Americans are accustomed to being told that they are running behind other countries, that other places are doing a better job of educating their young or building high-speed railroads or ensuring access to healthcare. Energy efficiency would seem to be the last area in which the U.S., with its famously well-lit and climate-controlled lifestyle, would Continue reading →
Demand response technologies, such as smart appliances, thermostats and home energy management systems, could revolutionise our energy consumption. By encouraging consumers to buy controls or appliances that can automatically reduce or shift power use during peak demand periods, demand response (DR) solutions can deliver benefits in many areas, including pricing and grid reliability. In principle this Continue reading →
After Hurricane Sandy smarty-pants pundits like me suggested that maybe what we need right away is not a smarter, more agile grid but, rather, a really tough dumb grid. Indisputably, technologies integrating digital communications and computing into power system infrastructure were materializing much more slowly than their proponents had predicted, and measurable benefits were hard Continue reading →
The many benefits of distribution automation (DA) – visibility, fault detection and isolation, energy efficiency, and asset management – are creating a “second wave” of smart grid investments and integrations, following the widespread adoption of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Currently, in fact, the business case for DA is better than for any other single system Continue reading →
TXU Energy is not at all shy about claiming to do more than any other power provider in Texas to educate consumers on energy use and help them get rid of wasteful habits. Maybe the company is right. Customers can choose from a broad variety of products, plans and services to help them save money Continue reading →
Moves to modernize water utilities across the U.S. are coming under fire from opponents who say the costs will outpace the benefits of new technology. At issue are smart meters, new devices that measure water usage digitally, then transmit the data wirelessly to the utility. via ‘Smart’ meter fight shifts to water firms | The Continue reading →
As utilities continue their transition from traditional networks to smart grid-enabled energy systems, there are growing pressures from stakeholders and regulatory authorities to demonstrate the value of the significant grid modernization investments made thus far. To assess the returns on their smart grid investments, utilities must effectively and efficiently monitor and measure their smart grid Continue reading →
EPB, a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based utility serving over 169,000 residents, says that its smart grid is saving the company and its customers both money and aggravation. According to a report in The Chattanoogan, David Wade, an executive vice president at the utility, says that two recent events highlighted the benefits of a modernized grid. Last week, Continue reading →
The opportunity is ripe in 2013 for consumer outreach and education about the value and benefits a smart grid can bring, according to the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC)from its research carried out during 2012. “We’ve found that once consumers are educated about smart grid, they are supportive of it,” said SGCC executive director Patty Continue reading →
The clean energy industry faced several challenges in 2012, including the demise of some high profile solar energy firms and concerns around smart grids/smart meters and consumer privacy. Public sentiment about issues related clean energy and the environment, however, has not always reflected developments in the market and in the political sphere. Despite efforts to Continue reading →
While speaking at a Maui economic Development Board presentation, University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood called the Maui Smart Grid Project an example of a demonstration project that can spur innovation and produce both immediate and long-term economic and scientific benefits. via UH President Praises Maui Smart Grid Project.
The small town of Summerside, located on Canada’s Prince Edward Island, is home to approximately 15,000 people and 21 MW of wind energy. But sometimes, the city does not need that much power and is forced to sell the excess to neighboring regions. However, a novel pilot program that uses smart grid solutions aims to Continue reading →
Utilities have a long and successful track record of using technology demonstration pilots to better understand new innovations, test their ability to solve problems, provide increased or new benefits, and gauge customer and stakeholder interest. In a changing business environment, however, expanding into more customer-centric pilots would greatly help utilities position themselves to protect and Continue reading →
Surveys show: the opportunity is ripe in 2013 for consumer outreach and education about the value and benefits a smart grid can bring. Throughout 2012, the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative conducted a series of statistically valid surveys and in-depth interviews with consumers about their thoughts, feelings, values, attitudes and opinions of smart grid and its Continue reading →
The UK government has published its decisions on rules for consumer engagement, privacy, and security. Energy and Climate Change Minister Baroness Verma calls the introduction of smart meters nationwide “an enormous challenge, representing a vast upgrade of our energy system, but with huge potential benefits for millions of homes and businesses and for Great Britain Continue reading →
In yesterday’s piece on Empowered “digital natives” becoming a force to reckon with we highlighted industry insiders’ perspectives on how (and why) we need to get consumers excited about the benefits they can reap from a smart grid. Most recognize it’s an uphill battle – and not just because of angst over smart meters. A recent Continue reading →
A $5.5 billion investment in smart grid technology could save New Zealand $23 billion during the next 20 years, a report into green growth says. The figures are based on a study of the benefits of the technology done in the United States. The grids are seen as essential in the move towards low carbon Continue reading →
The electric utility industry is engaged in a massive buildout of smart grid infrastructure, but the full benefits of this investment will only be realized if there is a similar transformation in customer engagement. Many utilities have realized that they need to dramatically change the way the way they view and manage customer relationships. According Continue reading →
While smartphone apps and cloud-based infrastructure management can be powerful tools for improving the quality of life regardless of where you’re located, if you’re a city-dweller these five facts will help you reap the benefits of technology. via 5 Things You Need to Know About Smart Cities CIO.com.
Local power generation with microgrids showed the benefits of reliability during Hurricane Sandy. The widespread power outages in the wake of Hurricane Sandy cast light on the weakness of a completely centralized electric power system and spotlighted the benefits of distributed power generation. A number of locations reported that on-site power generation and the ability Continue reading →
