This paper reports a study, which examines how people experience a Home Energy Management System (HEM). We conducted a probe study with six families in China for two weeks. From our study, we found that people had difficulty in understanding energy data, which were shown as graphs. Families with teenage children showed more interest in using the Home-Energy Management System. Overall, all the participants were fascinated by the remote monitoring and controlling of the appliances offered by the probe. Based on the findings, opportunities for designing HEMs for the target groups are discussed.