Duke Energy announced it has signed an agreement with Cisco, a company specializing in networking technology, to pilot and further develop a smart grid-enabled home energy management solution that will provide Duke Energy customers with secure energy information and a simple-to-use tool to help them lower the amount of energy wasted in their homes.

Duke Energy is testing the first-generation Cisco Home Energy Management Solution this summer with customers in Charlotte, N.C., and in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the company has installed digital smart grid technologies. Through these year-long tests, Duke Energy and Cisco will listen to customers and gather feedback about their interactions. This information will be used to build in additional customer-desired functionality.

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