On Monday, a group of 47 companies and organizations sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to make individuals' energy usage data easy to access. The group included powerhouses such as Google, AT&T, General Electric, Intel and the Center for American Progress. And it was followed by a meeting on Tuesday. 

We're thrilled to see home energy monitoring getting the attention it deserves. Here at Energy Circle, we know that it's an easy way to start reducing home energy consumption, and keeping track of the energy you use can lead to electricity savings in the ballpark of 15 percent.

Mind you, many of the companies that signed the letter are currently producing home energy monitoring software and hardware. So promoting policy that would bolster the home energy monitor market seems like a no-brainer. Still, 47 major companies and organizations petitioning the most powerful man in the world over a relatively obscure energy efficiency measure begs the question: What are these guys up to?

Recommendations in the letter sent to President Obama suggest two possibilities: 

1. Home Energy Monitoring may be included in a final Home Star bill.

The letter reads: "[We request that you...] encourage the purchase and installation of technologies, devices and methods of delivery that will help ensure timely, secure, and clear information on energy consumption is available to consumers. To that end, we request that you consider access to this information as part of any program aimed at improving home and building energy performance.

2. We may see conflicts with utilities over access to energy data.

Home energy monitoring devices and software like TED The Energy Detective, eMonitor, and Google PowerMeter bypass your utility provider altogether by measuring how much electricity is running into your home. The rollout of more and more smart meters (and the mounting frustration with said smart meters) means some controversy surrounds the question of just who should control the wealth of data these smart meters provide.

Enter, an anticipatory letter to the President, which addresses utilities head-on: "... ensure that consumer energy information is integrated into programs as diverse as home weatherization, energy efficiency grants, appliance standards, home and commercial building programs, federal energy management, research and development funding, and regulation of energy suppliers."

The Tuesday meeting was "tweeted" in real-time by @PerfectPower, whose curated highlights monitored some big ideas. No concrete action has emerged so far, but it's clear that home energy monitoring has caught the attention of some major players with some major pull.

As always, we'll keep you posted.