Smart Grid Library

Saturday, January 28 is International Data Privacy Day.  It’s a great opportunity to think about new data created as a result of the modernization of our electrical grid into the Smart Grid, and what this means for our privacy.  Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) is credited with the quote:  “Knowledge is power.”  Agreed.  Understanding what this [...]

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision regarding the privacy and security of electricity usage data on May 6.  This proposal sets the stage for how consumer consumption data is managed by the three investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in California – Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric.  [...]

The ongoing saga of smart meters in California and a recent opt-out ruling once again highlight the existence of a communications gap between utilities and consumers.  Watching this slow motion communications disaster play out leads me to two conclusions.   First, utilities, regulators, and governmental entities need to rapidly gain expertise in the practice of risk [...]

It’s Valentine’s Day, and here are a few special wishes I’m sending:  A Thinking of You to my electric utility, and to all the hardworking employees there who work so diligently to ensure my ongoing reliable and safe delivery of electricity in spite of an aging infrastructure.  I do appreciate the great service you provide.  [...]

The Smart Grid has traditionally been used to describe the electrical grid 2.0.  The distinctions between the traditional electrical grid, or version 1.0, and the Smart Grid cover the bidirectional flow of electricity and communications.  We need to extend our thinking about the smart grid to add distributed intelligence and communications to other parts of [...]

The message in Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign, “It’s the economy, stupid” is a great example of a focused communications strategy.  Utilities and vendors of energy solutions and services that require figurative and literal buy-in of ratepayers and consumers need to create focused and layered communications strategies with them in mind.  Your success depends on [...]

I like ice hockey, but I rarely watch a televised game.  There’s too much living going on to spend it plunked in front of a TV.   That said, I did watch the two Olympics games between the US and Canadian men’s hockey teams because I figured they would be well-played games that would be an [...]

My previous blogs touched on different aspects of the Smart Grid.  Now let’s talk about some of the common denominators of all solutions.  One is the fact that software will be a critical component to successful Smart Grid operations.  And not just any software – but open, standards-based, interoperable, and secure software.  The National Institute [...]

I planned to write about mobile versus fixed energy storage in a Smart Grid, but instead will postpone that topic in favor of regulatory matters.  The NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners) summer meetings are a great place to get a deep appreciation of the role that Public Utility Commissions will play in expediting [...]