One of the biggest challenges facing the deployment of smart grids is inadequate consumer education, which is in some cases is worsened by "over-hyping" the benefits of the smart grid. This general consensus came from UTC Smart Grid Policy Summit, a two-day conference held this week in Washington, DC that featured panel discussions with key policy makers, regulators, utilities and industry associations. While the panels debated issues such as the role of state vs. federal regulators in setting smart grid policy and the pressures of cost-recovery, many of the panels often returned to the need for consumer awareness and trust. Opening Keynote Speaker, Joe Rigby, CEO and Chairman of PEPCO, addressed this concern by discussing his utility's successful pilot programs that were implemented in collaboration with state regulators and consumer groups and showed that consumers do respond positively to dynamic pricing. However, he did note that duplicating the results of a pilot in a larger territory roll-out was not easy. Read more »

Ensuring consumer privacy and ability to control access to their energy usage information to be given highest priority, declares recent resolution by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) at their Summer committee meetings.  With Congress and the U. S. Department of Energy currently looking at the issue of consumer data, privacy and access, NARUC stepped forward to voice it's opinion.  NARUC recognized the needed balance of ensuring privacy of consumer data while allowing for the benefits the deployment of smart grid promises.  NARUC also resolved that utilities, subject to State commission oversight,  need to make cost-effective decisions while at the same time safeguarding their customer's privacy, and that authorized third parties have responsibilities to protect this information and the privacy of consumers.  Finally, NARUC resolved that any Congressional or federal agency action should respect and incorporate State rules and ongoing State authority to protect ratepayers' privacy and ability to control access to their energy usage information.