Energy: ENEA, how to save on your electric bill with AI

Energy: ENEA, how to save on your electric bill with AI

Developing a conversational AI system-much like the AI-powered chatbots already widely used in other fields-to interact directly with the home energy system, is one of the objectives of the European EU-DREAM project, coordinated by the University of Porto, to which ENEA contributed by coordinating the definition of 22 use cases, ranging from the automatic optimization of domestic energy flows to natural language dialogue with energy management systems. Conversational artificial intelligence will enable consumers to make more informed energy choices, leading to lower utility bills and CO₂ emissions.

"Users will be able to gain insights-through simple text or voice command-into their energy consumption and system output, without having to fill out forms or search for hard-to-find information. A simple interaction like the one proposed can increase consumer awareness, with a positive impact on bills and the environment. Thanks to the chatbot, users will be able to set preferences for how their smart home operates, like room temperatures or when appliances turn on," explained Amedeo Buonanno, a researcher at the ENEA Smart Grid and Energy Networks Laboratory within the Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources.

This solution could also prove extremely useful for members of energy communities (CERs), allowing them to quickly monitor the CER's self-consumption trends.

Experimental tests have already been conducted, but we will have to wait until the EU-DREAM project is completed in December of next year to see an interface that simplifies complex energy market data for the general public.