Why You May Need an Upgrade Before You Go All-Electric
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Less than half of single-family homes are ready to increase their use of electricity. A smart panel can help.
Bought a new home that runs entirely on electricity? Good for you. But if you’ve purchased a single-family that uses fossil fuels for some or all of its systems, you may need an upgrade such as new wiring or a higher capacity panel before you make the switch to an all- electric house.
Even if you think your home is ready, it may not be up to the added challenge of an electric vehicle or two. Plus, your neighborhood electric grid could be overloaded with the twin demands from homeowners and transportation systems converting to electric power.
Researchers at the nonprofit climate and energy research firm Pecan Street estimate that 35 to 45 million homes can handle new electricity demands, without an upgrade, which is only about half of the estimated 86 million single-family homes in the U.S.
Depending on your home and its location, adding more power can be an expensive and sometimes impossible proposition if the utility grid isn’t capable of meeting demand. Monitoring your electricity with a smart electric panel is a more manageable solution.
We asked Will Shippee, director, home and distribution for Schneider Electric and Brian Schmalberger, market development manager for residential products at ABB Electrification , for their insights into smart electric panels. Their comments have been lightly edited for space and clarity.
Both Shippee and Schmalberger emphasized that all electrical panel installations and electrical wiring work should be completed by a professional for the safety of the homeowner. In other words, a smart electrical panel upgrade isn’t a DIY project.
GB: How does a smart panel mitigate issues with an overloaded electrical grid or a house that's been transitioned to all-electric?
Schmalberger: Smart panel technology allows homeowners to more efficiently use the power they have by prioritizing loads that are important. The latest National Electric Code allows for energy management systems to control the maximum current through a panel, which in many cases will prevent the need for an expensive service upgrade. This allows homeowners to live like they have more power available to them than they actually do.
Shippee: The functionality of the panel can vary by design and manufacturer. The Schneider Electric Pulse Panel is a true energy management solution allowing homeowners to monitor and control their energy use directly from the Schneider Home app. Within the app the homeowner can see how much power is coming from solar, battery and the utility, as well as the cost of that power and options to use more sustainable power and reduce energy costs.
As homeowners shift to more efficient electrical appliances, the software allows the homeowner to prioritize loads to avoid potential overload issues. For example, if a homeowner plugs in their EV when they return home from work, this load can be put on hold as they make dinner on their electric stove or do laundry with their electric dryer, then resume charging after those other appliances have been turned off.
GB: Does your company offer more than one smart panel for consumers?
Shippee: The Schneider Pulse panel is our primary offer and the true heart of an electrified home. Since its launch, the panel has been very well received by the market and has been recognized for its innovation with numerous industry awards.
Schneider Pulse is the core of our Schneider Home offer, which includes the Schneider Boost home battery, Schneider Inverter for converting solar power, our Connected Wiring Devices (smart outlets, switches and dimmers), and Schneider Charge, our home EV charger – all directly integrated and controlled by a single app.
We also offer the plug-n-play Connected QO solution that provides homeowners access to app-based control with easier installation and at a lower cost than traditional smart panel options. This solution starts with any of our traditional Square D QO Plug-on Neutral electrical panels, then adds our Control Relays and the Schneider Energy Monitor to provide circuit-level-control to save energy and control loads, along with system-wide energy monitoring.
Schmalberger: ABB's current offering is the ReliaHome Smart Panel. It is flexible enough to work with any manufacturer's load center and to monitor and control up to twelve circuits in a home. ABB plans to continue to invest in its residential portfolio.
GB: Are there other options besides a smart panel that may be less costly but still helpful such as a smart breaker?
Shippee: The first step is for the homeowner to understand the amount of energy they are using and where it’s being used around the house. By adding the Schneider Energy Monitor to their existing panel, they can now have that insight and make changes to live more efficiently and save money.
If a single load needs to be managed within an existing panel you can leverage our connected QO solution by taking any QO plug-on-neutral load center, adding one or more of our control relays and the Schneider Energy Monitor. This small set-up can sit next to your existing main panel and be wired to the particular breaker(s) you’d like to control.
This cost-effective solution can help prevent the load in your main panel from exceeding the main rating of the panel (service upgrade avoidance). It will also provide control of loads during battery back-up enabling longer battery charge.
Schmalberger: There are other solutions in the market, including smart circuit breakers or all-in-one smart panels, that allow homeowners to monitor and control electrical loads in their homes. However, only ABB offers a solution that can work with any load center and can be installed in either new home construction or renovation.
GB: How complex are these smart devices to operate for homeowners?
Schmalberger: The ReliaHome Smart Panel app is used to both set up and control the panel when it's in use. The app interface will be familiar to any user who is comfortable using smart phone apps today. It's designed to be simple, intuitive and easy to use.
Shippee: If a solution is too complex and difficult to operate, homeowners are less likely to use them or gain the benefits they are looking for from the technology. No one wants to be the facility manager of their own home.
This was a key point for us in developing the Schneider Pulse as part of our Schneider Home offer. In contrast to existing solutions which require separate apps and disjointed hardware, this solution eliminates the complexity for homeowners by automating energy production, storage, back-up, measurement and control making management seamless and simple.
GB: Do these devices help reduce energy use?
Shippee: That is the primary goal of this technology – reducing home energy use and, in turn, the homeowner’s utility bills. Understanding how much energy is being used and where that energy is being used is the first step.
From there, the homeowner can make changes – whether manually by unplugging unused devices that are still drawing power or digitally, by turning power on and off or scheduling these steps to happen automatically through a smartphone app. Taking these steps allow homeowners to reduce their energy use, lower their electric bills and live more efficient and sustainable lives.
Schmalberger: Yes, a smart panel can lower energy use if the homeowner has that as a goal. A simple example would be to turn off unnecessary load like the water heater when away for an extended period.
Why You May Need an Upgrade Before You Go All-Electric
Less than half of single-family homes are ready to increase their use of electricity. A smart panel can help.
Bought a new home that runs entirely on electricity? Good for you. But if you’ve purchased a single-family that uses fossil fuels for some or all of its systems, you may need an upgrade such as new wiring or a higher capacity panel before you make the switch to an all- electric house.
Even if you think your home is ready, it may not be up to the added challenge of an electric vehicle or two. Plus, your neighborhood electric grid could be overloaded with the twin demands from homeowners and transportation systems converting to electric power.
Researchers at the nonprofit climate and energy research firm Pecan Street estimate that 35 to 45 million homes can handle new electricity demands, without an upgrade, which is only about half of the estimated 86 million single-family homes in the U.S.
Depending on your home and its location, adding more power can be an expensive and sometimes impossible proposition if the utility grid isn’t capable of meeting demand. Monitoring your electricity with a smart electric panel is a more manageable solution.
We asked Will Shippee, director, home and distribution for Schneider Electric and Brian Schmalberger, market development manager for residential products at ABB Electrification , for their insights into smart electric panels. Their comments have been lightly edited for space and clarity.
Both Shippee and Schmalberger emphasized that all electrical panel installations and electrical wiring work should be completed by a professional for the safety of the homeowner. In other words, a smart electrical panel upgrade isn’t a DIY project.
GB: How does a smart panel mitigate issues with an overloaded electrical grid or a house that's been transitioned to all-electric?
Schmalberger: Smart panel technology allows homeowners to more efficiently use the power they have by prioritizing loads that are important. The latest National Electric Code allows for energy management systems to control the maximum current through a panel, which in many cases will prevent the need for an expensive service upgrade. This allows homeowners to live like they have more power available to them than they actually do.
Shippee: The functionality of the panel can vary by design and manufacturer. The Schneider Electric Pulse Panel is a true energy management solution allowing homeowners to monitor and control their energy use directly from the Schneider Home app. Within the app the homeowner can see how much power is coming from solar, battery and the utility, as well as the cost of that power and options to use more sustainable power and reduce energy costs.
As homeowners shift to more efficient electrical appliances, the software allows the homeowner to prioritize loads to avoid potential overload issues. For example, if a homeowner plugs in their EV when they return home from work, this load can be put on hold as they make dinner on their electric stove or do laundry with their electric dryer, then resume charging after those other appliances have been turned off.
GB: Does your company offer more than one smart panel for consumers?
Shippee: The Schneider Pulse panel is our primary offer and the true heart of an electrified home. Since its launch, the panel has been very well received by the market and has been recognized for its innovation with numerous industry awards.
Schneider Pulse is the core of our Schneider Home offer, which includes the Schneider Boost home battery, Schneider Inverter for converting solar power, our Connected Wiring Devices (smart outlets, switches and dimmers), and Schneider Charge, our home EV charger – all directly integrated and controlled by a single app.
We also offer the plug-n-play Connected QO solution that provides homeowners access to app-based control with easier installation and at a lower cost than traditional smart panel options. This solution starts with any of our traditional Square D QO Plug-on Neutral electrical panels, then adds our Control Relays and the Schneider Energy Monitor to provide circuit-level-control to save energy and control loads, along with system-wide energy monitoring.
Schmalberger: ABB's current offering is the ReliaHome Smart Panel. It is flexible enough to work with any manufacturer's load center and to monitor and control up to twelve circuits in a home. ABB plans to continue to invest in its residential portfolio.
GB: Are there other options besides a smart panel that may be less costly but still helpful such as a smart breaker?
Shippee: The first step is for the homeowner to understand the amount of energy they are using and where it’s being used around the house. By adding the Schneider Energy Monitor to their existing panel, they can now have that insight and make changes to live more efficiently and save money.
If a single load needs to be managed within an existing panel you can leverage our connected QO solution by taking any QO plug-on-neutral load center, adding one or more of our control relays and the Schneider Energy Monitor. This small set-up can sit next to your existing main panel and be wired to the particular breaker(s) you’d like to control.
This cost-effective solution can help prevent the load in your main panel from exceeding the main rating of the panel (service upgrade avoidance). It will also provide control of loads during battery back-up enabling longer battery charge.
Schmalberger: There are other solutions in the market, including smart circuit breakers or all-in-one smart panels, that allow homeowners to monitor and control electrical loads in their homes. However, only ABB offers a solution that can work with any load center and can be installed in either new home construction or renovation.
GB: How complex are these smart devices to operate for homeowners?
Schmalberger: The ReliaHome Smart Panel app is used to both set up and control the panel when it's in use. The app interface will be familiar to any user who is comfortable using smart phone apps today. It's designed to be simple, intuitive and easy to use.
This was a key point for us in developing the Schneider Pulse as part of our Schneider Home offer. In contrast to existing solutions which require separate apps and disjointed hardware, this solution eliminates the complexity for homeowners by automating energy production, storage, back-up, measurement and control making management seamless and simple.
GB: Do these devices help reduce energy use?
Shippee: That is the primary goal of this technology – reducing home energy use and, in turn, the homeowner’s utility bills. Understanding how much energy is being used and where that energy is being used is the first step.
From there, the homeowner can make changes – whether manually by unplugging unused devices that are still drawing power or digitally, by turning power on and off or scheduling these steps to happen automatically through a smartphone app. Taking these steps allow homeowners to reduce their energy use, lower their electric bills and live more efficient and sustainable lives.
Schmalberger: Yes, a smart panel can lower energy use if the homeowner has that as a goal. A simple example would be to turn off unnecessary load like the water heater when away for an extended period.
Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsors: Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corporation takes sustainability seriously, in both their products and their operations. Learn more about building and buying homes that are more affordable and less resource intensive.
By Michele Lerner, Associate Editor
Michele Lerner is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, and author who writes about real estate, personal finance, and business.Also Read