Residential High Voltage Regulation - energy savings?

[phantom power]

I was doing a bit of research on "whole house" voltage regulators, in the interest of appliance and gadget protection. I discovered some claims that you can get actual energy savings as well:

http://www.allbusiness.com/utilities/electric-power-generation/581684-1.html

MicroPlanet’s Energy Conservation products save energy and improve service quality by delivering optimum voltage levels. MicroPlanet’s advanced technology can reduce electricity usage from 5-12% in many residential and commercial locations by monitoring and dynamically adjusting incoming line voltage.

Utilities in the US are required to deliver power to consumers at 120 volts plus or minus 5%, which yields a range of 114 to 126 volts (European Standards: 230V +/- 10%). Since voltage gradually decreases on distribution feeder lines as the cumulative load increases, the voltage must be transmitted at a high enough level so that the last consumer on the line gets at least the minimum standard of 114 volts during peak load. Electricity is often transmitted from a substation at 126 volts to ensure that the end user will receive at least the minimum level of voltage. However, most electrical loads are designed to operate efficiently at 114 volts. When electricity customers receive voltage higher than needed, the result is wasted energy, higher than necessary electricity bills and shortened life expectancy for electrical equipment. MicroPlanet's products help resolve these problems by dynamically managing incoming voltage to optimal levels.




Residential Installation - 4 Years of Monthly Data,
Average Savings of 12% per Month

http://www.microplanet.com/section.asp?pageid=2651

[Throckmorton]

1. Boost/Buck Regulator

It will help if you are nearer the high end (126/252 VAC) of the range. The closer your homes supply comes to the nominal value, the less effect it will have.

[Kolesar]

2. That "shortened life expectancy for electrical equipment" claim makes me skeptical

High temperatures can shorten the life of transistor junctions and other semiconductors. I don't see how a high line voltage would shorten the life of anything.