PG&E smart meter opt-out proposal: CPUC issues draft decision

Last week the California Public Utilities Commission issued a draft decision in its review of Pacific Gas & Electric’s smart meter opt-out proposal.

I have mixed feelings about this…

Full post: CPUC’s draft decision on PG&E smart meter opt-out proposal

Reliability: What does it mean to energy regulators?

Germany’s energy regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA for short) just announced 2010 results for reliability associated with the power grid.

What exactly does this mean? As with many things in the electricity industry, the answer is neither obvious nor consistent from one regulatory jurisdiction to another…

Full post: What does “reliability” mean to energy regulators?

Smart meter deployments going strong in U.S., but demand response potential lags

In the last two years the U.S. installed based of smart meters has doubled. This is according to the newly released Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report on advanced metering and demand response.

Meanwhile the growth of U.S. demand response programs has been considerably less dramatic. But smart meters play a key role in maximizing demand response, and so could further enhance that picture…

Full post: U.S. smart meter deployments going strong but demand response potential lags

U.K. Energy Minister says big challenge is helping consumers understand energy use

By Alicia Carrasco

This Monday I paid my first visit to the U.K Parliament, at the famous Big Ben building.

The occasion was a reception for Ministers of Parliament and industry stakeholders. The topic: consumer and energy efficiency benefits of smart metering. This event was organized by BEAMA (the UK trade group for smart meters) and Consumers Focus (the UK statutory consumer interest group).

Charles Hendry, Minister of State for the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change, gave a presentation…

Full post: U.K. Energy Minister: Big challenge is helping consumers understand energy use

The smart grid is making fewer headlines but lots of progress

Recently some industry analysts have asked me about smart grid industry momentum. Are things slowing down? Are utilities giving up on the smart grid and smart meters? Jesse Berst asks: are utilities retreating?

My answer: No! Instead, what’s happening is that the smart grid is becoming business as usual. Announcements must now clear much a higher bar to be considered newsworthy. And meanwhile, widespread progress is advancing across the U.S…

Full post: Smart grid: Making fewer headlines, but lots of progress

Quick guide to smart grid standards

Last week the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published the draft of Release 2.0of its Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards — and they’re accepting comments on this plan.

What are these smart grid standards about? Why do they matter, and how can interoperability help?

As anyone who has worked on standards can attest (and I’ve worked on them for three decades) the process and concepts can be daunting at first glance. That’s because there are literally hundreds of current and potential standards which affect smart meters and the grid. Also, standards development organizations (SDOs) operate around the globe.

Here’s how you can understand this complex situation…

Full post: Smart grid standards: a quick guide