By Liz Enbysk

SGN Managing Editor

In a recent blog post, eMeter's Chris King writes about the "Green Button" program that PG&E and San Diego Gas & Electric launched last month and how it's already a hit with his mother-in-law.

Why?

By logging into her account on the PG&E website and comparing rate plans, they discovered that - based on her actual energy usage measured by her smart meter - she can save 7% on her annual electric bill by switching to another PG&E plan. And with the utility's bill protection program, she can try the new rate risk-free, King notes.

They also found that his mother-in-law could save even more by shifting some of her usage to off-peak times.

What is this Green Button?

Suggested by U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra last fall, the national Green Button initiative gives utility customers with smart meters access to their energy usage data electronically and for utilities to make the information available in a simple, standardized format.

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And as you can see from the PG&E web page, there is an actual green button.

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We've heard of a handful of utilities that plan to launch Green Button programs later this year, among them Glendale Water & Power and Southern California Edison as well as Oncor in Texas and Pepco Holdings on the East Coast.

"The Green Button exemplifies SDG&E's move from the monthly bill cycle to accessible meaningful data," suggested Ted Reguly, SDG&E's director of customer programs and assistance. "With customers in charge of how the information is used, we anticipate the data will be used in ways we haven't even thought of yet."

Hmmm … Is it time to put mothers-in-law in charge of explaining the benefits of smart meters to the masses?

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