Smart Grid Gains Pace with New Economic Stimulus Package

Smart Grid technology is one of the priorities included in the new economic stimulus package announced by the Obama administration. The package reportedly called for $32 billion directed at improving the nation's transmission grid of which $4.5 billion is directed specifically at Smart Grid programs and grants, both for utilities and their customers.

 

Smart Grid deployments have already gained significant momentum in the country. Trilliant, a provider of Smart Grid solutions, recently announced that it has implemented more than one million full two-way intelligent communication devices to power Smart Grid applications.

 

Trilliant provides network solutions and software to utilities for advanced metering, demand response, and smart grid management. The company focuses on the adoption of open standards-based technologies for electric, gas, and water utilities.

 

Smart Grid technology, according to Trilliant, enhances energy efficiency, utility operations, and renewable resource integration. However, in order to realize the full value of Smart Grid investments, Trilliant believes, consumer-focused devices and tools need to be deployed.

 

The company provides complete customer solutions for the deployment. At one implementation, the utility is incorporating time-of-use pricing, critical peak pricing, smart metering, information displays, and smart thermostats capable of demand response, Trilliant said. All of these components operate together in real time and leverage the Smart Grid network.

 

Trilliant’s Smart Grid solution has shown real energy savings, utility benefits, and positive customer feedback, according to a media statement.

 

“We're very proud of this milestone, and are already hard at work on the next million,” said Bill Vogel, CEO of Trilliant, in a statement. “Every intelligent grid and consumer device means better efficiency in aggregate as utilities and consumers alike have more control over energy usage and operations.”

 

This trend boosts the growth of Internet energy, and it will arm customers with energy data for better management of resources and reduction in carbon emissions.

 

“With President Obama putting so much focus on the growth of the Smart Grid we expect the number of devices managing load and feeding information back to utilities to skyrocket in the coming years,” added Vogel. “All of this bodes well for the consumer who wishes to better manage their energy consumption and reduce the environmental impact of that usage.”