Briefing: Smart Grid
Earlier this month, National Grid announced a revised smart grid pilot proposal for 15,000 Worcester customers. It would supersede its original plan, which was proposed in 2008 but withdrawn last year. The utility company said much about the new proposal is the same, including the number of customers it will include and the energy savings goal of 5 percent.
Why did National Grid go back to the drawing board?
Cheri Warren, the company’s vice president of asset strategy, said National Grid wanted to understand what technological innovations would help make the smart grid plan better. She also said the company wanted to gather more feedback from its customers, which was a major reason why they held a summit meeting last fall at the DCU Center. The goal was to learn how people use energy and help determine where they can save money and conserve power.
What are some notable elements of the revised proposal?
Technological tools lie at the center of it. As an example, Warren cited a web-based “smart picture frame,” which will give a customer a set of “rolling pictures” about his or her energy use, as well as energy-saving suggestions they can implement quickly. Customers will also have their choice of how they want to receive messages from National Grid, such as over the web, the phone or through text messages.
What’s the estimated cost of the new plan?
The revised smart grid plan will cost $44 million, which represents a 20-percent reduction —or $12 million — from the original proposal.
What about the status of a “Sustainability Hub,” which customers have called for?
The sustainability hub, which would showcase emerging energy technology, will be more like an Apple computer store that will also act as a learning center for customers, said Ed White, National Grid’s vice president of customer management. National Grid is working with Clark University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute on what the hub would look like. A location has not yet been decided.
What’s the next step?
National Grid said it’s planning to install 5,000 smart grid meters at customer sites by next month.
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