to meet 2020 utility Plan to delay the construction of two power plants in fossil fuels. The findings conclude that the reduction in energy is directly correlated price, that a comprehensive plan for the education of employees and customers is essential to facilitate the deployment and that a web portal is the most profitable client tool.

Interaction between the tools and the behavior is the key, and give people information about their energy consumption are the first step. With information, consumers are better able to respond to the influence of behavior modification tools. As they begin to understand how their use compares to others and receive suggestions on how to save, people are naturally more gadgets, tools and automation to help implement their energy choices in an efficient manner.

With these systems in place, utilities and regulators can implement on the prices of the structures that create adequate incentives for customers, ideally driving behaviours that reduce the costs for everyone. This will in turn create freedom of choice, participation and transparency. This was key to pilot program of intelligent network with success of Oklahoma Gas & Electric. Customers have chosen to participate, chose their plan and then chose how they would behave.

"Gadgets vs. the behavior modification" is the false debate. On the contrary, the answer is simple: provide a variety of gadgets and information tools for consumers and offer them choices. It is not a question of what is best for the utility; This is what is best for the consumer who will make a successful business.

The implementation efficiently, gadgets and behavior modification tools complement and create a virtuous circle of efficiency and savings. As increase us the penetration of distributed renewable energy and electric vehicles become more common, this interaction with our energy consumption will become even more complex. There is no point in focusing on the limitations or become complacent. I say that give us the people what they want.