Internet communications strategy for providing residential energy management

The purpose of this thesis was to determine an effective methodology by which to plan and manage a new, interdisciplinary research project. The project was to provide electric utility residential customers with energy management services via the Internet, implementing a two-way communications network utilizing a combination of power line carrier technology and telephony communications for data collection and presentation. This would enable homeowners to view their specific energy usage patterns and itemized load consumption in a way that empowers them to make wiser energy decisions.;This concept was translated into a research project by the Southern California Edison Company in June of 1996. The scope of the project was to design and develop the Residential Internet Communications (RIC) system and deploy it in a small beta test. As part of this thesis, key project planning and management tools were integrated directly into the project lifecycle and their real-time effects were monitored.