Technology creates new opportunities for demand- side management
Brad Davids is vice president of utility solutions for EnerNOC, and Kristin Brief is senior marketing manager of utility solutions.
Smart grid investments totaled more than $10 billion worldwide in 2009, and are projected to grow further in coming years.1 The term “smart grid” comprises a wide range of proposed upgrades to the electric grid infrastructure, including advanced metering with two-way communications, substation and distribution automation, distributed generation and storage, and dynamic systems control. Investments in these areas are intended to increase utility operational efficiency, enhance reliability and power quality, and enable a diverse set of value-added offerings for electricity customers.