A way to know if appliances consume too much electricity

SINGAPORE — A mobile app that can help home owners reduce electricity costs by managing their consumption has won a competition co-organised by SingTel and Samsung.

Designed by Australian technology company Wattcost, the app and an accompanying wireless beacon to be attached to an electricity meter can let users know if certain appliances are consuming too much electricity via instant alerts sent to their mobile phones.

With the information, the users can manage their electricity consumption accordingly.

While the app is free for download, the wireless beacon costs around A$149 (S$166).

Speaking on the sidelines of the SingTel Group-Samsung Regional Mobile App Challenge, Wattcost co-founder David Soutar said: “We decided to create this app because we want to influence people on sustainable electricity use.

“We want to help them cut down on electricity use and understand the impact of that.”

Jungle Ventures managing partner Amit Anand, one of the competition judges, said the app has great potential in helping people living in emerging economies, such as Indonesia, the Philippines and India, to reduce their electricity costs.

Wattcost said it will work with SingTel and Samsung to make its app available to millions of mobile phone users in Asia and Africa eventually. It plans to commercialise the app next year.