About 440,00 PG&E customers have smart electric meters today, Moreno said. During a pilot program last summer, those with smart meters were offered lower rates when they decreased energy usage during peak hours, when wholesale electricity prices are higher.

About two-thirds of smart meter customers who participated in the summer program reported a savings of US$20 to $100 per month.

But "deploying smart meters alone isn't enough," Lu blogged.

PG&E says it realizes the limitations of smart meters, and is building its own software for customers that will break down usage by appliance, Moreno said.

"These tools will provide consumers with more information about their own home energy use and will help them better manage their energy bills," Moreno explained, adding that PG&E's tools would be available in a few more years.