Managing your home’s energy consumption could soon go high-tech courtesy of two programs being implemented with help from the City of Union.

Union City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to participate in the Online Energy Audit and BreezePlay Smart Panel programs offered through the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA). Union is one of the 10 utilities that make up the PMPA, a joint-action agency formed in 1979 to provide wholesale electric service to its members.

Online Energy Audit

Utility Director Joe Nichols told council that PMPA obtained a proposal from Enercom to provide members with online energy information software. he said the software allows utility customers to estimate the actual use and cost to operate electric and natural gas systems including everything from heating/air conditioning to minor appliances. He said it also allows customers to easily compare options for various home heating and cooling systems, water heaters and other systems.

“This will be web-based on the City of Union’s website,” he said. “What we’re going to have is you will enter your account number on your bill. That will get you access to your energy audit information.”

Nichols said that Enercom will have to install the software and enter the customers’ information along with the city’s utility rates. He said he believes the process will be completed and the system operational in August.

The initial contract with Enercom will be for four years and be paid for through PMPA at no cost to either the city or its customers.

Smart Panel

PMPA has also received a proposal from BreezePlay to install its EnviroScape System in private residences.

BreezePlay President Glenn I. Barrett Jr. told council that the initial proposal calls for the installation of the technology for a six-month trial period in the homes of 100 customers that meet the necessary criteria and are willing to participate. The arrangement with the city is part of a series of pilot studies of the technology BreezePlay is conducting with utilities and municipalities across the Carolinas. Company officials report that initial deployments of the technology have saved homeowners up to 20 percent on power consumption by providing real-time usage data.

The system also provides remote control of household systems including heating and air conditioning, to make the most efficient decisions about when and how to use energy. Homeowners can access the energy management system from the in-wall touch screen panel, the Internet, or any web-enabled mobile device such as a Blackberry or iPhone.

Barrett said the city’s role will be to provide the company with a list of prequalified residences along with all pertinent information — name, address, telephone number, and Internet e-mail address. He said the installation, monitoring and maintenance of the system will be handled by the company at no cost to the city or the participating customers during the trial period.

To qualify for the test deployment, participants must live in a single-family residence that is 2,000 square feet or larger; have central air conditioning/force air system; an electric water heater; and a broadband Internet connection such as DSL/Cable.

Nichols said that by allowing customers to view their power consumption in real-time it would help the city in it efforts to control peak demand on its electric system. He said this would help both the city and its customers reduce their power consumption and save money.

The city is in the process of determining which of its customers would qualify for the test program. They will be contacted by the city and asked if they want to participate.