Smart grid project in Helena, Montana: A Great Opportunity for consumers

You’d think an opportunity http://www.montanaenergysmart.com to find specific things you can do around home to lower your electric bill would be a no-brainer.

But NorthWestern Energy is having a hard time finding folks to take part in a pilot smart grid program that would do just that. The pilot project, which is meant to show participants how much energy their using on a real-time basis, targets more than 1,200 customers who are served by the Golf Course Substation, an area roughly between Custer Avenue to the St. Helena Cathedral and Last Chance Gulch to Montana Avenue. The company sent postcards to everyone in the area looking for 200 people to sign up, but so far has less than half that many.

The project will help customers understand how much energy they use, and when they’re doing it during peak charging hours (usually the mornings and evenings, when people are using lights and appliances the most and electricity costs more). Monitors attached to appliances or plug-ins can limit the usage and lower your bill.

For more information, go to http://www.montanaenergysmart.com.

Read more: http://helenair.com/news/opinion/editorial/smart-grid-project-needs-takers/article_b5312f06-f0ac-11e0-8a22-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1a6TyQICf