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Automation Insight
July 2008
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Progress towards Better Demand Response: A Review of the FERC/NARUC Demand Response Collaborative Meeting
Many independent analyses point to a near future in which electricity demand is outpacing installed capacity. With nuclear and coal plants becoming more expensive due to rising commodity and construction costs, and environmental concerns leading the latter being cancelled or deferred, there is now an opportunity to release the potential of the demand side. It has long been known that energy efficiency is available at a lower cost than the baseload supply it replaces, and increasing amounts of demand response (DR) in electricity markets reveals that it can be less expensive than peaking power. These demand resources provide the additional benefit that, just as the cheapest kW (or kWh) is derived from the one that is never built, so too is the cleanest.
Read more.
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FERC and NARUC Continue Their Smart Grid Collaborative Efforts
In February 2008, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions (NARUC) announced that they had agreed to start talking about how state and federal regulators can collaborate on implementing the Smart Grid. Earlier this year, FERC approached NARUC to begin the dialogue on Smart Grid policymaking, recognizing the fact that, based on their relationships with utilities and consumers, and their aim to provide fair regulatory treatment to both, state regulatory PUCs are in a unique position to facilitate grid modernization. Among the goal of consistent policymaking, the Collaborative members clearly believe that increased dialogue among FERC, NARUC and the states should put state regulators in more of a leadership role. This role will give them the opportunity to better understand Smart Grid concepts and help them identify the policy changes necessary to stimulate progress in grid modernization.
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Get a HAN on the Situation – Controlling the Future
A few weeks ago, in an unceremonious manner, a 40-year milestone was reached. On June 29, 1968, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that the monopoly that the Bell system held on telephone equipment should be broken. In what has become known as the Carterphone Decision, this ruling opened the door for any telephone equipment provider to connect to the “Bell System.” Since then any number of “certified” devices that are manufactured and marketed from any number of sources can be connected to the standard telephone line. However, to ensure that these devices do not cause harm to the network, they must undergo a series of tests that are specified by the FCC.
Read more.
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Did You Hear?
ESCO Technologies Inc. announced that the City of New York's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has selected and formally contracted with ESCO's Aclara RF Systems Inc. to provide its Citywide AMI solution for the city's entire water service territory.
Duke Energy Corp. and General Motors Corp. are teaming up to smooth the way for a future of electric vehicles. General Motors Corp. said the partnership, which also includes the Electric Vehicle Research Institute and other large utilities such as Southern California Edison, will deal with myriad complicated issues from tax incentives to where and when the cars can be recharged.
Echelon Corporation announced that the Danish utility SEAS-NVE has awarded an AMI project to Echelon Networked Energy Services value-added reseller partner Eltel Networks A/S, with meter data management system and enterprise software tools from NES VAR partner Goerlitz AG.
KEMA has promoted Rob Wilhite to senior vice president of KEMA’s global intelligent networks and communications practice. This promotion supports KEMA’s continued growth of its global smart grids practice and focus on grid modernization and utility of the future initiatives.
Read more.
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About Automation Insight
Automation Insight is a complimentary monthly publication designed specifically for the utility industry and those serving the utility industry. For comments or suggestions on future article topics, please contact Will McNamara, Managing Editor, will.mcnamara@us.kema.com, tel. 781.534.8621.
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Download the July 2008 Issue
Use the link below to download the PDF of the full issue of the July 2008 Automation Insight for the complete print versions of the articles.
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[download] Automation Insight - July 2008 (.pdf 86 kb)
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