The term “smart grid” is bandied about regularly in energy news, but what is it, what does it entail?
The smart grid concept at its most basic is a variety of technologies employed on the existing power grid (including buildings connected to the grid like our homes), to make it more efficient, more reliable, and reduce the operating costs of utilities while potentially reducing electricity costs to customers including homeowners and businesses. In short, smart grid aims to make the power grid work better without hanging (or burying) new transmission lines and building ever more power plants: Smart grid makes do with what’s available, using a little bit of technical innovation.
Here’s a short menu of possibilities that can be included under the term “smart grid”:
— Through electronic connections to thermostats, or to the units themselves, power companies could be able to shut down customer-owned air conditioning systems briefly during peak demand to lessen the load on the grid and reduce the risk of blackouts or brownouts. These devices have been around for years;
— A thermostat smart grid connection, too (as above) can allow customers to adjust their thermostats to cut air conditioning use during periods of peak demand and thus save electricity and money. Not unlike setback thermostats, also available for years;
