City of Miami Announces Smart Grid

via Midway

Soon you will be able to control your energy use too, but in a way less cool way.

It's probably the Miami Herald's duty to be covering this boring, but potentially substantial breaking news. But apparently they're too busy smoking it up in honor of Pulitzer Day! So now I have to trudge through this extremely boring (but potentially substantial!) bit of news to make sure that you, the Miami public, is aware on a timely manner.

The City of Miami is going to put smart meters in your house. The meters will monitor your energy and water usage up to the minute, and this information will be available to you on your computer where you will ignore it in favor of watching BangBus or reading Perez Hilton. Theoretically though, you'd take steps to lower your energy use. It would be a fun game you could play with your neighbors or something. I suppose. Technically though, consumers who are aware of how much power they are using tend to use less. So you could save 10-20% on your energy bill.

The smart grid will also allow FPL to better monitor the flow of power, and manage it in more efficient ways.

The first phase of the plan will cost $200 million, and Miami will be the first major city in America to run on a "smart grid." The city, GE Cisco systems, Silver Spring Networks and FPL are involved in the deal and hope to land some sweet, sweet stimulus money to fund the project.

[Here is a link to a Wall Street Journal article about the plan, which is illustrated with a still from Miami Vice. (I think we know who's winning next years Pulitzer for funny web image...)]