[*StarDust*]

Some households to try device that monitors power consumption
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 August 2008 1927 hrs

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) is piloting the use of a tracking device that will help consumers know exactly how much they are paying for various appliances in the house.



With the device, the NEA hopes more households will cut down their energy consumption and save on their utilities bills.

To use it, the device needs to be linked to the circuit breaker. The device not only shows the total energy consumed by the household, it also shows how much power up to three selected appliances use and even calculates the dollar value of the energy consumed.

The NEA hopes such devices will help households change their consumption habits.

K Suresh, senior engineer with NEA's Resource Conversation Department, said: "Through this device, we hope to create awareness among the households about saving energy."

Households which have already started using the device reported significant savings due to awareness.

Home owner Tommy Ng said: "Before that, we didn’t know, because there's no dollars and cents. I have nine rooms and if no one is in the rooms and all (of us are) in the hall watching TV and all the nine room lights are on, it consumes a lot of electricity."

With 12 people in Mr Ng's household, this bottom-line awareness, along with initiatives to switch to energy-saving appliances, have translated into savings of about S$400 a month.

The device will soon be found in more homes. The NEA is conducting a pilot project in 200 homes in the North West and South West Community Development Councils, to help households in these areas monitor their energy consumption.

The six-month pilot project will begin this month, and focuses on families in four- and five-room flats.

The devices will be installed free of charge by NEA and Bridex, the company behind the device.

Mr Ng's energy-saving ways, together with those of 11 other families will be featured in a new programme titled "Energy Savers", which will start running this Thursday on MediaCorp's Channel 8 at 8pm.

The show will challenge the 12 households to reduce their energy consumption by at least 10 per cent and invent creative ideas on how to save electricity. The winning household stands to win S$5,000.

Those not involved in the trial can buy the S$200 device at Home-Fix stores from next week.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...364833/1/.html

[Siong2]

Good, hope this comes to my house soon.

[weicong]

not bad a device.
When we see then we care.

[shypineapple]

would be good for all.

[shingshing]

sounds gd. got a feeling my hse wun have free installation...
$200 for that device is exp wor.

[Beanman]

hmm...wat a gd idea of saving the earth

[PinkLady]

ex hope that they will have free testing to my home

[Voodoo Vince]

Smart meters to check power use
By Tania Tan

Singapore households will soon have a smarter way of keeping tabs on their monthly power bills.

Energy meters, which tell consumers exactly how much electricity they are using per hour, will be tested in 1,000 households in the east and west under a pilot project launched by the Energy Market Authority.

These advanced electricity meters give consumers more detailed information on their energy usage, including electricity rates and hourly consumption.

The trial run will also allow volunteers to buy 'electricity credits' at peak and off-peak rates, instead of the current flat fee of 25 cents per kWh, which they buy exclusively from SP Services.

Under the trial, SP Services will offer participating households electricity priced at peak and off-peak rates.

'It's like buying mobile phone plans,' said EMA director for consumer safety and crisis management Seow Kang Seng.

Consumers can pick packages which 'best suit their lifestyles', he added.

Participants will be able to buy electricity online, or at two vending machines in Marine Parade and West Coast. The areas were selected because they give the best mix of HDB, private housing and small businesses.

And with the help of smart meters, consumers can monitor their hourly usage - down to the cent, he added.

'If they think they're using too much, then they can switch off certain appliances, and scale back usage,' he said.

The six-month trial which starts in November, simulates what consumers in 1.2 million households could be doing in about three years' time, if the Electricity Vending System is implemented.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_272514.html

[createweb]

Sounds good, can let us monitor our usage

[Beanman]

my house dun nid tis.cauz the water bill isn't tat ex.$115 nia.cheap cheap.water use alot but pay less

[shypineapple]

i'm all for this idea. go go

[devilevilchris]

Well... heard frm the news tonite that in future we make meet to pay in advance before we can use the electricity... what u guys think?? post ur comments here... and vote... thanks!

[FlattenedCake]

eh if pay fixed amount. everyone sure use lotslots liao.. global warming = overload lol

[chipspoteto]

They played too much online games....and started to pick up this prepaid strategy

[Lautouzhi]

This is to counter those who didn't pay their electric bills and they can take the cash upfront to do investment. Double win for SP services. Why such service is so concern with P&L? What about those poor people? Can't pay, no electricity? Imagine no electricity for 1 day. How would you feel? Wake up, freaking elites.

[FlattenedCake]

and wad if suaysuay tt day no money? next day den hav money pay? den electricityless for one whole day? cos if pay at the end of the month, still got time to save money to pay ma..

[tears]

i hope it won't happen. use first , pay later the best!

[platform]

so that my familly will try to reduce our expenses

[qxnviolet]

Originally Posted by Lautouzhi

This is to counter those who didn't pay their electric bills and they can take the cash upfront to do investment. Double win for SP services. Why such service is so concern with P&L? What about those poor people? Can't pay, no electricity? Imagine no electricity for 1 day. How would you feel? Wake up, freaking elites.

Erm, are today's Singaporeans so pampered that they cannot imagine living without electricity just for 1 day ?! Im sure i can survive without electricity for a day. The poor wouldn't and shouldn't be using that much electricity anyway, and if they really feel the pinch and can't pay, im sure their respective town constitiuncy will come up with some ways to help them. Have to agree though that paying at the end of the month is going to be much more convenient for most people.

The device looks great and i love the fact that i'll be able to monitor my electrical usage and proberbly bring my bills down abit. Cool!~

[-Fairytale-]

Originally Posted by chipspoteto

They played too much online games....and started to pick up this prepaid strategy

Not really, some parts in China has been doing this for ages.