Google Releases PowerMeter API

Google has released an API for its PowerMeter application in a move which the search giant hopes will help to popularise home smart meters.

Late last week, Google announced that it had released the Google PowerMeter API in a blog post. “We’re launching this API in order to help build the ecosystem of innovative developers working towards making energy information more widely available to consumers,” Google stated.

The company said that it was hoping to protect users’ privacy with the launch of the API. “In particular we outline the underlying data model and the accompanying protocols to ensure that Google PowerMeter provides consumers access to their energy consumption with utmost care in maintaining the user’s privacy and control on access to the information,” Google said.

Google’s PowerMeter, which has already been trialled in the US, receives data from smart meters and other energy management devices installed in people’s homes and businesses. The software can plot graphs of a user’s energy consumption over time and compare it to their previous usage and regional averages. Users can track their energy consumption in near-real-time on PowerMeter from a computer or mobile phone anywhere in the world by accessing their personalised iGoogle homepage.

The search giant is also asking for feedback on the development of the API. “Finally, we want your feedback! Ask questions, suggest topics, and share your stories. You can do this at the Developer Lounge section of the Google PowerMeter forum,” the company said.

PowerMeter was made available to UK consumers of first:utility – a small gas and electricity provider with around 30,000 customers – in November last year. The UK government has promised that all houses will have smart meters by 2020, but some utilities have complained to Ofgem about the cost, and network giant Cisco has warned that any smart grid will eat into vendors’ revenues. Utilities have been accused of lobbying against the meters, or trying to limit their function.