RWE is a large European energy company with millions of customer accounts. It owns npower, a major UK energy retailer. Smart metering in the UK will create an opportunity for energy companies to engage customers in new ways beyond traditional billing. RWE is exploring how to utilize smart home technologies and customer energy data through pilots that connect individual homes and provide services beyond energy supply. The potential role for energy companies in the connected home space is still unclear but initial steps could lead to expanding the types of products and services offered over time.