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What Others Are Saying About the BG&E Ruling By SGN Staff Jun 24, 2010 - 3:09:53 PM
While many in the industry were stunned by the Maryland PSC’s denial of BG&E’s stimulus-backed Smart Grid initiative, others argue it was bound to happen. Below we’ve excerpted some of the response to this week’s decision in Maryland, beginning with BG&E’s statement. We hope you’ll use the Talk Back comment form below to add your own thoughts.
Baltimore Gas & Electric Company
BGE is deeply disappointed, frustrated, and frankly surprised, by the Maryland Public Service Commission's (PSC) decision to deny our application to deploy advanced energy meters to each of our 1.2 million customers and save them $2.6 billion. The Obama Administration wholeheartedly endorsed BGE's innovative Smart Grid initiative, giving Maryland a chance to be a national leader in an area of national importance, and dramatically changing the way BGE consumers manage their energy usage and cost.
The Baltimore Sun: Dumb decision on smart meters
Our view: PSC's rejection of BGE's smart grid proposal puts a pending federal grant at risk and raises concerns that regulators are being too cautious in charting the state's energy future.
Reuters: Smart grid skepticism derails Baltimore plan
So the public service commission’s decision … marks a setback for the industry’s hopes for a metering revolution. It may not be fatal, but it does underscore the enormous skepticism from customers and politicians smart grid advocates will have to overcome if they want widespread rollout.
New York Times (ClimateWire): Md.'s Veto of Advanced Meter Deployment Stuns Smart Grid Advocates
Ahmad Faruqui, a consultant who has been a major contributor to federal government analyses of demand response programs, said the Maryland action -- the first such state commission rejection of a smart grid project -- reflects a pattern that seriously undermines smart grid and demand response goals. Read the full report >>
Capital - McClatchy-Tribune: Regulators unplug proposed smart grid
People's Counsel Paula Carmody said she's pleased with the outcome: "The commission agreed with our agency that this proposal presented a lot of risk," she said. "It's not the technology that's being litigated, or the notion of using the technology. This case was focused on a very specific proposal that imposed very dramatic costs on ratepayers without offsetting identifiable benefits."
Smart Grid Today: AEP's Morris: Maryland decision likely to give other regulators pause
The regulators' decision surprised many in the industry since BGE had presented a project plan that was “well done” and contained “solid data,” AEP Chairman Michael Morris told us yesterday.
GridWise Alliance: Statement of Katherine Hamilton
BG&E had conducted a pilot that showed both positive and sustained consumer engagement and savings. In fact, BG&E’s project was one of the more solid examples of how to quantify the consumer benefits of smart grid.
Energy Policy Examiner: Maryland smart grid decision involving BGE should not surprise retail electricity distributors
With the economy the way it is local governments can not risk deploying smart grid technology that could create animosity between the customer and the retailer.
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