Interval billing needed to realize smart meter benefits

For any big project, details always matter, even if they look arcane. This is especially true for smart grid and smart meter rollouts. One issue that sounds obscure, but which actually is quite important, is whether to bill customers based on interval data from their energy use.

The U.K. is facing this issue right now as that nation continues to make good progress on rolling out smart meters. This includes addressing several important policy issues related to functional standards.

U.K. policymakers could choose to prohibit interval billing. However, that would be an expensive mistake — and it would significantly reduce the benefits that consumers would realize from smart meters.

Full post: Interval billing is crucial to realize smart meter benefits

Aneesh Chopra, smart grid visionary, steps down as U.S. CTO

Yesterday Fedscoop reported that U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra will be leaving his post. “No information was provided on his future plans, but ongoing speculation includes running for political office to assuming an executive role leading the Washington offices of a major technology company.”

Full post: Smart grid visionary Aneesh Chopra steps down as U.S. CTO

European regulators say: Smart meters are essential to demand response

This month the Council of European Energy Regulators published its “Advice” on how smart meters can enable demand response throughout Europe.

CEER concluded that to guarantee active participation by customers, smart meters are needed. This means making metering data available more frequently, and fostering customers’ deep awareness of both consumption and injection behaviors (e.g. wind and solar energy produced by energy consumers). These are not possible with electromechanical meters…

Full post: Smart meters are essential to demand response, European regulators say

President’s green energy vision: High marks for Siemens, missed the mark on smart grid

Last night, when describing his vision for America, President Obama told the story of Jackie Bray, a single mom from Charlotte, N.C. who was laid off from her job. Then someone stepped up in her community and opened a gas turbine factory, started a job training program at the local college, paid her tuition — and hired her to work in their plant.

That company was Siemens. I’ve never been prouder to work for any company (which I’ve now done for all of two weeks, since Siemens acquired eMeter).

Full post: Obama’s green energy vision: High marks for Siemens, missed the mark on the smart grid

Green Button now live. How to use it?

This week I was with U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra when heannounced huge progress on the White House Green Button initiative. All three major California utilities (Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison) have gone live with green button on their websites.

Here’s how it works: After logging in, customers can click on that button and download up to 13 months of their detailed electricity usage data. Generally this is 15-minute or hourly interval data, but it can work for monthly data also.

So what? By itself, this data is virtually of no use. But here’s why consumers should care…

Full post: Green Button goes live. How can consumers use it?

UK smart meter preparations: new report

Today the U.K. government’s Public Account Committee released a report on that nation’s preparations for the rollout of smart meters.

Here are this report’s six conclusions and recommendations, and our analysis of each…

Full post by Alicia Carrasco: Report: UK smart meter preparations

Ohio: Comments due March 14 on service options for smart meter customers

Last week the Ohio Public Utility Commission launched a new proceeding to consider service options for customers who have smart meters.

The Commission is now taking comments on several topics…

Full post: Ohio weighs service options for smart meter customers: comments due March 14

Putting consumers in control of Europe’s smart grid

As the European Union develops its smart grid plans, some key strategic decisions must be made — especially regarding how to involve consumers as active players in the energy market.

Earlier this month the European Parliament held a lunch debate on saving energy in buildings and putting customers in control. Several industry players and consumer groups presented their views on demand response, demand management, and how to avoid running power plants unnecessarily (or building new ones)…

Full post by Alicia Carrasco: EU smart grid: putting consumers in control

2012: Smart grid questions to ponder

Last week I shared my smart grid predictions for 2012. But also, as the new year turns, I’m pondering these important questions…

Full post: 2012: Questions on the road ahead to the smart grid

Federal smart meter report only counts stimulus-funded meters

This week, the Obama administration reported that there are 9 million smart meters installed in the U.S. Our own current estimate is 27.6 million.

Why the difference?…

Full post: Obama smart meter report only counts federally funded meters