Household energy management using the Energy Butler

By drawing on modern technology, energy customers can increasingly influence the level of their electricity bills. By exploiting hourly fluctuations in electricity prices, consumers’ appliances can be manually or automatically switched on in low-price periods. A smart energy management system informs customers of these low-price periods and helps them save money by timing their electricity consumption more precisely.

Smart energy management in practical trials

MVV Energie launched practical trials in early 2008 on its “Energy Butler”, a system enabling customers to manage their energy consumption more efficiently.

Benefits of the Energy Butler at a glance

• Individual:
  Consumers can view the Energy Butler operations schedule, which controls their household appliances, online at an internet portal and amend the schedule at any time in line with their needs.
  
  
• Up-to-date:
  Consumers can view their latest consumption and costs for individual days, as well as for individual appliances, online. This way, they gain an overview of their household energy flow and can identify potential electricity guzzlers.
  
  
• Energy-efficient:
  Electricity from renewable sources, especially wind and solar energy, can be used when it is generated. That helps the environment.
  
  
• Transparent:
  Rather than making their usual standard monthly prepayments, customers taking part in the practical trials receive exact monthly invoices for their consumption.
  
  
• Cost-saving:
  Customers stand to save money by delaying their consumption to periods with more favourable electricity prices.
  
  
• Economically efficient:
  MVV Energie can better plan its electricity needs in advance and does not have to procure as much expensive peak load electricity. MVV Energie shares these procurement price benefits with its customers.