Snapshot URUGUAY

Optimising grid load with smart water heaters

In Uruguay, 87% of households are equipped with electric storage water heaters. These heaters can store hot water for several hours and are estimated to account for more than one third of total household energy consumption in the country. Controlling and spreading their times of use can help to mitigate grid overload.

The public utility Usinas y Transmisiones Electricas (UTE) proposes smart plugs that can be easily inserted between the water heater and the power socket. The smart plugs allow residents to programme the water heaters through a mobile application, to benefit from reduced electricity prices at off-peak times, as well as to monitor their consumption. The households need to be equipped with smart meters.

87% of households in Uruguay are equipped with electric storage water heaters.

The data collected through the smart plugs can be used by UTE to remotely switch off heaters for very short periods when it identifies local grid overloads, without compromising households' warm water availability. UTE also monitors heaters' energy consumption to identify potential malfunctions and inform users.

During the first phase, which started in late 2017, 140 households were equipped with smart meters and plugs. As of 2019, the energy savings resulting from the programme were estimated at 17% and the public utility planned to extend the programme to 800 households. In 2024, the number of brief power interruptions to water heaters imposed by UTE within the programme was estimated at 1,600.

Sources: Usinas y Transmisiones Electricas, “Plan Termotanque Inteligente” [Smart Water Heater Plan], accessed 25 August 2025, https://portal.ute.com.uy/plan-termotanque-inteligente; Usinas y Transmisiones Electricas, “Plan piloto incorpora más termotanques inteligentes” [Pilot plan incorporates more smart water heaters], 4 October 2019, https://portal.ute.com.uy/noticias/plan-piloto-incorpora-mas-termotanques-inteligentes; Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas, “Memoria anual 2024”, 3 June 2025, https://portal.ute.com.uy/sites/default/files/memorias/Memoria%20anual%202024.pdf.