07.08.2009 — Control4 has secured another $17.3 million in funding for its home automation business, and this time the round is focused on smart energy (press release).

"The thrust of this investment is to help lead Control4 into the AMI/smart grid arena," says president Glen Mella.

AMI (advanced meter infrastructure) has been a focus of Control4, as well as other home-control companies that hope to capitalize on the energy-saving craze.

In short, utilities plan to deploy "smart" meters that will communicate with smart devices in the home. Control4 wants to own the in-home component, including thermostats, automated lighting and other devices that could help homeowners save money and enrich their lives.

Mella says the company has an edge over other automation vendors because of Control4's huge deployment of ZigBee technology – in light switches, thermostats, keypads and other electronic devices to the tune of about 1 million nodes.

The two-way RF ZigBee protocol is widely considered to be the front runner for AMI technology.

"A high percentage of new-generation meters being deployed as part of a smart grid have ZigBee radios," Mella says.

Smart grids, one of these days, will allow consumers to monitor their energy use and adjust their energy consumption based on real-time feedback from their utility providers.

The theory is: smart grids and smart meters will ignite a demand for smart devices in the home for automation and monitoring.

That's what Control4's new backers are counting on.

Of the recent $17.3 million infusion, about $10 million comes from existing investors and the rest from new ones, including Best Buy Capital, Mercato Partners and University Venture Fund.

Control4, based in Salt Lake City, is setting up a new division in Santa Clara, Calif., to focus on energy initiatives.