Texas Utility Chooses Control4 for HAN Control and Energy Management

Summary: Texas-based utility Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, which serves more than 65,000 customers between Austin and Houston, has selected Control4 as the HAN provider for its Smart Grid project. Bluebonnet plans to begin deploying Smart Grid technology to residential and business customers beginning next year. Control4 was selected for its ability to provide customers with usage information and advice to encourage energy savings while providing a user friendly display and programmable smart thermostat. The in-home display and control will be Control4’s EMS-100 product. The Texas utility is hoping to qualify for ARRA stimulus funds in order to transform its business to a Smart Grid.

Quick Take: This move confirms what we said just two months ago when we declared Control4 to be a smart strategic move for utilities.  As we pointed out then, a slick product like Control4’s EMS-100 will act like a Trojan Horse, seducing customers with its appealing display without scaring them with technical concepts like demand response. For more details, see our analysis in the link below.

More details: Control4’s HAN product is only part of the system Bluebonnet plans to install. The EMS-100 will be integrated with Silver Spring smart meters and eMeter software, sending information back to the utility, while providing information to consumers about various uses of power in the home.  Home customers can then take action manually (for example, turning off an appliance) or program the system to turn off devices during peak times.

Bluebonnet customers will get an entry level version of Control4’s product that not only provides power data and control but also tips on saving on energy bills, power alerts from the utility as well as lifestyle features such as weather reports, traffic updates, stock quotes and podcasts.

Control4 Energy Systems is based in California’s Silicon Valley and recently announced $17.3 million in financing to fund a new business unit.

   Control4 press release

   SGN analysis of Control4