Do I need special appliances to use the remote functionality that the smart meters will provide?
CenterPoint Energy can read, connect, and disconnect smart electric meters remotely without your having to purchase any additional equipment. In the future, you will be able to create a Home Area Network using wireless data feeds from the smart meter so you can remotely monitor and control up to five ZigBee-compatible devices, such as smart thermostats and appliances. There will also be devices that can be connected to existing appliances allowing you to control these appliances, such as devices plugged into wall outlets for connecting and monitoring usage of window air conditioning units.
