Over the course of the next 10 years, California’s electric grid is getting a 21st century facelift. Last month, the three biggest utilities, PG&E, SDG&E and SCE (with more than 11 million customer accounts) released smart grid deployment plans outlining roughly between $2.4 and $3.6 billion of new investments to make the smart grid a Continue reading →
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California has become the first state to adopt rules for ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive information generated by Smart Meters, interactive meters that are an element of the emerging Smart Grid electric distribution system. via California first to adopt rules, set standards for using and securing smart electric meters — Government Computer News.
California’s three largest utilities have developed solid visions and strategic plans for building the state’s smart grid, but are falling short in setting up metrics and roadmaps to chart their progress, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. via Smart Grid Report Card Finds CA Utilities Barely Average | Business | GreenBiz.com.
The problems raised by the massive Pacific Gas & Electric smart grid installation in California will serve as a valuable lesson for other utilities around the world when they begin similar endeavors. Utilities must ensure that customers understand how to fully utilize their new smart meters before they are installed. PG&E’s smart meter installations in Continue reading →
Depending on your viewpoint, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been either a courageous smart grid pioneer or a bumbling smart grid screw-up. I lean towards the former, but there is no denying that the San Francisco-based utility has learned some hard lessons on the way to installing more than 8 million smart meters (the Continue reading →
California will need six or more transmission lines and multiple technology architecture and system upgrades to meet its the state’s clean air and water standards, according to a report. California’s Independent System Operator (ISO) unveiled its five-year outlook on Thursday. The report addresses the “vision for 2020 and beyond” and lays out upgrades that will Continue reading →
California’s Independent System Operator released a Five Year Strategic Plan outlining systems and architecture upgrades for energy and water the state needs to implement in order to create a sustainable smart grid. According to the report, “The ISO vision for 2020 and beyond drives our strategies for the next five years.” via Report Highlights California’s Continue reading →
The market for smart meters in Europe although nascent is expected to be more of a ‘push’ market. It is primarily driven by legislations and by the need to handle the increasing demand for electricity that has far exceeded the grid’s capacity. Most of the utilities have been forced to improve their measurement and monitoring Continue reading →
Paul Clanon, executive director of the California Public Utilities Commission, was equally bullish about the prospects for next-gen technology. Within the next five years, 75 to 80 percent of Californians will have “smart meters” in their home and business, Clanon said. Smart meters are updated electricity readers that send and receive data in real time Continue reading →
