You feel it where ever utility industry leaders now gather. Complex problems are dead ahead, but never has the industry been so ready to define a new future and embrace change. Will they be replacing oil companies as the main providers of energy for transportation in America? Will they empower consumers like never before to intelligently govern their energy appetites? Here is what is happening at ground zero.
H. Britton Sanderford, Jr.
Chief Technology Officer
Sensus Metering Systems
The aging utility infrastructure, energy cost and economic stimulus bill will accelerate adoption of new technologies from wind power to buy/sell transactions in PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles). These elements slice horizontally and vertically through all aspects of a utility from distributed generation alternatives, novel storage, generation avoidance and monitoring to extend the useful lifetime and capacity of the distribution system.
Any one of these innovations operating solo has limited value, however, coordination of these elements provides a very powerful response - the Smart Grid. This coordination requires communication interconnectivity. Smart Grid communications suppliers offer a diverse set of physical layers, from power line carrier (high and low speeds) to several versions of Mesh to tower based licensed band networks. Each has pros and cons depending on a Utility’s demographics, topology and business case objectives. Utilities do not have one-size-fits-all requirements; solution diversity is good.
There is a significant opportunity to determine a communications “least common denominator,” to truly open entry into these diverse networks. Like the USB port on your PC that allows a myriad of applications, a common point in Smart Grid is the connector between the communications module and the application (thermostat, energy display, load controller, PHEV). Born from the California PUC 2008 recommendation to provide smart thermostats with a slide-in communications card connector, there is a newly formed coalition in support of U-SNAP, Utility Smart Network Access Port. It defines a very simple data handoff, PCB dimensions and pin-out. It contains a unique IP address, is based on ANSI C12.22 and includes security and authentication. The communications card uses the same physical layer that is used between the meter and the collector, as a result no additional HAN hardware is required in the meter. Since Smart Meters are code downloadable, any vendors meter can be adapted (even if already installed) to nearly any emerging communications requirement as future distributed generation/avoidance or customer service technologies are conceived and deployed. Available dual U-SNAP slot smart endpoint devices such as thermostats act as gateway coordinators for ZigBee, WiFi or any future HAN of choice without retrofit of under-the-glass components.
Rich Creegan
Vice President of Strategic Marketing
Itron
Today's Smart Meter: the Foundation for Tomorrow's Smart Utility
Smart meters are largely considered one of the key technologies required to enable several of the Smart Grid characteristics as defined by the DOE's Smart Grid Task Force. Come listen to Itron's vice president of marketing and strategy, Rich Creegan, as he outlines the seven characteristics of a smart grid and how today's smart meters contribute to each. He'll speak to the changing dynamics of today's energy market and how advanced metering addresses the rapidly changing needs of utilities--and consumers.
