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Smart Grid Opportunities for 2010
The market for electronics pros is still developing - but you better prepare.
Here come the smart grid services — or at least some of them.
Utility cooperative Bluebonnet Electric in Texas will rollout smart grid services to 65,000 homes starting in April, and it will feature home control company Control4' s EMS 100 energy monitoring and automation system.
Large electric utility Duke Energy is planning to spend $1 billion over the next five years on smart grid projects, and in a pilot project the utility is linking solar panels to two-way smart meters and energy management systems inside the home.
More smart grid rollouts with smart meters and home electronics systems are on their way across the country, thanks in part to billions of dollars in U.S. economic stimulus funding.
These smart grid debuts are accompanied by a surge of consumer interest in energy efficiency. Recent Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) research finds that 70 percent Americans are concerned about the cost of their monthly electricity bills and that a majority of Americans are interested in technology that would lower their energy bills and manage their energy consumption.
Energy efficiency services from smart grid, such as time-of-use pricing and demand response services that can run power-hungry appliances at times when electricity rates are lower, should point savvy CE pros toward providing the in-home energy management and automation systems that can make these services work simply and seamlessly.
After all, more than 40 million new smart meters enabling these services could be employed by 2015, according to Greentech Media Research.
The key phrase is "by 2015." Even with more pilot programs and small rollouts like Bluebonnet's, 2010 will not yield much smart grid work for CE pros — if any. Many large electric utilities are still conducting pilot programs and must clear regulatory hurdles to offer services like variable pricing and demand response. In addition, many technology standards still need to be set for smart grid services, both behind the scenes and in the house.
This doesn't mean your work on smart grid services should be put off. In fact, the slow rollout of smart meters and utility services allows you the necessary time to network with your local utilities and get your feet in the door to provide services when needed. The utilities are using this time to plan their smart grid services, and so should you.
Keith Davis, of Residential Technologies in Charlotte, N.C., has been talking with Duke Energy and proposing packages of electronics that can go into homes when Duke is ready to introduce its smart grid offerings. "Utilities are not yet rolling it out on a big scale," he says. "I don't see that as something they can embrace today. But this is the time to find the right decision makers at the utility and make some proposals. At least get your name out there."
Utility cooperative Bluebonnet Electric in Texas will rollout smart grid services to 65,000 homes starting in April, and it will feature home control company Control4' s EMS 100 energy monitoring and automation system.
Large electric utility Duke Energy is planning to spend $1 billion over the next five years on smart grid projects, and in a pilot project the utility is linking solar panels to two-way smart meters and energy management systems inside the home.
More smart grid rollouts with smart meters and home electronics systems are on their way across the country, thanks in part to billions of dollars in U.S. economic stimulus funding.
These smart grid debuts are accompanied by a surge of consumer interest in energy efficiency. Recent Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) research finds that 70 percent Americans are concerned about the cost of their monthly electricity bills and that a majority of Americans are interested in technology that would lower their energy bills and manage their energy consumption.
Energy efficiency services from smart grid, such as time-of-use pricing and demand response services that can run power-hungry appliances at times when electricity rates are lower, should point savvy CE pros toward providing the in-home energy management and automation systems that can make these services work simply and seamlessly.
After all, more than 40 million new smart meters enabling these services could be employed by 2015, according to Greentech Media Research.
The key phrase is "by 2015." Even with more pilot programs and small rollouts like Bluebonnet's, 2010 will not yield much smart grid work for CE pros — if any. Many large electric utilities are still conducting pilot programs and must clear regulatory hurdles to offer services like variable pricing and demand response. In addition, many technology standards still need to be set for smart grid services, both behind the scenes and in the house.
2015 Beckons
This doesn't mean your work on smart grid services should be put off. In fact, the slow rollout of smart meters and utility services allows you the necessary time to network with your local utilities and get your feet in the door to provide services when needed. The utilities are using this time to plan their smart grid services, and so should you.
Keith Davis, of Residential Technologies in Charlotte, N.C., has been talking with Duke Energy and proposing packages of electronics that can go into homes when Duke is ready to introduce its smart grid offerings. "Utilities are not yet rolling it out on a big scale," he says. "I don't see that as something they can embrace today. But this is the time to find the right decision makers at the utility and make some proposals. At least get your name out there."
2010 State of the Industry
 | 2010 State of the Industry Report The industry is still ticking after taking a licking. Revenues fell 51 percent in 2009, according to the CE Pro Readership Survey. Webinar: 2010 State of the Industry Join CE Pro editor Jason Knott and his special guests as they explain how the CE industry fared in 2009 and what the outlook is for 2010. 3D TV 101 3D is heading for the home, finally ready to crash into your clients' living rooms. Here's a primer on 3D TV. Digital Media: Being a Content Provider Black boxes and TVs are spinning the Web, so you better get connected. Smart Grid Opportunities for 2010 The market for electronics pros is still developing - but you better prepare. How to Attack the Middle Market CE pros are adjusting to a new market paradigm that emphasizes product demonstrations and affordable solutions. Industry Embracing Commercial, Retrofit Markets Once "fat and happy" on the new-construction gravy train, CE pros are now feeding off the commercial and retrofit markets. | |
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News · Business Resources · Energy Management · Energy Management · Smart Grid ·About the Author
Steven Castle is a writer, editor, and humorist who recently completed Filthy Rich Things, a savage satire on our thirst for success and wealth. He is Electronic House's senior editor and co-founder of GreenTech Advocates.
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