AGL Energy Pty Ltd (AGL) recognises the evolving needs of its customers for comprehensive, easily accessible and understandable insights into their electricity consumption and solar generation. 

Powersensor and DiUS Computing Pty Ltd envisioned a game-changing solution for AGL to meet their customer needs  - a low-cost, self-installable energy monitoring system. 

The result?

An innovative power sensor product that empowers homeowners to take control of their energy usage without needing a qualified electrician.

The sensor seamlessly connects to the homeowner's WiFi network and transmits real-time data to the DiUS IoT cloud platform (intelligent.li). AGL can access This data through an API for custom presentation, fundamentally altering how residential customers engage with their energy usage.

About The AGL Pilot Program:

• WHEN - Q4 FY 2018

• WHERE - The pilot covered SA, QLD, VIC and NSW in regional and metropolitan areas

• WHO - 80-100 homes – the power sensors were installed in approximately 80-100 homes for monitoring solar generation and whole-of-house consumption

• DURATION - 6-8 week Pilot period

Two hundred pre-production self-installable prototype sensors were deployed across 80-100 homes in South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales for 6-8 weeks, commencing in Q4 FY2018. 

This pilot focused not only on user engagement and stress testing of the Powersensor system and DiUS Intelligent. Li platform but also on integrating with AGL's Web-based Portal, Solar Command.

AGL managed customer engagement, data management, and presentation during the pilot. The deployment topology strategically considered spread vs. concentration vs. location, unveiling the potential value of the data to stakeholders in the broader electricity market.

The Tech Behind The Energy Monitoring Solution:

At the core of this innovative solution were low-cost current detection devices, sampling software, and cloud-based algorithms. 

Here's a deeper look at how it all worked:

• Low-Cost Current Detection Devices (Sensors): Powersensor's innovative sensors were the cornerstone of the solution. These low-cost devices were designed for easy self-installation by homeowners, eliminating the need for a qualified electrician.

• Seamless Data Transmission: The sensors, once installed, are seamlessly connected to the homeowner's WiFi network. Real-time data generated by these sensors was then transmitted to the Powersensor, DiUS IoT cloud platform, intelligent.li.

• Cloud-Based Algorithms: DiUS's Intelligent.li platform housed sophisticated algorithms to process data received from sensors and household electricity meters. These algorithms formed a 'transformation engine,' enabling the accurate determination of power and energy consumption.

• ILi-API Integration: The transformed data, enriched with insights from the algorithms, was made available through the ILI-API. This accessibility allowed for a seamless live power and energy data presentation on AGL's New Energy Portal.

Energy Data Insights:

The system provided sensor data at 30-second intervals alongside electricity meter data at 30-minute intervals for calibration. 

Post-calibration, the solution delivered instantaneous power, energy consumption, and generation data from 5 minutes to a month in various timeframes. The solution's scalability was evident, offering the potential to extend insights to appliance-level consumption data.

Project Outcomes, What Worked Well:

• Easy, successful self-installation.

• Powering on the sensor and attaching it to the inverter was successfully completed by most participants with minimal frustration or guidance. More than 50% of participants (54.5%) successfully completed installation in less than 10 minutes! 

• 75% of participants were satisfied (or above) with the ease of installation, and there was an astonishingly high 87.5% completion rate average across all tasks. 

• The benchmark for an average task completion rate is 78%. 

Want More Information?

Email us: sales@powersensor.com.au