Making Cents Of Your Energy

Summer 2022

With rising energy costs a seemingly inevitable, and our homes becoming more electrified than ever, it's a great time to review how you use energy, and how to make the most cents out of it.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is the overseeing body which assists consumers, as well as locally-owned, or investor-owned utility companies set delivery rates and energy costs to the end user. Back in 2019 Central Maine power announced expected rate increases for "the next three years." True to the announcement. customers within their respective electric utilities, have seen annual rate increases. Central Maine Power Customer for example have seen the average total rate per kWh increase from roughly 16.3¢(in 2018) to 21.1¢/kWh as of December 31 2021*

In a state with somewhat aging infrastructure and cyclical weather patterns, it should also be expected that the cost of energy, not just electricity, will continue to increase(i.e. gas, oil, water, other). As the sources become more expensive, difficult to obtain, and more finite over time. The demand, regardless of the energy mix, is expected to increase as well, and it's worth having a few tools to hedge against the future.

Resources to Help You Become More Energy Independent

Devices and Tools

The Sense Device

One great device to help you be aware of how you're using energy(electricity), where you're using it, and if you're getting the right reading from your utility meter on your bill is The Sense, and Sense Solar Devices. These devices can give you a clear picture of what you're using for energy - through their machine learning and AI tech, the Sense devices can tell you what loads are using the most, what loads are using the least, and they can even tell you based on historical data if a device might be in need of retirement and replacement. If you are producing power at your home, via a solar array or even a generator, the Sense Solar Device can recognize and give you a better picture of your production and the energy offset it provides to you. This is all on one, easy-to-use, and easy to understand app that provides you with periodic and real-time data at the palm of your hand while also having the ability to communicate with devices throughout your home using the IFTTT protocol such as your Amazon Alexa, Wemo, and TP Link Kasa to name a few.

Span

The Span smart panel provides a smart panel upgrade for the energy and load-conscious homeowner. Pre-built to be breaker-agnostic, with additional preset positions for your solar, battery backup, or other loads. This update to the main service or "breaker" panel is Wi-Fi enabled, and able to provide you with automated or preconfigured backup protocols - keeping some loads on, or turning some loads off in the event of an outage, while on backup power.

Solar Power New England designs and installs solar photovoltaic systems for homeowners with built in production, and whole home consumption(if applicable) metering capabilities. Solar Power New England also installs Sense Metering Devices for customers. Solar Power New England is a Certified Span Installer. Contact us for more information, with your questions, and if you think solar, Span, Sense, or Sense Solar is a good fit for your home/project.

Contact Us To Learn More

For More information on current and historic utility rates, please visit the Maine PUC: Residential Electric Rates

Product Link(s): Sense, Sense Solar Span