SmartGridNews.com

Will the Wilderness Society stop the Smart Grid?

Tue, 13 May 2008 05:00:00 PST

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?

Cooperative Utilities, Geography and Elster Get the Smart Meters Job Done Quickly for Toronto Hydro-Electric Systems

Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 PST

Toronto Hydro-Electric Systems built its AMI communication infrastructure with Elster’s smart meters. By simply installing meters that themselves act as “repeaters”, the company has built out its controlled RF mesh network with its industry partners to meet Ontario’s smart metering initiative deployment goals. To date, the coalition has installed over 1.2M meters in the province.

Dynamic Pricing is Smart Grid’s Secret Sauce

Tue, 13 May 2008 03:00:00 PST

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?

Can Control4 Lead the Way to Wireless HAN Access?

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:00:00 PST

Control4’s HC-300 Home Controller holds a lot of promise for enabling the home area network link to demand response and other energy efficiency measures. Scoring 83 out of 100 today with promise for higher metrics in the future, it qualifies as Smart Grid technology.

Iberdrola involvement leads to a Smart Grid for New York

Tue, 13 May 2008 01:00:00 PST

New York shunning Smart Grid opportunity?... ONCOR purchase may signal BPL problems... CA looking hard at Smart Grid expansion... British Columbia business coalition tries to forestall opposition to new transmission... PGE overcomes ratepayer opposition, gets go-ahead for 850,000 smart meters... National Smart Grid Committee kicks off in May.

Metering America Proves LA Times Wrong!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 PST

LA Times says smart meters outdated? How wrong can they be? Wrong, wrong wrong says Metering America...Elster’s million plus radio frequency deployment supports a Smart Grid... Florida Power & Light builds a Smart Grid with Silver Spring...No Jetson toy here...Broadband is not the foundation of a Smart Grid.

Making green buildings intelligent: how to link green buildings and the Smart Grid

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

A new energy ecosystem is emerging that connects smart, green buildings with a smart, green grid to optimize energy flows. This represents a significant opportunity for energy efficiency and mass-scale renewable generation. But creating a new, green energy ecosystem requires linking today’s heavily "stove piped" separate systems within buildings, as well creating linking between buildings and the grid. It also means expanding the definition of green buildings to include the digital smarts that connect diverse systems. The recent Green Intelligent Buildings Conference focused on ways to cut through "stovepipes" and build those new linkages.

Austin Energy Delivers Opportunity

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:00:00 PST

Well-planned and well-applied technologies go a long way to eliminating Smart Grid obstacles, and Austin Energy has made progressive use of those tools. Building a foundation around enterprise architecture has been key to the company’s success in laying the track for implementing the Smart Grid. Working under the same constraints as many other public utilities, Austin Energy has cut costs, increased customer satisfaction, attracted new high-value customers to the city of Austin, and established a foundation for a Smart Grid.

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) – Will It Stimulate Modernization?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:00:00 PST

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.

Four Good Questions: NCUC Commissioner Ervin on Smart Grid Deployment

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:00:00 PST

Commissioner Sam J. Ervin of the NCUC chaired the committee that planned the recent National Electricity Delivery Forum. Commissioner Ervin met with SGN raised key questions that utilities must address in order to justify Smart Grid deployment at the state level, and he shared his insights on the multiple paths states may take in implementing the Smart Grid.

Energy Identity Theft: We’re Way Beyond Plugging in the Meter Upside Down

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Smart Grid implementation will provide opportunities for a new form of loss – energy identity theft. "Smart" thieves will exploit the data-rich Smart Grid environment, unless robust network security and integrity are integral parts of any Smart Grid deployment. Without a robust technological and legal framework to address the risks of identity theft and tampering, the promise of the Smart Grid may never be realized.

Critical News Updates from the Smart Grid

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:00:00 PST

Duke & GridPoint accelerate PHEV use... 3 A.M. Phone Call for Utility Execs... EnerNOC Awarded Second DR Patent -- Utilities, DR and DG Vendors “Wake-up”… Smart Grid Investors Eyeing $1T to be Spent on Electric Infrastructure... Are Top Utilities Investing in the Smart Grid?... AWEA Highlights Wind Forecasting/NYISO Wants Wind Farms to Pay.

Itron’s OpenWay®: Utilities can Benefit from its Standards-Based Approach

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:00:00 PST

Itron has taken an open-architecture, standards-based approach to its OpenWay® product suite that creates a network infrastructure for advanced metering and Smart Grid applications. With its technology and interface-driven approach, Itron provides a platform for a utility to deploy a true multi-vendor AMI solution.

All Smart Grid Score Cards

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:00:00 PST

A regular feature of Smart Grid News is the SGN Tech Take. In this series of articles, power engineer and architect Erich Gunther evaluates actual products and services against the SGN Smart Grid Scorecard.

The Regulator’s Role in Grid Modernization

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

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.

Is the Grid blowing in the wind?

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

2007 was a banner year for wind integration in the United States. ERCOT’s experiences in 2008, however, have pointed out the challenges faced by utilities attempting to integrate wind into their generation portfolio. Government incentives and mandated renewable standards, as well as investor interest, will drive continued wind generation in the U.S.

Does your power system always have a pulse?

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:00:00 PST

Does your power system always have a pulse? Use this Smart Grid technology -- Dranetz-BMI’s 5530 Signature System DataNode® for a continuous view on the instantaneous pulse of the power system at the point it is connected. Scoring 76 out of 100, it achieves a passing grade and qualifies as Smart Grid technology but needs some updating on the communications side.

Between a rock and a hard place -- carbon caps and energy demand... Lawsuits pile on to National Corridor designation... Xcel Energy leading in Smart Grid race -- now a Smart Grid city

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:00:00 PST

Between a rock and a hard place -- carbon caps and energy demand... Lawsuits pile on to National Corridor designation... Xcel Energy leading in Smart Grid race -- now a Smart Grid city... Needed transmission for wind... FERC advancing on many fronts.

Can the Smart Grid Save the Economy?

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

As Secretary of Energy from 2001 to 2004, Spencer Abraham was one of the first leaders to advocate the Smart Grid. When we sat down with him for an update, we learned he is recommending a program that would accelerate grid modernization while simultaneously stimulating the ailing real estate market. Click for our exclusive one-on-one interview.

Does your utility have the vision to become the next Google?

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

SGN predicts that biofuels are just a transition to electric vehicles (EVs.) EVS can transform the utility industry, both operationally and financially. Is your utility ready to become the next Google?