Later this year, NIST expects to release a draft of the Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards (“Framework”) document for a formal 60-day public comment period and the final version of the document is planned for publication in the first half of 2014. However, those attending the SGIP Inaugural Meeting received an advanced
AMI
Demand Response 2.0 and Smart Grid 2.0: The Conversation Continues
With smart grid events being offered almost daily, unless your day job is to attend seminars, a vetting of the agenda and presenters is critical. The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid, now simply known as ADS, is celebrating its 10th anniversary and lived up to expectations this week with the commencement of its…
Smart Grid Customer Awareness and Education in Illinois
In the past, customer education typically meant nothing more than a bill insert and perhaps an additional public notice. Then came the smart grid and suddenly more is required… much more. Ameren Illinois conducted a quantitative study to measure its customers’ baseline awareness about AMI. Key findings revealed:
- 63% of customers have heard the term
…
DOE’s Smart Grid Customer Engagement Working Group
DOE recently announced the creation of a new working group to focus on customer engagement. The purpose of the working group is to develop a best practices guide in the following areas:
- Resource Planning
- Stakeholder Relations
- Regulatory Communications
- Research and Metrics
- Customer Advocacy
- IT and Technology
- Marketing Communications
- Finance
The presentation from the first conference…
PaPUC Chairman Powelson on Smart Meters and Pennsylvania’s Energy Future
I recently had the opportunity to interview the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Robert F. Powelson, regarding his views on smart meter opt-outs and other issues affecting Pennsylvania’s energy future. Because I live and practice in Pennsylvania, I may be biased but I think Smart Grid Legal News readers will agree it is…
Utilities – What is Your Smart Grid IQ (Investment Quotient)?
The Smart Grid Research Consortium has created a smart grid test that scores utilities in six categories:
- AMI/DA Investment/Planning Scope
- Customer Engagement Investment/Planning Scope
- Other Financial Items
- Utility Customer Detail
- Investment Analysis Quantitative Framework and
- Ease of Use/User Interface/Results Presentation
The questions are designed to provide utilities with guidance when making smart grid investments. I…
MACRUC Discusses AMI
Last week the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners held its annual education conference in Hershey, PA. Over the course of several days many topics of interest to the utility industry were discussed, though not all were smart grid related. On the last day, a panel titled “AMI Implementation – Making it Work for Consumers,&rdquo…
Maine PUC Says Sound Public Policy Requires Smart Meter Opt Out
On May 19, 2011, after taking into consideration all public correspondence and filings, the Maine Public Utilities Commission issued a Part 1 Order requiring Central Maine Power to implement an opt out program. What is interesting about the order is that it seems to go beyond addressing the RF issues and requires more than what…
April: A Time to File Taxes and Smart Grid Reports
We all associate the middle of April with taxes. For utilities in Minnesota, the first of April also means it is time to file Annual Smart Grid Reports. Back in March, the Minnesota PUC issued a notice clarifying the information sought in the reports. Cooperative and municipal utilities were asked to voluntarily file the reports…
FERC Assessment Indicates Huge Increase in Advanced Metering Usage
This month FERC released its Demand Response and Advanced Metering survey results. Conducted in 2010, the survey shows advanced metering is up a whopping 85% nationwide (see page 7). We can thank DOE for giving AMI a nice booster shot to the tune of $817 million. This is in addition to the $2.1 billion in grants DOE…