Ever had your electrical company come out to your house and read your meter? They were probably looking to make sure things were working properly and checking the voltage. Well, what if it was no longer necessary for people to have to go to houses and record the information? What if it could all be done through a computer?
Everyone uses electricity. It’s what runs our phones, computer, televisions, and radios. Its what generates most of our common household appliances. Starting in the early 20th century, the technology of electricity has been booming. With this, came the need for commercialization of electrical power. At first, small companies provided power to local industrial plants. Eventually, all these individual companies pooled together. Then came the hydroelectric power plant in Niagra Falls. This was the first of its kind and showed the world electricity was the most effective form of power transmission. Next came the link of powers referred to as the national power grid. Yet again though, electricity was revised. There were large improvements to technology in the 50s and 60s. Nuclear power, computer controls, and other developments started coming into play. Unfortunately, the national power grid has not kept up pace with our fast advancing technology. This is where the “Smart Grid” comes into play. (“History.”)
“Smart Grid” is an up-to-date power grid that will incorporate computer-based remote control and automation. This technology has already been used elsewhere. Therefore, it is expected that we try to incorporate this into our electricity networks. Energy.gov uses a great example to describe the “grid”. They say that it is much like a smart phone, which has a computer in it. The smart grid means “computerizing” the electric utility grid. The smart grid has automation technology which lets the utility adjust and control each individual device. (“Energy.gov”)
But what’s really awesome about this smart grid? The benefits to upgrading out power grid are quite drastic. Having these efficiency improvements done will decrease the cost of producing, delivery and consuming electricity. For consumers this means, the capability, opportunity and motivation to be more efficient, increased influence on the electricity market, and the ability to switch from gasoline to electricity for transportation. Overall, this improvement is well over due and will surely improve many qualities of life.
Sources:
“Energy.gov.” Smart Grid. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013.
<http://energy.gov/oe/technology-development/smart-grid>.
“History.” GoingSmartGrid RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2013.
http://goingsmartgrid.net/history-of-smart-grids/.
“Understanding the Benefits of the Smart Grid.” NETL. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar.
2013.<http://www.netl.doe.gov/smartgrid/referenceshelf/whitepapers/06.18.2010_Understan
ding20Smart%20Grid%20Benefits.pdf>.