Google PowerMeter Launches in the UK

Google is a software and web services company and, despite being present in almost every segment of those markets, its ventures outside of them have been less successful. At the same time, it is nurturing a very green image and is investing in green technology while concomitantly doing its best to be as energy efficient as possible as a company. This may be key to the success of one of its more innovative projects, the Google PowerMeter, which is now launching in the UK as well, after getting some traction in the US.

“Electricity consumers in the United Kingdom can now access Google PowerMeter, a free software tool that provides consumers with information on how much energy their home is using. The software receives information from utility smart meters and in-home energy management devices and visualizes this information on a personalized iGoogle homepage. Today we're announcing both our very first UK utility partnership and our very first UK device partner,” Google's Ka-Ping Yee, software engineer, and Jens Redmer, Business Development, announced.

In the UK, Google is partnering with first:utility, the only utility company in the country that is offering free smart meters to its customers. The so-called “smart” meters allow home-owners to keep track of their energy usage, which is recorded by the device. The consumption readings can be accessed by outside devices and utilities like Google's PowerMeter gadget for the company's customizable homepage, iGoogle. The Google PowerMeter enables users to keep an eye on power consumption from any PC or Internet-enabled device by visiting the iGoogle homepage and installing the gadget.

Starting next month, first:utility's UK customers will be able to sign up to use the Google PowerMeter service for free, provided they have a smart meter installed. The utility company is in the process of rolling out smart meters to all of its more than 30,000 customers. For UK residents that aren't first:utility subscribers, Google is also partnering with AlertMe, a company that makes and sells energy consumption monitoring systems that people can install in their homes. Google now boasts that the service is available in five countries, with 10 utility companies and two device manufacturers.