Monday, March 15, 2010

Clarke Stevens: Keep it Inexpensive and Simple

1.How are low-income consumers best served by home-to-grid technology?

Low-income consumers are best served by simple, effective low-cost solutions. These solutions develop in open competitive markets with widely adopted standards. These criteria point to IP-based technologies. Regardless of how the technology is paid for, cheap and reliable is better.

2.What standard data communications interfaces(s) should be supported by appliances and the smart meter or data gateway so that appliance manufacturers can cost-effectively produce smart appliances that can communicate with the Smart Grid anywhere in the nation?

Open, proven and inexpensive technologies are key. Manufacturers can choose the MAC and PHY layer technologies that best suit their application. The IP layer ensures interoperability.

3.How can communication between smart appliances and the Smart Grid be made ‘‘plug and play’’ for consumers who do not have the skills or means to configure data networks?

Base interoperability on the tried and true and inexpensive IP technology. There are numerous ways to make the connection "plug and play." Universal Plug-n-Play (UPnP ) technology is one such "zero configure" technology.

4.If gateways or adapters are needed, who should pay for them: the utility or the consumer?

Ultimately, the consumer will pay for them, but this could happen in many ways. They could be provided by the utility with the consumer paying through a power bill surcharge. The consumer could have a similar arrangmentment through an Internet service provider. The consumer could purchase them directly from a retail store. Low-income customers may pay for them trough taxes and a government subsidy. A free market with minimal government regulation will produce the most efficient solutions. An IP interoperability layer will ensure a robust market with thousands of commoditized solutions already available at low cost.

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