Smart Grid Project
The US electric transmission and distribution system is on the verge of a transformation to a smart electric grid. At the center of the evolution of the smart electric grid is the introduction of new technology at the customer meter, as well as the distribution and transmission system level. This technological innovation has required that the road map to a smart electric grid become a partnership of electric utilities and technology companies. Unsurprisingly, the introduction of this new technology has presented new legal, policy and regulatory challenges for state and federal utility regulators. The federal government has added additional momentum to this technological evolution by awarding $3.4 billion in smart grid investment grants to utilities and other entities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These investments are supporting two types of investments in smart grid technology—implementation of smart grid technology across utility service territories and demonstration of smart grid technology.
The Smart Grid Research Project is utilizing case study research to examine: What legal, regulatory and other policy changes can best ensure that Smart Grid implementation in the US improves reliability, enhances consumer value, and meets our clean energy goals? The following entities are cooperating with the research team to document their Smart Grid implementation with a case study.
• Central Vermont Public Service Company
• Long Island Power Authority
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
• Pecan Street Project
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
• San Diego Gas and Electric
During the 2012/13 academic year, the research team will look across these case studies to examine the challenges to smart grid implementation and recommend lessons learned and best practices that can be replicated across the country. The final report will address the following topics:
• Legal, Regulatory, Structural Barriers, Including Privacy Concerns
• Supercharging Energy Efficiency and Expanding Demand Response with Smart Meters
• Integration of Distributed Generation & Storage Technologies
• Achieving Environmental Improvement with Electric Vehicles
• Automating the Distribution System, including Conservation Voltage Reduction
Recent Smart Grid Team Activities
- SMUD's Smart Sacramento: A Clean Technology Pioneer
- Salt River Project: Delivering Leadership on Smarter Technology & Rates
- CVPS SmartPower: A Smart Grid Collaboration in Vermont
- Preparing the North American Power Grid for the Perfect Solar Storm - Whitepaper by Christopher Cooper
- Not Your Father's Y2K: Preparing the North American Power Grid for the Perfect Solar Storm published in The Electricity Journal, May 2011, Vol. 24, Issue 4.
- Smart Grid Policy: Pathways for Improving the Global Environment - Short course presented in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Vermont
- Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Presentation, Presentation by Shauna Thompson and Kevin Jones
- Realizing the Environmental Promise of an Electric Vehicle Future, Presentation by Rebecca Wigg
- Smart Grid Policy: A Model Privacy Policy for Smart Grid Customers - A guide for Utilities to use to protect their customers' rights to privacy regarding their Electricity Use Data.
- Model Privacy Policy Version 2.0 - December 6, 2012
- Presentation to the American Public Power Association - November 8, 2011
- Empowering Electric Customers: VT Law School Unveils Innovative National Smart Grid Privacy Policy - November 8, 2011 Press Release
- Smart Grid Collaboration Needed to Repower U.S., VT Law School Study Suggests - November 15, 2011 Press Release
Contact the Smart Grid Team
Kevin Jones, PhDAssociate Director, Institute for Energy and the Environment
Senior Fellow for Energy Technology and Policy
Phone: 802-831-1054
Email: kbjones@vermontlaw.edu
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