DOE Smart Grid Reports

In anticipation of two reports from the Department of Energy relating to Smart Grid technology and deployment, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies held a policy forum on October 5^th at the Capitol Hilton. The forum included a keynote speech from Scott Blake Harris, General Council Department of Energy as well as a panel of experts to discuss the reports. The reports, which can be accessed from the DOE Office of General Council’s website, tackle the complicated policy implications behind smart metering. One report addresses the issues surrounding data access related to smart meters, as well as the form and cost of such analysis. The second report focuses on the relationship between power companies and communication providers as the logistics of collecting and processing energy use data will be important. Reliability, security, and consumer education were key issues in the discussion.