Power Manager (StrømKontroll)

Power Manager is a service from Futurehome that optimizes the power consumption of selected devices (loads), based on the spot price and grid tariffs, in order to reduce the total energy cost, without compromising the household's comfort or needs. The optimization is based on information about the household's behavior and needs, which is entered into the Power Manager panel.

Note that this is version one of the service.

Requirements

Latest update of Smarthub and Futurehome app. To update Smarthub, go to Settings → Household → Hub Settings → Update Software.

• Futurehome app: ≥ 7.4.15
  Energy guard: ≥ 2.0.0
  Zigbee: ≥ 2.1.3 

Note: For this service to work, you MUST disable all automations based on spot price and/or power that affect the devices you add in the Power Manager.

Supported devices

Futurehome/Connecte Thermostat*
Futurehome/Connecte 16A puck relay (connected to water boiler)
Futurehome HAN-sensor**
Høiax waterboiler
Easee car charger
Zaptec car charger

*NB: To use Futurehome/Connecte Thermostat, the service needs to know the power effect on the thermostat. If it has not been entered by you or an electrician, this must be done. Press this link to learn about Futurehome Thermostat. Scroll to "Power measurement".
**Futurehome HAN gen. 1 is not yet supported- click on the links to identify them.

This list with devices approved for the Power Manager will be expanded.

Set up

1. You will find Power Manager under theEnergy tile on the dashboard → The lightning icon in upper right corner. 
   Start with activating the service.
    
   
   
2. Set your desired threshold on kWh. It is important to have a conscious relation with one's consumption. If you often use 15kW an hour, it will be difficult to push to a maximum of 5kW.
   
   
   Tips:
   - Consumption in winter is often higher than in summer.
   - You can find historical consumption at www.elhub.no
   - Rather start with too high a value than too low.
   
   • Step 1	0-2 kW
     Step 2	2-5 kW
     Step 3	5-10 kW
     Step 4	10-15 kW
     Step 5	15-20 kW
     Step 6	20-25 kW

3. Now you have to choose which devices to be switched on/off and adjusted in this optimization. If your devices do not appear, double check the list of supported devices at the top of this article and double check that the Smarthub is up to date. The more devices and the more power that is selected, the better the service will be. Also remember that the total power of the devices selected affects how much can be used to get below the maximum limit of kW per hour set under point 2.
   
   
   
4. The next step is to choose which price area you are in. If you are in doubt, you can choose "zip code" and enter this manually.
   

The settings on this page are saved continuously, so there is no need to save during the process or when making changes. When you are done configuring, the Power Manager service is live. 

How does this work?

This service is based on two different controls, energy price and real-time consumption (grid tariff model). In short, it turns on flexible loads when the energy is cheapest, but also ensures that you do not cross the desired limit on simultaneous energy consumption. Water heaters and car chargers are considered fully flexible, while heating is seen as partially flexible since it is essential for comfort and cannot always be moved to the night. This means that water heaters and car chargers are controlled by energy prices, while all selected devices are available for downscaling to not exceed the limit value for simultaneous consumption.

Optimization based on consumption

Estimated total consumption for the current hour (kWh) is calculated based on historical consumption in the current hour and algorithms for expected consumption in the remaining time in the current hour.

If the expected consumption will exceed the threshold that has been set, available devices will be "switched off" until the expected consumption for the current hour is below the threshold.

Loads that are "switched off" are rotated every 10 minutes - the highest power is switched off first, then the second highest, etc.

The algorithm for expected consumption in the current hour is calculated with a 5% buffer against a set limit value - e.g. estimates towards 19 kWt if the limit value is set to 20kWt.

Optimization based on spot price

Power Manager optimises based on the spot price by using the 12 cheapest hours (50% percentile) of the day for water heaters and electric car chargers.

FAQ

• You need at least one HAN sensor from Futurehome connected to be able to use the Power Manager service. With only the HAN sensor connected, you will receive information when you exceed the limit set in kW per hour, but the Power Manager service will not be able to control any of your devices to avoid exceeding the limit.
  
  With the HAN sensor and at least one other connected device (thermostat, water boiler or electric car charger), the Power Manager service will both optimise the unit against the spot price and set the limit for kW per hour (grid rental).
  
  The more devices connected and the more power values (kW) entered in the Power Manager panel the better performance of the Power Manager service.
• By using the Power Manager service, you will save on your electricity bill in three ways:
  

  1. By shifting the electricity consumption of larger loads, such as the water boiler and electric car charger, to times when the electricity is cheaper.
  2. By reducing simultaneous consumption and thereby reducing grid rent.
  3. By reducing your consumption by lowering the temperature when you do not need a comfort temperature.

  How much you can save depends on several parameters - which price area the home is in, which supplier you have and, of course, how much electricity you use and what you use it for. Find out how much you can save with the power saving calculator.
• Installation and pricing of the Power Manager package is done by your local electrician. Go to strømkontroll.no to ask for an offer from your local electrician.
  
  By the installation of the Power Manager package, you will have 35% of the costs covered, both for the Power Manager package and the actual installation of ENOVA. If you are going to install, or have already installed, a smart electric car charger within the last 20 months, this investment will also be included in the 35% support from ENOVA.
  
  Read more about it on ENOVA's website, under Smart Power Management (Smart Strømstyring).
• To get the greatest possible effect from the Power Manager service, you need to have a spot price agreement with your electricity provider, then you can optimise both against the spot price and against the grid rent.
  
  However, the service works even if you do not have a spot price agreement with your electricity provider, as Futurehome will still optimise your consumption against the grid rent you pay. By doing this, you will probably be able to reduce 1 to 2 steps in the step model for grid rental, depending on the total kW of the units that you enter in the Power Manager panel. For example, if you go from the highest hourly consumption of 15 kWh to 9 kWh (two steps) a month at Glitre Energi, this will amount to NOK 6,780 a year in saved grid rent. Reducing from 10 kWh to 9 kWh (one step) a month will amount to NOK 4,185 a year in saved grid rent from the same grid provider.
• Optimisation based on total consumption per hour overrides optimisation based on the spot price. This means that even if the price is low, the limit set for consumption of power per hour will not be exceeded. Optimisation against the spot price is updated every full hour, while optimisation against consumption of power per hour is controlled continuously.
• No, but this is something we are working on for the next version. We recommend that you switch off the relevant device(s) in the Power Manager panel if you need, such as the thermostat(s) or electric car charger in this case. Then the rest of the optimisations will work, even if some of the devices are switched off. However, remember to switch the device(s) back on in the Power Manager panel when you want them to be optimised again.
• Make sure that the HAN sensor is assigned to a room

  1. Go to Settings → Devices → find the HAN sensor.
  2. Below the HAN’s name, there is information about the room it is placed in. If it says “no room”, tap on the HAN sensor.
  3. Go to Settings → select a room.

  Make sure that for the HAN sensor, the type is set to "meter" and the subtype to "main_elec".

  1. Go to Settings → Devices → select HAN sensor.
  2. Go to  Settings.
  3. Make sure that the type is “meter”.
  4. Make sure that the subtype is “main-elec”.

  Make sure your app and your Smarthub are updated to the correct version.

  You can update the app via the App Store for iOS devices or Google Play for Android (search Futurehome).

  To update the Hub open the Futurehome app and go to Settings → Household → Hub settings → Update software.

  Version requirements for the Power Manager service are:

  • Futurehome app: ≥ 7.4.15
  • Energy guard: ≥ 2.0.0
  • Zigbee: ≥ 2.1.3