In the future, smart meters will be able to interact with up to five  ZigBee-compatible devices such as future smart appliances and thermostats. We call this a Home Area Network (HAN), and it will allow consumers to monitor and control the networked devices remotely. 

Several appliance manufacturers have announced that they are adding HAN capabilities to smart appliances, and CenterPoint Energy is in the process of testing several of these. There will also be devices that can be connected to existing appliances allowing for control of these appliances, such as HAN devices plugged into wall outlets for connecting and monitoring usage of window air conditioning units. We expect HAN technology and related products to grow as smart meters are deployed in large numbers across the country.