1. Transformation of the Energy Grid

2. Implications of Smart Meter Rollouts
“Smart Electric Utility Meters Intended to Create Savings, Instead Prompt Revolt”
- NY Times
“Smart Meter Backlash Again: This Time in Texas”
- Earth2Tech
Copyright © 2010 Elster

3. Walking in the Consumer’s Shoes
Utility Industry Perspective
Home Area
Networking
Demand Response
TOU / Critical Peak Pricing
Load Control
KWH
How will this industry get the consumer engaged in the smart grid? This is a paradigm shift for most of us involved in the industry. While we say we are focused on the consumer and trying to get them to engage, we are still think in terms of AMI, Demand Response, Connect/Disconnect, Energy Efficiency, Distribution Automation, Home Area Networking, LANs and WANs.
-We as industry experts forget that our language is foreign to the average consumer, yet we continue to communicate through tools and messages that perpetuate this confusion.
-Consumers as a general rule also have virtually no understanding of how the utility system works. They assume the grid is already smart and just want to flick a switch and have the lights come on.
- And as evidenced by the recent backlash in California, consumers are very motivated when it come to their pocket books and have become skeptical of smart metering and its benefits
-How does the utility industry engage the consumer and have them become active participants in the consumption of energy?
-Do they even know what a kwh is? Not sure, ask your neighbor, your family member.
-We must do a better job of meeting the customer on their terms, not ours. Wireless communications providers – by effectively bundling services and applications driven by individual behavior and desire, are examples we can look to as an industry.

4. Technology enables new consumers empowerment, but…….
Consumers are being empowered
More information
Historic usage, usage during day
In-home displays, control
More notification
Bill projections
Outages
Usage information
In-home displays / control
e-Notification
Dear Christoffer,
Your electric usage has reached your preset threshold of $200.
Please login to
to view your daily usage totals.
John Smith
Manager,
Residential Customer Services
e-Notification
Dear Christoffer,
Your electric meter has reported an outage at your Main Street residence. Please visit
for
more information.
John Smith
Manager,
Residential Customer Services
Outage notification
Usage notification
4 © 2009 by Elster. All rights reserved.