Consortium White Papers, Articles and Notes
White Paper: Score Your Smart Grid IQ (Investment Quotient), August 31, 2011
Abstract: Within a decade every utility will have incorporated at least some aspects of smart grid technologies in their distribution system. While several rating systems benchmark utility success at achieving smart grid functionality none evaluate the effectiveness of the investment planning process required to achieve the most cost-effective investment strategy. The Smart Grid Research Consortium was formed at Texas A&M University in 2010 and established as an independent Consortium in January 2011 to support electric cooperative, municipal and other public utility smart grid investment analysis. The Consortium’s experience developing and applying the Smart Grid Investment Model™ at 15 member utilities provides the basis for the Smart Grid IQ “test” presented here.
The objective of the scorecard presented in this white paper is to assist utilities in evaluating their current smart grid investment analysis and planning process. The ideal investment/planning framework, reflected by a score of 100, is capable of identifying specific technologies and programs that best meet utility financial requirements while considering unique infrastructure and customer characteristics.
For utilities who have not yet started the smart grid investment process, the scorecard provides guidance on issues to consider when developing in-house investment analysis/planning capabilities or when engaging consultants.
“We have drawn on our experience developing and implementing the Smart Grid Investment Model ™ at fifteen utilities since 2010 to provide this evaluation process,” said Dr. Jerry Jackson, Leader and Research Director of the Smart Grid Research Consortium. “This is the first benchmarking system to assist utilities in evaluating their approaches to this complex investment problem.”
Smart Grid IQ scores are compiled in six categories including: 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.
Download White Paper: Score Your Smart Grid IQ (Investment Quotient)
White Paper: The Utility Smart Grid Business Case: Problems, Pitfalls And Ten Real-World Recommendations, August 3, 2011.
Abstract:
Studies published over the past several years report impressive returns on smart grid investments. However,
these studies reflect cost/benefit evaluations and models that, for many reasons, cannot be applied directly
to evaluate individual utility investments. The lack of a standard, commonly accepted utility-level cost/benefit
framework has led to a number of utility smart grid investment analysis approaches that poorly serve utility decision-makers.
This paper describes the challenge utilities face in developing comprehensive investment strategies and
identifies difficulties associated with several common approaches to smart grid investment analysis. The final
section presents ten investment analysis recommendations based on the Smart Grid Research Consortium’s cost/benefit
model that has been applied at 15 utilities. These recommendations are offered both to guide utility in-house analysis
and to assist utilities in evaluating smart grid analysis undertaken by vendors and consultants.
Download The Utility Smart Grid Business Case: Problems, Pitfalls And Ten Real-World Recommendations
Article: Evaluating Smart Grid Investments at US Cooperative and Municipal Utilities
Abstract: A twelve-member utility Smart Grid Research Consortium was formed in May 2010 to assess the state of smart grid investment analysis at US cooperative and municipal utilities and to develop a Smart Grid Investment Model for each individual member utility. The study was completed in January 2011 with delivery of the model to each utility. This article presents the results of the Consortium’s nationwide survey of utility smart grid activity, describes smart grid investment modeling issues and modeling objectives pursued in the Consortium project and presents several observations based on Consortium smart grid investment evaluations.
Download Evaluating Smart Grid Investments at US Cooperative and Municipal Utilities
Presentation: Smart Grid Research Consortium/Smart Grid Investment Model
Abstract: This PowerPoint presentation presents Smart Grid Research Consortium objectives, describes the Smart Grid Investment Model, illustrates Model evaluations of several investment analyses and issues an invitation to join the 2012 Smart Grid Research Consortium.