Blue Line Innovations’ inexpensive PowerCost Monitor energy monitor can now be used with the Google PowerMeter, on online energy monitoring interface that is free to those with energy monitoring systems that support it.

The PowerCost Monitor attaches to an electric meter and broadcasts the data on the home’s total electricity usage to a device inside the home. Systems start at $109.

With Google’s PowerMeter, PowerCost Monitor users can view their home’s energy consumption on a web interface available anywhere. PowerMeter incorporates features such as tracking energy over time, always on power, predicting costs, budget tracking and community sharing.

Blue Line Innovations says the PowerCost Monitor, which introduced its WiFi Gateway accessory this summer, is the only electricity monitoring product in full device partnership with both Google PowerMeter and Microsoft’s Hohm energy analysis application.  The WiFi Gateway allows families with a PowerCost Monitor or Black & Decker Power Monitor to view their data on line or through a mobile device and provides them with their choice of online partner.  A very simple plug and play configuration allows the consumer the flexibility to change their partner selection at any time.

“At Blue Line we see ourselves in the access to data space,” says’ CEO Peter Porteous. “The innovation and investment in smart grid and home automation is really exciting, but at the end of the day universal access to real time data is paramount.”

Smart grid technology uses two-way communicating smart meters to send information from electric utilities to homes and businesses co electricity customers can save energy and automate systems to turn on and off at certain times to reduce costs. Several utilities are now rolling our smart grid programs with smart meters. “The PowerCost Monitor turns dumb meters into smart meters and smart meters into even smarter meters,” Porteus says.

The PowerCost monitor isn’t the only inexpensive energy management solution, however. Several more are expected to come to market as part of huge cable, telco and security company rollouts by the likes of Comcast, Verizon and ADT.

Steven Castle - Contributing Writer

Steven Castle is Electronic House's managing editor. he has been writing about consumer electronics, homes and energy efficiency topics for two decades. He is also the co-founder of GreenTech Advocates.