Press

Evaluating the Utility Smart Grid Business Case - Problems, Pitfalls And Real-World Recommendations from the Smart Grid Research Consortium Orlando Florida. August 3, 2011.

While a series of recent national studies suggests that smart grid investments are a “no-brainer,” evaluations in the real world of utility investment analysis are anything but easy. A new Smart Grid Research Consortium white paper describes these difficulties and provides ten recommendations to assist utilities in evaluating smart grid investments.

The white paper, “The Utility Smart Grid Business Case: Problems, Pitfalls And Ten Real-World Recommendations,” describes challenges utilities face in developing comprehensive investment strategies and identifies difficulties associated with several common approaches to smart grid investment analysis. The paper concludes with ten recommendations for undertaking investment analysis based on the Smart Grid Research Consortium’s cost/benefit model that has been applied at 15 utilities.

Recommendations are offered both to guide utility in-house analysis and to assist utilities in evaluating smart grid analysis undertaken by vendors and consultants. The white paper, is available at: http://smartgridresearchconsortium.org/notes.htm .

OCTOBER CONFERENCE “This is the first in a series of white papers based on the Consortium’s activities and analysis that will be published in the next several months leading up to the Consortium’s second annual “Evaluating the Business Case for Smart Grid Investments” Conference in Orlando, October 20-21, 2011,” said Dr. Jerry Jackson, Leader and Research Director of the Consortium. Conference and registration information is available at: http://smartgridresearchconsortium.org/smartgridconference.htm

SMART GRID INVESTMENT MODEL The Smart Grid Investment Model (TM) is customized for each Consortium member utility. The Model supports smart grid investment analysis at every stage of the smart grid process from initial planning to benchmarking and verification of technology and program impacts after implementation. The Model provides cost/benefit analysis of smart grid investments including AMI/Smart meters, distribution automation, in-premise technologies and programs including pricing and demand response and other smart grid initiatives in a single consistent framework. More information is available on the Consortium Web site: http://smartgridresearchconsortium.org


Evaluating Smart Grid Investments at Electric Cooperatives and Public Utilities: 2nd Annual Conference October 20-21 in Orlando, Florida Orlando Florida. June 23, 2011.

The Smart Grid Research Consortium today announced the second annual “Evaluating the Business Case for Smart Grid Investments” conference to be held October 20-21, 2011 in Orlando. The conference is unique in its focus on electric cooperatives and public utilities.

Additional information on the conference including registration information is available at http://smartgridresearchconsortium.org/smartgridconference.htm

“The conference will provide valuable information on evaluating technologies and applications regardless of where utilities are in the smart grid implementation process,” said Dr. Jerry Jackson, Leader and Research Director of the Consortium. “We anticipate the same kind of energetic conference as last year with a balance of technical sessions and “experience from the field” presentations and panels.” Ninety-eight percent of last year’s conference attendees indicated they would recommend the conference to others.

Agenda topics cover smart grid application areas from the substation, through feeders, to meters and inside customer premises and are being developed with input from coop and municipal utility Consortium members. Program areas include:
• AMI/smart meters • Communications • Distribution automation • Customer technologies • Customer engagement and programs • IT and meter data management, and • Managing the smart grid transition

Conference Venue: This year’s conference will be held on Thursday and Friday, October 20-21, 2011 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, one of Orlando’s finest meeting destinations including one of the country’s top 40 new golf courses on its 230 landscaped acres. The resort is convenient to the airport and Orlando attractions.

The Consortium: The 2011 Smart Grid Research Consortium provides a Smart Grid Investment Model (TM) customized for each Consortium member utility. The Model provides cost/benefit analysis of smart grid investments including AMI/Smart meters, distribution automation, in-premise technologies and programs including pricing and demand response and other smart grid initiatives in a single consistent framework. More information is available on the Consortium Web site: http://smartgridresearchconsortium.org