Smart meters: A users' view

Smart meters are assumed to contribute to energy conservation by providing updated consumption data to energy utilities, but, given their pervasive presence in consumers’ homes, they could also provide timely feedback to energy consumers/users. A precondition, however, is that smart meters are really usable to lay consumers. In the present study 40 participants were videorecorded while performing a set of reading tasks with the smart meter installed in their house, with or without the help of the users’ manual; they were also asked to fill in a checklist to evaluate the meter after the task series. The results of the analysis suggest improvements in the terminology used, in the selection of information to provide, and in the navigability of the information system.