Smart Grid, Smart Customer

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Identify the three sectors of the electric power industry

Generation
Transmission
Distribution

Define traditional and renewable generation sources and the basic advantages & disadvantages of each.

Explain the flow of electricity from the power generation source to the customer.

Explain what the smart grid is.

Explain transmission and distribution system limitations in regards to power flow.

Explain the basic differences between today's grid and what the improved evolving smart grid will look like:

Two-way communication among utilities, grid operators, customers and grid components/sensors inside and outside of homes and businesses.
Time response via outages.
Automatic power rerouting when possible.
Increased efficiencies around line loss and generation loss with digital integration of renewable generation sources.
Smart meter use and time-of-day pricing.
Home and business energy monitors, and sleep modes through smart appliances, equipment, and thermostats.
Reduction of peaks and valleys in overall system power demand.
Conservation of energy, decrease in environmental impact and passed-on cost savings to customers.

Discuss the importance of educating stakeholders about the energy industry in general, safety, conservation, and the evolution of the smart grid, through utility call centers, websites and the media.

Discuss misconceptions associated with smart grid technology.

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