Smart-meter maker Landis+Gyr said Monday it won a deal to supply up to 1 million smart meters to British Gas customers in the United Kingdom’s first major smart -grid trial.
The smart-grid trial will install touch-screen displays inside British homes
The nation hopes to have all residential and business customers of its six major utilities connected to smart meters by the end of the decade.
The British Gas deal is among Europe’s largest. It also breaks new ground with a promise to release programming interfaces to third parties so that independent developers can create applications for consumer use, much as outside companies develop applications for Apple’s iPhone. Each home will be outfitted with an internal touch-screen display.
The trial is meant to offer utility customers the opportunity to manage their gas and electricity consumption by connecting to smart appliances, such as dishwashers or heating systems. By better scheduling the use of appliances for when they are needed or when power is less expensive, people can save money.
Landis+Gyr is already working on three small British trials, giving a leg up on future smart grid contracts.
[...] via Landis+Gyr Wins First Major British Smart Grid Deal « TechPulse 360. [...]