Honeywell and Opower – a force to reckon with in home energy management

Honeywell gets residential automation and control systems. And it's a brand that has been around a long time so consumers are likely familiar with it.  Opower gets energy data analytics and using behavioral science to drive customer engagement. It's a much younger company but has had some big wins. Combine their strengths – which Honeywell and Opower are now doing – and it could be the beginning of a shakeout in the oh-so crowded home energy management space.  

The companies plan to launch a platform that includes a web-connected programmable thermostat. The goal is to help utilities promote energy efficiency programs that will drive deeper savings and maximize ROI. Utility customers will be able to access their energy data from a web portal or mobile app to get a snapshot of their energy use and spending as well as suggestions on how to implement cost-saving changes.

The companies will pilot their new technology with select utility partners in the next few months and may eventually expand it to support demand response as well as utility efficiency programs that target their light commercial customers.

This is exactly the kind of partnership we talked about in Why the stampede to next-generation efficiency may trample utilities.