Utility monitoring device, system and method

A monitoring device for monitoring usage a commodity supplied by a utility in communication with a controllable light source comprising:

• a receiver for receiving information relating to at least a first of two usage metrics, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity;
• and
• a controller responsive to the receiver for remotely controlling a light source comprising an array of lights to select the illumination colour and to vary the illuminated area, the colour selection and area variation each being indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.

A machine-readable medium carrying non-transitory software which, when loaded into a portable computing device, having a display and internal processor, programs the portable computing device to receive usage information from an in-building monitoring device for in-building monitoring of usage of a commodity supplied by a utility and contemporaneously

• displaying at least two usage metrics, and
• communicating usage information by way of a wireless communications system to the portable computing device, and said usage information causing the local display to display a varying illuminated area whose colour and area variation are each indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics the displays on screen.

A method for monitoring usage of a commodity supplied by a utility and contemporaneously displaying in-building at least two usage metrics, comprising:

• receiving information relating to at least a first of said at least two usage metrics, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity;
• and
• selectively illuminating at least part of a display area with light of a selected one of a plurality of colours and varying the illuminated area in a manner indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.