ABB updates load management tech in ReliaHome Smart Panel
Avoiding main panel upgrades is key in today’s solar + storage + home electrification market. At the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, ABB debuted the ReliaHome Smart Panel with Panel Guard technology — a new load management algorithm to ensure homes stay within their electrical capacity. The ReliaHome Smart Panel also won the 9th annual LSC Spark Award by the NAHB LSC.
“ABB is committed to shaping the future of smart homes throughout North and Central America,” said Adam Mease, Business Line Leader, Energy Distribution NEMA at ABB. “Recent studies estimate that 48 million homeowners may face costly panel upgrades to electrify their homes. The ReliaHome Smart Panel with Panel Guard technology is a smarter alternative to a service upgrade for homeowners aiming to electrify their homes. It dynamically manages energy loads, integrating high-demand, energy-consuming appliances without expensive upgrades.”
What’s new? The ReliaHome Smart Panel now integrates dynamic load management with circuit-level visibility and control through its intelligent energy management software, simplifying home electrification by optimizing energy use, and avoiding costly upgrades, on any new or existing setup.
The ReliaHome Smart Panel, like many of these smart load managers, can integrate any electrical load – such as electric vehicle (EV) chargers, solar and storage systems, or energy-intensive appliances like induction stoves, electric heat pumps, and water heaters. From there, the ReliaHome Smart Panel prioritizes on-demand appliance use to avoid or eliminate the need for expensive panel replacements or utility service upgrades.
Perfect for both new single-family builds and renovations, it offers universal compatibility, allowing installation alongside any manufacturer’s load center. For builders and contractors, the pre-wired, labeled design and mounting options make installation and commissioning quick and easy.
For homeowners, this can all be managed through a convenient mobile app. Settings can be customized to accommodate vacancies, peak hours, or load balancing. Real-time and historical data on energy consumption allow homeowners to make smarter decisions about their energy use, alerting them to high-demand appliances that may need to be replaced.
