What the Smart Grid Means to You

November Message from Randall Pugh
President/CEO

Today, automated coffeemakers brew a perfect cup of coffee at a desired time each day. Your car seats may even automatically adjust when you place your keys in the ignition. These and hundreds of other conveniences are considered “smart technology.” You’ve probably heard mention of the Smart Grid in reference to our nation’s electric grid, but just what does that mean and how could it affect you?

The U.S. power grid began more than 100 years ago, and is the largest interconnected machine on Earth, according to the Department of Energy. It consists of more than 9,200 electric generating units with more than 1,000,000 megawatts of generating capacity connected to more than 300,000 miles of transmission lines. That’s the equivalent to powering 200 million homes.

All Georgians are connected by the same statewide electric grid. The state’s population is expected to grow by 17 percent this decade, and upgrades to the Northeast Georgia grid are necessary to keep pace with demand. Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC), a not-for-profit cooperative that transmits electricity from power suppliers to 39 member-owned EMCs throughout the state, continually upgrades its facilities to ensure a robust statewide electric grid that is capable of meeting Georgia’s ever-increasing energy demand.

The grid’s connectivity also provides opportunities for both utilities and consumers. Smart Grid technology may allow two-way communication, helping utilities continue improving the power grid’s reliability and ultimately giving consumers more control over their energy usage and needs.

Although many of the Smart Grid provisions are years away from reality, some elements of a Smarter Grid are in place today. For years, Jackson EMC has invested in innovative technologies that are laying the groundwork for a more robust and reliable Smart Grid in the future. We’ve participated in national research development programs, strategically placed substations, upgraded power lines and more in preparation for future Smart Grid technology. One significant part is Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) implementation. Replacing older meters with digital technology allows us to read your meter remotely, detect problems on our electric lines before you notice them and protect the environment and save gas by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

As Smart Grid technology develops, in the future you may be able to monitor your hourly or real-time energy usage. Your smart meter may even allow you to vary your demand and usage in response to peak prices by shifting usage to a lower cost period or reducing consumption overall.

It’s projected that AMI will enable consumer-friendly efficiency concepts such as “Prices to Devices,” in which price signals are relayed to “smart” home controller devices on your home’s major energy-users, such as the heating and cooling system; washers and dryers; and refrigerators. The devices then process the information based on your input. Similar to the control over when your automated coffeemaker brews, you’ll manage your home’s energy consumption, even down to the appliances.

Randall Pugh
President/CEO.