Parks Associates, an international research firm sponsoring a Smart Energy Summit in Austin for three days, focused on how the industry — from retailers to utilities to appliance makers — can encourage consumers to embrace technological changes coming to the home energy market.

The deployment of smart meters, the widespread use of broadband and the rise of smartphones and tablet computers allow consumers to manage their home energy usage, even remotely, to save money and make their lives more convenient.

Yet the market has generally stayed flat the past three years, according to Parks Associates, because consumers aren't aware of what's available, are concerned about the price or don't see the value of the service.

From the article, "Industry experts: Still a need to educate consumers on smart energy option" by Laylan Copelin

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