Smart Grid in Rural America Electric rates are often the same between rural and urban settings, even while infrastructure and outage management costs vary. How likely is it that the Smart Grid will be equally valuable to both? Ultimately, each utility will have to weigh costs and benefits to determine the value of infrastructure investments, smart or otherwise. Jan 9, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   6 Active Comment(s)

Interoperability 101: The Basics of an Interoperable Grid Most experts agree that the Smart Grid must be interoperable – that it must be constructed from interchangeable, "plug-and-work" components. But how do we achieve this around the country and around the world? EPRI expert Joe Hughes lays it out for us in this installment of his ongoing series. Nov 26, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

How Environmental Benefits Can Help Pay for the Smart Grid The Smart Grid is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to cut emissions. The Modern Grid Strategy team is here with links to the studies that prove it. The team also provides the tools you need to inform ratepayers and regulators about Smart Grid environmental benefits as a means to cost-justify grid upgrades. Nov 20, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

How Private Investment Is Pushing Utilities to the Edge Private investment is outpacing utility investment at the Edge (the portion of the electricity network geared to the consumer side of the meter). As a result, says Steve Pullins, utilities are at risk of becoming detached from and irrelevant to customers. He has the numbers to prove it, including one trend line that shows utilities losing as much as half of their revenue by 2028. Oct 27, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

$12B and Change - How the GridWise Interoperability Framework Can Save Time and Money Interoperability done right can save the Smart Grid industry an estimated $12B per year. GridWise Interoperability experts Dave Hardin and Rik Drummond explain how to go from plug-and-pray to plug-and-play and even all the way to plug-and-work. And they issue an invitation to an important interoperability event. Oct 21, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

The Untapped Value of Backup Generation Despite new guidelines and regulations such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1547 have come a long way in addressing interconnection standards for distributed generation, utilities have largely overlooked the untapped potential of these resources. Under certain conditions, these units (primarily backup generators) represent a significant source of power that can deliver utility services at lower costs than traditional centralized solutions. Sep 19, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Why Gore and Pickens Have Energy Backwards (and Kevin Costner Had It Right) Bless Al Gore and T. Boone Pickens for proposing ambitious energy plans. But when it comes to the Smart Grid, both of them are suggesting “if they come, then we will build it.” Sorry, but that’s backwards. Any realistic national energy policy must start with grid modernization. Alex Zheng explains why if we build it, prosperity will come. Aug 1, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   4 Active Comment(s)

The Smart Grid – How Do We Get There? The path to implementing the Smart Grid is a long and complex journey that needs to be broken down into manageable and understandable steps. It takes gaining an understanding of what the Smart Grid is, and then setting milestones that break down the Smart Grid implementation into manageable 'chunks'. Read how NETL’s Modern Grid Strategy team has defined how to achieve the Smart Grid effectively and efficiently. Jun 26, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   3 Active Comment(s)

Will the Wilderness Society stop the Smart Grid? Smart Grid News invited the Wilderness Society to provide its rationale for suing DOE on transmission corridor designation -- read and give us your opinion. Will the Wilderness Society stop the Smart Grid? May 13, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   6 Active Comment(s)

Dynamic Pricing is Smart Grid’s Secret Sauce Dynamic pricing delivers consumer choice, optimizes fuel use, reduces load and reduces emissions -- all made possible by the Smart Grid. How does it happen and why does it work? May 13, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) – Will It Stimulate Modernization? Title XIII of the EISA can break the log-jam impeding the implementation of the Smart Grid. It takes the necessary first steps to accomplish the goal of grid modernization and represents a significant financial commitment to industry stakeholders who participate. Apr 23, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

The Regulator’s Role in Grid Modernization Grid modernization is a “change management” process that needs clear leadership and supportive policies. State regulators are in a unique position to provide both. Their leadership and policy alignment efforts can make a significant contribution to advancing the Modern Grid. Mar 26, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Cap the Peak, Share the Cash What does “Electranet” have to do with the Smart Grid? Steven R. Rivkin discusses market-driven emissions-trading mechanisms, consumer initiatives and renewable energy as 21st century drivers of the Smart Grid. Feb 19, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

The McAdams Theory of Grid Modernization This is third in a series of discussions on how different mindsets look at grid modernization. One of my past bosses used to share humorous theories of organizational change management from a college professor, McAdams, worthy of the great philosopher, Yogi Berra. Jan 30, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

GWAC Decisionmaker’s Interoperability Checklist Can you define ‘interoperability?’ Start here with an insider’s look at a decision-maker’s checklist. Assembled by experts, this will get you started on your next Smart Grid project. Jan 16, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Congress invites GWAC to table...Eight Seats Open for GWAC...GWAC and GWA sign MOU Congress invites GWAC to table...Eight Seats Open for GWAC...GWAC and GWA sign MOU...Upcoming GWAC quarterly meetings Dec 19, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

The Rainsuit Theory of Grid Modernization Last month's column discussed the Hobbit Theory of grid modernization. This is second in a series of discussions on how different mindsets look at grid modernization. As a golfer, I am often faced with choosing between taking an umbrella or a rainsuit to the golf course in questionable weather. Staying home is not a choice. Dec 5, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Grid Standards Are Being Set Vendors and customers described what it would take to build the Smart Grid at last week’s Grid InterOP. Vendors will need to assess their solutions against industry standards being set today. Click to see what is essential and what you need to do to sell your solutions Nov 13, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

The Hobbit Theory of Grid Modernization Who should be in charge of the Smart Grid? Bilbo Baggines, Gandalf or Dark Lord Sauron Steve Pullins discusses how Hobbits would build the Smart Grid if they could. Oct 30, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Grid-Interop Will Set the Future of Smart Grid Interoperability Steve Widergren of the GridWise Architecture Council invites you to Grid-Interop to be held in Albuquerque, NM next week. It is a working session designed to advance Smart Grid interoperability concepts. Oct 30, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

DOE Moving Forward, Interview with Eric Lightner A brief history of DOE involvement with the Smart Grid, from its inception to the current day from the perspective of Eric Lightener, who has been there from the beginning. Oct 11, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   7 Active Comment(s)

Smart Grid Environmental Benefits Alex Zheng of the Horizon Energy Group explores the environmental benefits of the Smart Grid and asserts that PHEV(s), demand response, energy efficiency and reduced pollution can only happen with a Smart Grid. Sep 29, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Building Consensus for a Smarter Grid GridWise Alliance President Steve Hauser is optimistic about pending federal legislation on the Smart Grid ... but he is holding his breath until final passage. Sep 29, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

A 15-year Grid Transformation Steve Pullins of the Modern Grid Initiative talks about Jim Roger's 'cathedral thinking' and its implications for the Smart Grid. He sums up last year's progress and takes a look ahead. Sep 11, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Another Century of Prosperity - The Smart Grid Tipping Point The pending Smart Grid Facilitation Act of 2007 (HR 3221) is poised to launch significant changes throughout the industry, according to Steve Hauser, President of the GridWise Alliance. It will save the economy over $100B a year, fund new smart grid technologies, prevent black-outs and reduce carbon emissions. HR 3221 is what this country needs. Details inside Aug 29, 2007    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

SMART GRID NEWS SCORE CARDS

SMART GRID NEWS TALK BACK BUZZ Re:Mr Andersons concerns The intent of Smart Grid in places such as Southern California is not for the utility to control things such as thermostats but to provide information so consumers can make choices. If a consumer were to receive a pricing signal that indicated energy was going to be higher at a given point in the day they could chose to act ... Talk Back right now to Michael Mayer