With the 2,200-MW San Onofre nuclear plant shut and headed for retirement, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) on June 11 reminded customers that, while adequate electricity supplies are lined up to meet their needs, conservation and demand response will still be vital during extremely hot weather or an unplanned power plant outage or transmission Continue reading →
With last week’s announcement of the closing of the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station (SONGS) San Diego Gas & Electric is encouraging customers to aid in the region’s energy efficiency, as the summer approaches. In a news conference Tuesday, SDG&E representatives, along with representatives from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and others, discussed their summer Continue reading →
Portland General Electric (PGE) has opened its new Salem Smart Power Center, an 8,000-square-foot, 5 MW energy storage facility in Salem, Ore., that offers an inside view of a fully functional smart grid project to demonstrate how the integration of renewable energy sources and demand-response technology can increase the reliability and efficiency of energy for Continue reading →
Burbank Water and Power thought it might be leaking a little too much energy. So the California-based municipal utility wanted to assess the situation. First, it had to capture the data so that its 45,000 customers could have some hard facts from which to make responsible decisions. What to do? It rolled out the “smart Continue reading →
Smart grid system and smart meter deployments have sped up in the U.S., but utilities have struggled to effectively communicate and engage with customers about the benefits of these technologies. Getting end-user buy-in concerning the energy management and conservation capabilities of the technology is crucial to the long-term success of smart grid programs. via Positive Continue reading →
A roadmap to plan future grid developments for residential customers launched at the Smart Grid Modernization Summit The smart grid promises to interconnect the reviving North American building market, beginning in the commercial building sector as government mandates drive energy efficiency standards. However, this trend is reaching the residential market following the introduction of smart Continue reading →
Conservation voltage reduction (CVR) is a proven technology that has been used by utilities on a limited scale for the past two decades. By better managing distribution system voltages, utilities can improve efficiencies, realize significant energy savings, and reduce demand. With the proliferation of smart grid technologies and continued strong interest in energy efficiency by regulators, Continue reading →
The first comprehensive and large scale smart grid is now operating. The $800 million project, built in Florida, has made power outages shorter and less frequent, and helped some customers save money, according to the utility that operates it. Smart grids should be far more resilient than conventional grids, which is important for surviving storms, Continue reading →
The Sacramento Bee has penned an editorial endorsing the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s (SMUD’s) new rate proposal as a “farsighted change.” The plan would phase out the current two-tiered system over four years. By 2017, all residential customers would pay the same price per unit of electricity no matter how much they used. Beginning in Continue reading →
Many countries worldwide are completing their smart meter and AMI deployments and are looking for ways to optimize the data collected. Nations are also looking for ways to implement relatively inexpensive additions to their smart grid to receive a return on their investment. Still other nations are investigating ways to create a more reliable and Continue reading →
The first full-scale smart grid is up and running in Florida, networking 4.5 million smart meters and more than 10,000 other devices. The $800 million project by Florida Power & Light was completed last week, with the promise of fewer and shorter power outages and lower electric bills for customers, MIT Technology Review reports. via Continue reading →
When it comes to a fully electric vehicle, it is without a doubt that its power reserves would carry the greatest interest among potential customers – will it be able to last long on the road? After all, charging stations for electric vehicles are not exactly commonplace at this point in time, but that does Continue reading →
The first comprehensive and large scale smart grid is now operating. The $800 million project, built in Florida, has made power outages shorter and less frequent, and helped some customers save money, according to the utility that operates it. Smart grids should be far more resilient than conventional grids, which is important for surviving storms, Continue reading →
Toshiba International Corporation announced today that it will be featured in an upcoming episode of Shades of Green. Shades of Green will focus on Toshiba’s Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Systems. These next-generation technologies contribute to society by maximizing system efficiencies while reducing energy costs. This episode will explore how Toshiba combines power generation and Continue reading →
New smart energy meters being installed in Welsh homes could save customers about £64 a year each by ending estimated bills, British Gas says. The company says the meters – which the UK government requires to be installed in all homes by 2019 – will save Wales’ 1.3 million households £83m a year. It has Continue reading →
A new Navugant study suggests that the market for ZigBee-enabled energy products is at a crossroads. According to the report devices based on ZigBee’s wireless communications technology have gained significant momentum in the energy sector over the past few years. “Some leading U.S. utilities have deployed ZigBee-enabled smart meters, and have encouraged customers to purchase Continue reading →
In the last few years, devices based on ZigBee, the wireless communications technology, have gained momentum in the energy sector. Some U.S. utilities have deployed ZigBee-enabled smart meters, and have encouraged customers to purchase home area network (HAN) devices that can connect to such smart meters for improved energy management. via ZigBee smart energy devices Continue reading →
If Texas Legislators want to make sure the lights stay on this summer, they have a great opportunity to do so tomorrow, April 9, 2013, while saving electric customers money. There are two critical bills being considered at the legislature in Texas that would expand the use of demand response, a tool that allows customers Continue reading →
A MOTOR dealer has smashed its targets for sales of its electric vehicles thanks to a new offer which enables customers to get a free at-home charging point. Newcastle-based Bristol Street Motors, is the North East’s only Vauxhall Ampera retailer, and is helping people invest in eco-friendly vehicles. As well as the Government grant to Continue reading →
Silver Spring’s new cost-effective smart grid solution open IPv6-based networking platform is said to be easy to scope, deploy and test. The new solution will help municipal and cooperative utilities to rollout sophisticated Advanced Metering Infrastructure program for electricity, water, and gas customers, according to the company release. via Silver Spring Networks to offer new Continue reading →
