Online tool for metering decisions... Business endorses Smart Grid... Steps to a next-generation utility.

Online tool for metering decisions.  The Automatic Meter Reading Association (AMRA), has introduced what it calls an "objective, Internet-accessible tool" to understand which metering technologies may best suit a utility. Users begin by answering basic questions to create a profile. They then develop a series of scenarios to assess their technology needs. A water utility might only have one scenario while a gas, water and electric utility might create a scenario for each resource or consider multiple scenarios that combine resources. The tool also allows analysis by geographic distribution.

   QuickTake: Anything that helps ease utilities’ concerns about AMR/AMI approvals and the proper mix of technology is a welcome resource, especially if it’s free.  

   AMRA web site

   Utility Automation and Engineering article

Outage management benefits from AMI. As utilities begin to install meter data management systems (MDMS), they may find that outage management benefits far outweigh other advanced metering benefits. That's the opinion of a utility consultant writing in Energy Central. A growing number of utilities list improved reliability as their top priority (ahead of increased profitability, higher customer satisfaction and other strategic objectives). Tougher NERC standards and electric utility industry restructuring have placed additional pressure on utilities to improve reliability.

   QuickTake: This short piece is a good reminder for people building a business case for advanced metering, Or for those with an existing system deciding what to do next with the data.

   Energy Central Online article

Europe leapfrogging U.S. in advanced metering?  Some European utilities are bypassing automatic meter reading (AMR) and moving directly to full-scale advanced metering. The trend was kicked off by Enel in Italy, which has now deployed over 27M smart meters, then followed up by utilities in Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria. The new advanced metering systems provide fast, secure, and highly reliable two-way communications. The meters themselves offer a new level of functionality for residential customers, including fully digital designs with integrated disconnects, remote configurability and programmability, detailed power quality measurements, support for a variety of rate plans, multi-channel data logging capability, advanced theft and tamper detection, and more.

   QuickTake: We already know that the US is lagging behind Europe in Smart Grid adoption, but perhaps this report will encourage American Utilities to exercise less restraint when warming to new technology that already sees widespread use in Europe.

   Utility Automation & Engineering article

Business leaders endorse Smart Grid. Chief executives of 160 leading U.S. companies have called for the encouragement of smart metering and other demand side management (DSM) measures. In its report, Business Roundtable also committed itself to encouraging member companies to adopt smart metering and other energy efficiency initiatives, including computerized energy management.
   QuickTake: Yet another endorsement for the Smart Grid -- and this one from business, which has the ear of Congress and state legislators. Sometimes it takes encouragement from a reliable outside source.

   Business Roundtable press release

   Business Roundtable report (PDF)

Utilities increasing their IT investments. InfoNetrix’s latest market research report shows rising  utility investments in automation/IT since the 2005 Energy Policy Act. Utilities increasingly realize that automation/IT is a good way to extend the useful life of critical assets and to partially offset the staggering equipment and human resource losses they face over the next ten years. The Northeast Blackout of August 2004 and other grid incidents have also contributed to the current rise in spending for automation/IT projects as a hedge against reliability concerns.

   QuickTake: Reliability is a significant driver for a number on new grid technologies. Utilities should invest in these technologies, especially where they would cost far less than replacing aging infrastructure altogether.

   InfoNetrix announcement (PDF)

   Current SGN editorial “Paying for the Modern Grid”

Steps to become a next-generation utility. Utilities in the United States and abroad are moving toward next-generation operations. The Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) and The Shpigler Group have once again teamed up, this time to produce “Next Steps to the Next Generation Utility.” Most utilities will begin with the implementation of an advanced communications network followed by AMR/AMI, supply automation, and supply control and optimization.

   QuickTake: The Smart Grid stands to transform utilities. This information provides a specific breakdown of the steps along the way, and will interest both early adopters and toe-in-the-water laggards.

   UTC press release

   Electric Energy online summary

The potential of wireless sensor networks.  A new report from West Technology examines the energy conservation potential of wireless sensor networks (WSN). The 102-page, $3,500 report finds that opportunities are being driven by a confluence of events. The first is a growing demand for energy. The second is constraints on supply, such as regulations, not-in-my-backyard resistance and high costs..

   QuickTake: More confirmation that unlimited exchange of information through two-way wireless networks can maximize a utility’s ability to meet demand in an energy-constrained world.

   WTRS press release

   Metering.com article

Distributed energy for peaking power.  This article argues that distributed energy (DE) is the best option for peaking power. Urban areas lack the land needed for new power plants or transmission lines. As a result, they are facing incredible challenges providing electricity on-peak. Although cities are active and power-hungry during daytime, there’s no equivalent baseload at night. Hence, a big, expensive plant will run only part time, making its electricity cost far more. The best solution is DE, strategically sited downtown for peaking power.

   QuickTake: This piece does not adequately address the cost of downtown power plants or the emissions issue. Baseload plants far from the city center have their problems, but they will have an easier time capturing and sequestering carbon.

    Distributed Energy Online article

Grid interoperability forum. The GridWise Architecture Council (GWAC) is inviting entries for meeting papers or panel presentations for the first Grid Interop Forum, to be held in Albuquerque, NM, November 7 – November 9, 2007. GridWise envisions the nation's electric system as a collaborative network of intelligent devices filled with information and abundant market-based opportunities. This forum is to exchange ideas, to develop actions on how to make this vision a reality, and to determine how future architectures, designs, and solutions can co-exist.

   QuickTake: Encouragement on interoperability cooperation is sorely needed and this is a good effort on the part of GridWise. Sometimes all it takes is a spark like this forum to create a tipping point. Vendors and utility representatives should be encouraged to attend and participate.

   GWAC announcement

   GWAC call for papers (PDF)

Europe & US: common Smart Grid goals.  This article points out the systemic differences between the smart grid efforts in Europe and the U.S. along with their common goals. First, the demand for distributed generation (including renewables) represents a much bigger force in Europe. In addition, the European market is much more dependent on outside commodity sources. Finally, European market liberalization is driving the need for an interoperable wholesale electricity market to improve interconnections between each European country’s national grid.

   QuickTake: One could surmise that these differences provide an even greater reason to adopt a smart grid in the EU.

   Utility Automation & Engineering article

The 14 chinks in your SCADA armor.  There are 14 well-understood ways in which an attacker may seek to penetrate a utility’s supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. Some of these vulnerabilities assume an inside attacker, others an outside attacker.

   QuickTake: This highly practical article takes a hard look at what the Smart Grid’s vulnerabilities are in a digital world.