Congressional top dogs jump on Smart Grid bandwagon; new legislation coming soon? On the heels of the stimulus bill and its Smart Grid provision, we’re already seeing additional federal efforts to promote the Smart Grid. New legislation proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) gives federal regulators the authority to override states and mandate new transmission lines. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is likewise calling for expanded transmission and the development of a Smart Grid, calling it “essential to all that we do to promote renewables.”

   QuickTake: Good news on the surface, but here’s the danger – the Smart Grid for distribution utilities could be shanghaied by an overemphasis on transmission. Sure, we need more transmission. But even with new legislation, it will take 5-10 years to get new lines in place, and we can’t afford to wait. Unless those new transmission lines have a Smart Grid at the other end, they will simply destabilize our system faster than ever. Today’s distribution systems cannot cope with massive amounts of intermittent, fluctuating renewable energy.

   Scientific American commentary on the Reid legislation

   Announcement from Senator Reid’s Web site

NIST, NEMA, and NARUC say “slow down!” until standards are in place. Just as everyone else is speeding up Smart Grid efforts, several national organizations are urging caution instead. Testifying to Congress, representatives from NIST, NEMA, and NARUC warned that without clear standards, stimulus money could be spent on dead-end technology. Evan Gaddis, the president and CEO of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) went so far as to say that funds in the stimulus package should be withheld until standards are in place.

   QuickTake: Do they really think the country would be better off if we say “no thank you” to the Smart Grid stimulus money? And to the jobs that money will create? These well-meaning groups should have worked harder to emphasize faster standards, not slower adoption. And they should have recommended specific solutions that could be implemented in the stimulus time frame.

   CNET news story

White paper seeks to accelerate standards adoption. A new white paper addressing Smart Grid standards identifies three significant challenges and makes four recommendations, including a more formal governance role by National Institute of Science and Technology’s (NIST), as mandated in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. Authored by two working groups who advise EPRI and EEI on technology and policy issues, it can be found on the SGN Resources section or at the OpenSG Web site, which also contains a survey of Smart Grid standards developed by EnerNex for the California Energy Commission.

   QuickTake: Prioritizing and adopting inter-system standards will accelerate progress while giving utilities more control and more options. Vendors who don’t take these efforts seriously will see their market share dwindle away.

   Standards white paper on the SGN Resources page

   Shared Documents page of the OpenSG users group

Verizon finally makes the Smart Grid plunge. After years of an “oh-if-you-insist” attitude to the Smart Grid, Verizon is finally beginning to tune its systems to Smart Grid needs and create special offerings. Working with Ambient Corporation, which began its life as a BPL firm, it plans to host a number of projects around the country. “We’ve seen significant interest and growth in the utility sector for smart technologies,” said Verizon Wireless VP Mark Bartolomeo.

   QuickTake: First of all, we’d like to welcome Mr. Bartolomeo back from his cave. Please send our regards to your former bunkmate Mr. Van Winkle. But even though Bartolomeo is about five years behind the times, Verizon has a lot to offer the Smart Grid. Not just its communications technology, but its expertise in billing millions of customers for services regardless of location. Think about the implications of things such as plug-in hybrids, which may need to be plugged into one utility’s grid during the day and in a different service territory at night.

   TMCnet.com article

Gridwise Architecture Council adds tech experts. Speaking of standards and interoperability, Gridwise Architecture Council (GWAC), a DOE-sponsored organization, has voted in three new members:

·      Robert Burke is a market analyst for regional system operations and demand response programs. He currently serves as Principal Analyst at ISO New England.

·      Tracy Markie is a commercial buildings expert and President and CEO of Engenuity Systems.

·      Robert Saint is distribution engineer currently working for Principal Distribution Engineer, Energy Policy for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

In addition, two existing members, David Hardin of Invensys Process Systems, and Richard Schomberg of EDF International, were re-elected to the council.  GWAC has 13 council members in all.

   GridWise Architecture Council Home Page

   GWAC press release

SCE paper proposes framework for Smart Grid security. The introduction of telecommunications networks and software systems to the electrical grid means complex new cyber-security challenges.  But how can one define an approach to security when Smart Grid itself lacks a detailed definition or set of applications?  Southern California Edison (SCE) is proposing an answer. Working with 10 utilities, the DOE, and Carnegie Mellon University, SCE has published a paper outlining a broad approach to securing the Smart Grid. Available on the SCE Web site or in the Resources section of SmartGridNews.com, the paper describes a three-phased approach:

·      Reduction: Limit the scope of the problem.

·      Decomposition: Analyze and model the problem.

·      Direction: Use research from the other two phases to find solutions that address multiple needs.

   QuickTake: Not for the faint of heart, but if you can plow through the language, you’ll find some important concepts that could normalize and systemize Smart Grid security.

   SCE’s Smart Grid Web page

   SCE white paper: “Securing the Smart Grid”

Chicago conference to explore Smart Grid economics. The Smart Grid has enormous economic issues, including the need for utilities to cost-justify investing in new technology, business opportunities for new players, and the impact of environmental issues. Tackling those topics is the goal of GridEcon, a conference to be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on March 16 and 17. Presentations will tackle key issues like the following:

·      Investment opportunities in the Smart Grid

·      Business models enabled by Smart Grid

·      Dynamic pricing of energy

·      Carbon Trading and Smart Grid

Registration is $1,100 for full access or a $700 discounted rate for special groups. Conference partners include GridWise Architecture Council and NIST. Registration and a complete agenda are available at the Web site.

   GridEcon 2009 Web site