Consumer Energy Platform in Massachusetts and Rhode IslandWednesday, June 1, 2016 Consumer Energy Platform in Massachusetts and Rhode IslandConnectedSolutions to provide customers with savings and incentives, help manage smart devices and appliances, reduce energy use Germantown, MD and Waltham, MA – June 1, 2016 – National Grid, a leading utility provider in the Northeast, today announced the introduction of its ConnectedSolutions platform in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The innovative consumer energy platform leverages Earth Networks’ WeatherBug Home® technology to let customers connect and manage smart devices and appliances for their home or business. National Grid’s platform is designed to help customers conveniently reduce energy use in the summer, when energy demand is high. ConnectedSolutions will help reduce energy use during periods of peak demand (reducing regional energy costs), protect the environment by lowering emissions, and support state and local energy initiatives. “National Grid is committed to customer convenience and reducing energy costs,” said Carlos Nouel, National Grid’s leader of the New Energy Solutions division. “By utilizing WeatherBug Home, the ConnectedSolutions platform provides our customers with energy intelligence that does the work for you to maximize savings and comfort. We are excited to introduce this to Massachusetts and Rhode Island customers, and eventually, roll it out across our entire service area.” National Grid is introducing ConnectedSolutions to eligible Massachusetts and Rhode Island electric customers and in the coming months, expanding the platform to New York. Powered by WeatherBug Home’s Internet of Things (IoT)-centric approach to bring additional energy intelligence and value, the platform will initially work with Honeywell and ecobee smart thermostats, and expand over time to additional connected devices including washers, dryers and hot water heaters. ConnectedSolutions utilizes WeatherBug Home’s ability to integrate proprietary weather data (50% of a home’s energy usage is driven by weather) with patented thermodynamic modeling and energy consumption data from connected devices. “We are pleased to team up with National Grid to bring our big data capabilities and proven energy intelligence platform to homes and businesses across Massachusetts. The value of our IoT-centric approach to energy management was affirmed by a recent National Grid residential pilot finding that WeatherBug Home’s HVAC control and optimization capabilities saved 16.5% in electricity usage when cooling homes, compared to 5.1% HVAC savings from a connected thermostat,” said Bob Marshall, chief executive officer, Earth Networks. “It is rewarding to see pioneering utilities such as National Grid seek new ways to deliver superior service and value to customers, and we are excited to work closely with National Grid on this platform.”Key ConnectedSolutions benefits for consumers include:
To learn more about the ConnectedSolutions Program, visit https://weatherbughome.com/connectedsolutions/. An overview of WeatherBug Home may be found at https://weatherbughome.com/connectedsolutions/. About Earth Networks: Powering WeatherBug & WeatherBug HomeFor 20 years, we have been Taking the Pulse of the Planet® using the world’s largest weather, lightning and greenhouse gas monitoring networks. Our sensors across the planet keep consumers, businesses, and governments informed, updated and alerted. Our popular WeatherBug® brand provides neighborhood-level weather, superior forecasts and advanced severe weather alerts to millions. Our WeatherBug Home offering taps big weather and connected home data for improved energy efficiency and comfort. Enterprises such as schools, airports, professional sports teams, utilities and government agencies rely on our early warning solutions to safeguard lives, prepare for weather events, and optimize operations. Know Before®. About National GridNational Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects over 20 million people to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain. Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in our service areas. Media Contacts:Brian Lustig, Bluetext for Earth Networks 202.469.3608 [email protected] Danielle Williamson National Grid Media Relations [email protected] |