Future home area networks to allow customised energy usage, says ABI Research

July 10, 2008 - "Smart metering" that will communicate electric, gas or water usage data over a network to the providing utility will evolve into "Home Area Networks" that allow utilities greater management efficiencies while offering customers more choices for their consumption, according to a new report from ABI Research.

“We believe that in an era of rising energy costs the Home Area Network model – and its most sophisticated outgrowth, the Energy Management System – will eventually see wide deployment,” says ABI Research senior analyst Sam Lucero. HAN is described as an extension of smart metering intelligence into the home itself, connecting the meter to "load centres": major power-consuming devices such as smart thermostats, air conditioners and washer/dryers. A HAN system is anticipated to allow the homeowner to specify a mix of consumption and efficiency across a range of devices.

“ZigBee is seen as the most likely candidate for HAN success,” added Lucero. “It enjoys wide support from utilities. The ZigBee Alliance has been very focused on smart metering. HANs are deployed in only small numbers today, but most utilities have plans in this direction, and we expect a large incremental ramp-up: first smart meters with HAN capabilities, then the addition of one or more load centers, and finally the Energy Management System.”