Monday, March 15, 2010

Crystal Borde: Accelerate Innovation!

This posted to smartgrid@ostp.gov by Crystal Borde, Galvin Electricity Initiative

Q1: Low-income consumers are best served by having access to the secure, wireless, near-real-time usage data, all pricing data from all sources and possibly a rebate for an in-home device that can provide low-income users with access to this data. It is imperative that low-income consumers be provided with a choice regarding post meter devices to ensure competitive pricing and innovation that will improve performance. It may make sense to offer low-income users a choice regarding the advanced meter supplier. This also will accelerate innovation and cost reductions. The industry needs to establish standards for the advanced meters and post meter devices to protect consumers. Without competition for advanced meters and post meter devices, low-income consumers could be saddled with obsolescence and higher costs.

Q2-4: It is imperative that the industry settle on an advanced meter, secure, wireless, interface standard that allows all suppliers (e.g., appliances, post meter devices, cable companies, Internet providers, etc.) to build equipment that can communicate directly with secure, wireless meter usage data and price data from the utility, ISO and third-party providers.

Additional Comments:
Section I, second paragraph states, “Demand-side Smart Grid technologies include “smart meters” (which provide two-way, near-real-time data communications between the utility and consumer premises), “smart appliances” (which provide data communications and control options) and “smart interfaces” that can integrate distributed energy resources, demand response resources or other energy loads and storage devices such as plug-in electric and hybrid electric vehicles.”

Comments from the Initiative:

Comment 1: Smart meters should be defined as providing two-way, near-real-time data communications between the smart meter to the consumer’s premises and the utility.

Comment 2: The smart grid definition should include, “smart transparent pricing that provides consumers with access to dynamic and market pricing.”

Comment 3: The Home Area Network (HAN) is fundamental to achieving the “Electronet” รข€• the Internet equivalent for electricity. It is through this open market vehicle that entrepreneurial innovation will enable a truly sustainable energy, economic and environmental future for our nation.

Comment 4: The Federal government must provide the national leadership needed to ensure that the benefits of the smart grid transformation are achieved. The immediate economic benefits are at least four times the cost of implementation when the emphasis is placed on consumer value. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 defined much of the needed steps but lacked the authority necessary to achieve success.

Crystal Borde
Galvin Electricity Initiative

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