AlertMe

AlertMe was a smart technology company founded in Cambridge, UK, in 2006 by Pilgrim Beart and Adrian Critchlow. Critchlow, a seasoned technology entrepreneur, had prior success with booking.com. Beart had a background in founding several technology start-ups in Cambridge. The company specialized in home automation and energy monitoring systems, developing both hardware and software to help users manage their home energy consumption remotely.

The core of AlertMe's offering was a cloud-based platform and a home hub that used Zigbee technology to communicate with various in-home devices, such as smart plugs and thermostats. This allowed users to monitor and control services like energy use, heating, and home security via the internet or a smartphone application. The platform was designed to be open and expandable, enabling the integration of third-party devices. One of its key features was the use of Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring to analyze customer data and provide energy-saving recommendations.

AlertMe's business model focused on forming strategic partnerships with major companies in the utility, telecommunications, and retail sectors. Notable partners included British Gas in the UK and Lowe's in the United States. In October 2010, British Gas's parent company, Centrica, acquired a 15.96% stake in AlertMe for £5.7 million and signed a commercial agreement to deploy its products. This partnership was crucial, as AlertMe's platform became the foundation for British Gas's Hive Active Heating service.

On February 13, 2015, British Gas announced its acquisition of the entire AlertMe business in a deal that valued the company at approximately £65 million. The acquisition gave British Gas full control over the technology platform, development capabilities, and patent portfolio. Following the acquisition, in April 2016, AlertMe was renamed Centrica Connected Home Limited.

Keywords: home automation, energy management, smart home, IoT platform, energy monitoring, Zigbee, connected home, remote heating control, smart security, Centrica Connected Home