In a move to help its customers save money on utilities, Duke Energy just announced a pilot program with networking and technology giant Cisco.  According to the press release from Duke Energy, the pilot uses a “smart grid-enabled home energy management solution” to help customers better manage their energy use, saving money and wasting less energy.   The “smart grid”, as described bu Duke Energy, is a combination of “technologies like smart meters, automated switching devices and wireless sensors” creating a line of communication between users and energy suppliers to help better manage all of our resources.

Gianna Manes, senior vice president and chief customer officer of Duke Energy, sums up the program nicely by saying, “Customers want to save money on their energy bills, but it has to be easy. With Cisco’s proven expertise in Internet Protocol-based, open system networks, we’re confident our collaboration with them will result in a solution that provides customers back-of-mind simplicity and real back pocket rewards.”

It’s not quite the wired/wireless home of the future, but it appears to be a big step in the right direction – a utilities company attempting a “smart” approach to saving money and energy.

Initial testing of the Cisco Home Energy Management Solution® will occur over a year-long period in Charlotte, N.C., and Cincinnati, Ohio where Duke Energy has already installed digital smart grid technologies.

In the lifespan of technologies, the death knell is often heard.  The end is nye for many, but how often does it truly come?  The BetaMax comes to mind.  More recently, HD-DVD lost the hi def battle.  So what about cable TV services?

It seems like the end has been knocking on cable’s door for years, yet it’s still a mainstay.  Sure, satellite TV providers and onetime telephone companies have brought fiber optic TV into the market, but cable TV services are still the norm.  So what are we to make of the most recent claims of the Internet nudging cable aside?

If you haven’t already heard, there is a new buzz around the Hulu subscription service.  Keep in mind, this latest buzz is not to be confused with the original buzz surrounding Hulu’s launch back in 2007-2008.  That was a wholly different death knell to the cable TV services.  No, this latest death knell assumes we would ditch our cable television (or satellite TV) for solely Internet based viewing.  I think that kind of thinking is somewhat limited.

Hulu, even via a subscription service, does not currently offer EVERYTHING on TV.  And that’s the defining problem.  For all of the great aspects of Hulu, and similar services, they are limited.  Sure, it’s great to be able to catch up on shows you missed, or even whole series, but not great enough to forget cable TV exists.

From a business perspective, the paid version of Hulu is a great way to monetize a formerly free service.  Of course, you can still watch your free Hulu, but if you want the whole season, you’re going to have to pay for it.  It makes perfect financial sense and people are becoming more accepting of paid services online, but it won’t replace cable.  At least not yet.

For years, channel 36 has been our source for local weather forecasts from the cable TV providers in my area.  While the Weather Channel may not have been known for its glitz and star power, it has always been THE source for trusted weather news.  How many times did we turn to the Weather Channel to see if we were to be covered in ice in a few short hours?  More recently, we’ve tuned in to weigh the concern for potential for flooding.   But what about movies?

You read that right.  In recent months, the Weather Channel has been attempting a little re-branding by adding created content to the mix.

Showing weather related movies, like “The Perfect Storm”, along with new and long running shows, like “Storm Stories”, the Weather Channel has been trying to broaden its programming.  However, not everyone is embracing this new turn.

According to Brian Stelter of the New York Times, ”On April 30, during a tornado outbreak in the South, the Weather Channel’s star anchor, Jim Cantore, said he was told that movie night was canceled, and told his fans on Twitter that the channel would stay live to cover the severe weather.”  However, the channel did not cancel “movie night” to cover the storm.

Going on to describe the internal and external unrest, Stelter says , “. . . a viewer told Mr. Cantore how mad he was about a broadcast of the movie “The Avengers” the previous Friday, the anchor replied, ‘You’re not alone.’”  It would seem the channel’s anchor and viewers share concern with this new direction.  And they’re not alone.

Dave Shull, senior vice president of programming for Dish Network, claims that customers are telling the satellite TV provider that they prefer their local forecast over movies and shows . The New York Times quotes Shull as saying, “They don’t want ‘Storm Stories’ or to wait until the Friday night movie is over.”

As if trying to promote a cohesive balance, the Weather Channel  says it runs local weather information on the bottom of the screen during its shows.  Cable news networks run headlines at the bottom the screen all day long, so the method works.  But would it work for the Weather Channel as it attempts to lure viewers with more than weather maps and hurricane coverage?

Just the other day, cnet news posted an article on the Google PowerMeter.  If you’re not familiar with it, PowerMeter is an online tool that allows you to monitor and manage your home electricity usage.  According to Google’s PowerMeter site, the tool works by communicating with “utility smart meters and energy monitoring devices . . . [allowing] users to view their home’s energy consumption from anywhere online.”

If you notice a spike, you can investigate your home electricity usage to see what appliance is wasting your energy, your money.  It’s still in its early stages, but it certainly appears to be headed in the right direction to help consumers save money and energy.  Likewise, Allconnect recently launched the beta version of its new consumer money saving tool the Home Services Advisor.

After entering some basic usage and pricing statistics, the Home Services Advisor recommends how you could save on your monthly bills by optimizing your current plans or switching providers altogether.  Moving forward, the Home Services Advisor will even email you to let you when a better deal has popped up or when your current contract is expiring.  That way you you can look into locking in a lower price.

In recent years, we’ve all become keenly aware of budgets and spending.  It’s nice to see companies recognizing the need for saving money and energy.

While most people would be willing to switch their home services in order to save money, a recent survey conducted by Allconnect sheds some light on just how much money they would need to save to leave their current Cable TV or Satellite TV provider.

How much money would you need to save to switch home services?

It seems that the hassle of switching home services may outweigh the allure of saving money, even in this economy.  68% of people surveyed said that they would need to save  $20 or more per month ($240 per year), in order to switch to a new provider.  Only 15% were satisfied saving between $10 and $15 dollars each month, which would amounts to almost $200 dollars each year.

With services like Allconnect it is easier than ever to identify a better deal on your home services and switch your Cable or Satellite TV Package. Even with monthly utility bills currently adding up to one of the largest household expenses, people are not willing to undergo the hassle of switching from Cable to Satellite or vice versa without seeing a significant difference in their monthly bills.

People also do not seem convinced that a night in with a PayPerView movie or Cable TV are an adequate replacement for going out.  Only 30% of people said that they were spending more on PayPerView or Cable services in place of going out at night.

In fact, Cable Services were the first item that most consumers were willing to give up if they had to.  35% of consumers polled said they would abandon their Cable TV or Satellite Provider if they had to give up one of their home services. Internet and Phone Services tied for second place with 23% of consumers declaring those services would be the first to go.  Interestingly, Home Security followed closely with 19% saying they would chose to give up that service.

Allconnect can help you to save on all of your home utilities by comparing the providers available in your area so that you can choose the best package, and rate, for you.  You no longer have to wait until you move to switch your home services, do it now and see how much you could save.

As our high speed Internet service delivers us to dozens of web sites a day, most of us know that every page is being noted in our browsing history. If not, now you know.  That “history” makes it convenient when we want to return to a site later. There are times; however, when it’s a good idea to clear your Internet browsing history.

If you are the only one who uses your computer and high speed Internet service, and it’s not linked to other computers in a network, then clearing your history may not be a priority when it comes to Internet safety . However, if you don’t want others snooping around the sites you’ve visited, take these few extra steps.

To clear your Internet Browsing History, go to your Control Panel, under Internet Options and look for the check box. Or, when you’re in the browser, look under Tools (may be under Security in some browsers) for Internet Options. You can also specify how long to keep your Internet browsing history or have it cleared every time you exit the browser. You may need to then click Advanced Settings to be really specific.

When you’re on a public computer, taking advantage of the high speed Internet service at the local coffee shop, make sure your browsing history isn’t saved. Clear it using the steps above. It’s easy to get online with the intention to access one site that isn’t a big deal when it comes to Internet safety, and next thing you know, you decide to check your bank balance.  It’s better to be safe than sorry.

As high speed Internet providers wrap that globe in fiber optic cable, it pays to remind ourselves not to repeat the past.  Remember, it’s only been ten years since the I LOVE YOU worm crippled computers. In 2004, MyDoom made the news. Computer viruses and worms haven’t made the front page as much recently, but that doesn’t mean we can relax. It was only last year, that the Conficker virus infected an estimated 10 million computers and Gumbler began wrecking havoc as well.

With the near constant growth of high speed Internet services, we do more and more on the web.  Consequently, the opportunities provided by high speed Internet services also provides more opportunities for a virus to find you.  Sharing music, files or photos; visiting an infected Web site; opening spam email or an email attachment; and downloading free games, toolbars, media players and other system utilities can transmit a virus. These are all things that we do everyday, so it pays to be somewhat cautious.  Take notice if your Internet speed slows,  and keep your anti-virus software updated. And, make sure it’s turned on! Back-up your computer so you have a clean copy of your data if your computer is infected.

As a reminder to why you need to be vigilant, note that even less harmful computer viruses can disrupt your system’s performance by sapping memory, causing frequent crashes and slowing down your high speed Internet. The most serious viruses will damage programs, delete files, or reformat the hard drive. Others simply replicate themselves or flood a network with traffic, making it impossible to perform any web-based activity.

To be sure, there are pros and cons to having high speed Internet services.  With high speed DSL or broadband, you can truly unleash the power of your computer and the web.  Just remember to be vigilant so you don’t unleash anything else.

Sure, we may be just beginning to enjoy the sweltering heat of June and July, but Halloween is right around the corner and your cable TV providers are working on delivering quite a treat.

Accordinf to R. Thomas Umstead at Multichannel, FearNet “will launch as a predominately digital-basic movie channel in time for the 2010 Halloween season.”  A joint venture owned by Lions Gate, Sony Pictures Television and Comcast cable TV, FearNet has brought non-stop fright to Video on Demand (VoD) services since Halloween 2006.  Now, a short 4 years later, FearNet will debut its basic movie channel.  While FearNet will be similar in theory to IFC and Lifetime, the new channel promises to bring its brand of horror and thrills to a slightly different demographic.   Check with the cable TV providers in your area to make sure you’ll enjoy this Halloween treat.

In what could be considered rather stunning in today’s markets, Verizon now offers  ”month-to-month” FiOS bundles with no contract and no early termination fees.

No, you read it right.  That says Verizon FiOS bundles with “no contract”.  According to today’s press release from Verizon, “Effective immediately, all new Verizon FiOS customers can opt to pay for a bundle on a month-to-month basis – at the same prices charged to customers purchasing a term contract – and receive price protection for one year without an early-termination fee.”

It’s a bold move to drive customers to try Verizon FiOS over similar cable television services in areas of  California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and DC.  And for those of you in the the FiOS markets of Indiana, Oregon, South Carolina and Washington, which are in the process of being transitioned to Frontier Communications, you are also eligible for the new month-to-month bundles.

How many of you are considering switching Internet companies?  Maybe you’re moving.  Maybe you’ve decided to embrace the faster download times.  Or maybe you’re just considering a new Internet provider.  Whatever the reason, you’ve undoubtedly found yourself asking, “What are the high speed Internet providers in my area?”

It’s a reasonable question.  Internet providers can vary greatly based on location.  Just because you or our friend had Comcast high speed Internet in one area doesn’t mean you can get Comcast a few blocks over.  However, the cable Internet or DSL service areas are broad, covering a good sized metro area with only one major brand.  The only real problem you may face is serviceability.  What if cable lines don’t run to your neighborhood?  What if you’re too far from the DSL node to carry a signal?  You may find yourself thinking, “Will there ever be high speed Internet providers in my area?”

Again, it’s not an unreasonable question.  Some rural areas seem destined to be forever sidestepped by cable and DSL providers.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t get high speed access.  Think about it.  Do you have cable TV?  If not, you probably enjoy satellite television, right?  You could also get Internet access from the same place.  Your satellite TV providers could very well be your satellite Internet providers, although it may mean a separate dish.

Whether you’re looking for satellite Internet, broadband or high speed DSL, just enter your address in the “Savings Widget” above.  You’ll see which companies service your area.  you can compare plans and prices and make the best decision for your needs.