Smart power consumers becoming worst nightmare for electricity firms

Andrew Greenfield checks his home's solar power output against consumption through his computer and mobile phone dozens of times each day. The International Business Machines Corp. storage engineer enjoys trying to match the power he consumes to heat his pool in Arizona with what he produces during the day from the panels on his roof.

Greenfield has paid nothing for power from his local utility since the system was installed by SolarCity a year ago. At parties and family gatherings he proudly shares his savings data with anyone who's interested.

He's your utility's worst nightmare, and there are now hundreds of thousands of homeowners and small businesses like him as Silicon Valley entrepreneurs transform monthly ratepayers into smart consumers.

“I travel a lot, and don't always remember to turn off my AC or the pool heater,” Greenfield said. “Now I can just do it on my cellphone.”

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