DiUS announces general release of IoT device Powersensor

Melbourne, Australia, 20 August 2019 – Australian technology company DiUS announced the general release of its latest Internet of Things (IoT) energy device, the Powersensor.  Powersensor is a compact smart device that easily wraps around a conduit to measure and broadcast detailed power data to the cloud.  It is designed equally for households and energy providers to understand and optimise energy use patterns.

The energy sector is experiencing significant disruption in the way consumers generate and use electricity, with energy providers concurrently navigating changing use patterns and new business models entering the market.  Powersensor facilitates energy provider innovation projects for market success in this challenging landscape, through detailed data and deep consumer insight. At a micro level, Powersensor enables householders to manage energy generation and consumption to minimise cost, and at a macro level enables energy providers to investigate broad behaviour patterns and identify evolving market needs.

A 2019 Deloitte report [link at end] recommended the Australian energy market shift its focus from incremental advances in core operation to adjacent and transformational innovation projects that make new opportunities and markets accessible.  Deloitte Australia Renewable Energy Partner John O’Brien noted that the Australian energy market is exposed to global shifts and recommended energy providers add focus to innovation plans “urgently,” centred on answering consumer behaviour shifts aligned to the rapid evolution of new technologies.  DiUS co-founder and CEO Joe Losinno has extensive experience in the Australian energy sector, IoT, and innovation projects, and advises all organisations begin their innovation journey with data.  “Energy providers have extensive data records; however, it is low resolution and without the level of detail required for modern decision-making. Providing timely access to granular and contextualised data is a necessary first step.

“DiUS engineered the Powersensor and associated cloud platforms to be attractive for consumers and energy providers, giving tangible advantage to both,” Losinno said. “Our Powersensor pilot projects revealed consumers are – if anything – even more motivated to use this type of technology than we had expected. Their primary goal is lower household energy bills, whether or not they have solar, which motivated adoption.  As consumer adoption accelerates, wider and deeper datasets will provide increasingly nuanced picture for energy providers – innovation starts with information.”

The Powersensor device is approximately 90 x 35 x 30 mm3 and powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, with four LEDs indicating network status.  The device is relatively low cost and significantly more easily deployed in a domestic or commercial environment, as it does not require electrician for installation. Harvesting high resolution data, Powersensor transmits to a secure cloud platform for visibility in near real-time.  The consumer app is intuitive and available on iOS and Android devices.  Energy provider partners connect through an API that supports secure granular and aggregate analysis. Powersensor was invented through the DiUS innovation programme and builds on a record of success bringing energy IoT devices to market since 2009, including PowerVu, Australia’s most adopted in-home energy monitor.  

Deloitte report link: https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/energy-and-resources/articles/energy-accelerated-deloitte-australia-energy-resources-report.html