You might only read about smart meters when media reports cover people pushing back on them, but smart meters are steadily being installed across the U.S. While back in 2009, about 6.5 percent of the meters in use in the U.S. were smart meters, that penetration rate has jumped to between 13 percent and 18 Continue reading →
FERC
FERC Commissioner Philip Moeller has a bone to pick with the EPA: He told the North American Generator Forum meeting recently that the timing of new environmental rules could harm grid reliability and said “I think the pace EPA is going at is too aggressive,” according to a news article in Platts. via Smart Grid: FERC Continue reading →
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a statement Tuesday that effectively closed the books, at least for now, on any formal rulemaking proceedings related to adopting smart grid interoperability standards. The commission states that the industry has not reached a consensus on a body of standards that has been in circulation for more than Continue reading →
The National Action Plan Coalition (NAPC) has criticized the United States government for lacking a clear strategy for implementing demand response and is urging both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and national policymakers to better communicate the benefits of demand response to the American public. The NAPC was formed to drive action for the Continue reading →
As required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the staffs of FERC and DOE have released their proposal for implementing the National Action Plan for Demand Response. The overarching objective is to achieve the nation’s demand response potential. The proposal identifies actions that can be taken by federal, state, and private sector Continue reading →
US home appliance makers are urging federal officials to take action to recognize the benefits of smart appliances and speed up development of the smart electricity grid. The announcement from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) followed the release of an action plan from the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Continue reading →
Sheboygan Falls, a modestly-sized city of about 7,600 residents in northeast Wisconsin, is not commonly considered to be a hot-spot for clean-technology start-ups or a haven for green-minded consumers. And yet Sheboygan Falls boasts the single largest ‘operational’ smart-grid program operated by an electric utility in the United States, according to the results of the Continue reading →
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has adopted a rule that establishes what one group calls a level playing field for those who wish to reduce their energy consumption during times of scarcity. New England law firm Preti Flaherty, which worked on the case, says it’s a landmark decision that creates a crucial tool in efforts Continue reading →
A framework of standards is emerging for securing an intelligent energy grid, but it is not yet complete and federal overseers lack the authority to require industry compliance, according to a study by the Government Accountability Office. The standards for a smart grid are being assembled by the National Institute of Standards and Technology under the Energy Continue reading →
On December 21, 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced it will hold a technical conference* on Smart Grid Interoperability Standards. The purpose of the technical conference is to obtain further information to aid FERC’s determination of whether there is “sufficient consensus” that the five families of standards posted by the National Institute of Continue reading →
Under the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has “primary responsibility to coordinate development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of smart grid devices and systems…” via Smart Grid Interoperability V2.0.
The Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) and some standards development organizations (SDOs) finished joint initial work on three standards, and SGIP will now build a database that NIST, FERC, utilities and vendors can use to ensure smart devices and meters work together securely, the group’s governing board said yesterday. But one challenge still facing the Continue reading →
Today, the nations regulatory commission, FERC, proposed a reform to its rules that would help integrate renewable energy into the nation’s energy mix. According to a press release issued by the agency, the proposal would reform the Open Access Transmission Tariffs (OATT) and the Large Generator Interconnection Agreements. via FERC, DOE Seek Better Grid Integration Continue reading →
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has started a process that could see a series of national standards adopted for smart grid technology. The power industry regulator has taken the first step in a formal rule-making procedure, by considering five groups of smart grid standards put forward by the National Institute of Standards ant Technology Continue reading →
Don't be afraid of new technologies was the message Federal Energy Regulation Commission Commissioner Marc Spitzer delivered to a crowd of energy industry leaders at an April 27 conference in the Capital District. Spitzer was the keynote speaker at a conference hosted by the New York Independent System Operator, and he spoke about the importance Continue reading →
The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved a bill Thursday that seeks to address security vulnerabilities in the nation’s energy grid. The legislation, which now heads to the House floor, would charge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with the responsibility of identifying and addressing weaknesses in the country’s energy delivery system. via House Continue reading →
A bill aiming to protect the nation’s electricity grid from cyber attacks easily passed a House subcommittee today and now heads to the full Energy and Commerce Committee. The Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense (GRID) Act, co-authored by Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) to take measures to protect the Continue reading →
As utilities around the world have initiated major smart grid infrastructure upgrades over the past several years, cyber security has become a critical priority. Security measures are designed to protect the electrical grid from attacks by terrorists and hackers, as well as strengthening its resilience against natural disasters and inadvertent threats such as equipment failures Continue reading →
Internet search engine and global tech giant, Google Inc., has officially entered the electric utility game, although don’t expect to be writing a monthly check to Google for your electric bill any time soon. In a unanimous vote the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a request by Google to buy and sell electricity, Continue reading →
According a new report, a radical overhaul of policy and technology is needed for the USA to reap the benefits promised by the smart grid. Sean Ottewell reports. The oversight policy of the US electrical grid has been described as a hodge podge in a new report published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Industrial Continue reading →
