PG&E Launches White House-Backed Energy Saving Program
SANTA CLARA (KCBS) – The United States Chief Technology Officer was in Silicon Valley on Wednesday, unveiling an energy monitoring program for Pacific Gas and Electric customers.
Aneesh Chopra said the program called Green Button will allow PG&E customers with smart meters to download their energy use by simply clicking on the green button on the company's website.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
"To the average homeowner, downloading your information gives you some security that you have the data about your performance," said Chopra. "But it also empowers you to go shopping. Shopping for new apps who compete to tell you how they can support you in saving on your energy bill."
Karen Austin, Chief Information Technology Officer for PG&E, said that one customer was able to use the data to reduce her energy bill by 70 percent.
"She went through and looked at her hourly usage and compared it to other residential uses to find ways to cut how she was using her energy," said Austin. "She unplugged appliances, changed the hours of her thermostat and looked for effective ways to manage how she used energy."
Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric are also participating in the program.
Austin said that more and more apps are being developed to help consumers save on their energy use.
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