Smart meters aren’t the answer to saving money on power bills, a new study says.
The bulk of electricity savings can be realized through in-home usage tracking software that enables consumers to view their consumption levels throughout the day — according to a review of 57 studies conducted over three decades for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Smart meters are “neither necessary nor sufficient for providing households with the feedback they need to achieve energy savings,” the report said.
The systems do cut costs for consumers, as well as help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the report argued the meters do not spur households to actively reduce consumption. By compounding smart meters with measures to engage consumers in reducing energy use, consumers could cumulatively save up to $35 billion in the next 20 years, according to the report.
The study comes on the heels of a Maryland agency’s decision to block Baltimore Gas & Electric’s plan to install smart meters across the state. The Board of Public Works voted that the plan would put too much of the installation cost on consumers.
