Greentech Media submits:
by David J. Leeds
Now that U.S. utilities have taken federal stimulus funds and seamlessly built out two-way advanced metering infrastructure [AMI] connecting utility control centers and end users (OK, not completely, but let’s assume that the "stall-ulus" becomes a true stimulus in the near future), the question becomes, what’s next? At the moment, this new "comm layer" or "platform" has utilities planning in two directions: upstream and downstream from the smart meters. First, they are examining whether and how to leverage these new communication networks to support distribution automation [DA] and grid optimization — some have argued that it’s the embedding of sensors and IT onto the distribution grid that is, in fact, the true sense of what’s meant by ’smart grid.’ Second, utilities are asking — and in many cases, piloting to discover — how best to involve the customer in energy efficiency and demand response programs via home-area networks [HAN] and / or consumer web portals.
