Image from flickr.com
While the utility companies are in the process of installing smart-meters at residencies and in business facilities, what are consumers’ concepts and attitudes toward the smart grid?
Consumers are the utilities ratepayers. To truly understand their needs, energy providers are moving from their traditional modus operandi to handling the broad deployment of smart grid technologies by focusing on educating the ratepayer in how smart meters will save energy (i.e. money), energy efficiency, metering data security, and the impact on the environment
At ConnectivityWeek Conference in Santa Clara, CA this week, EcoAlign, a strategic marketing agency focused on energy and the environment, and Clasma Events, Inc., the conference organizer, shared the results of a consumers’ survey comprised of 1,000 online interviews.
What do consumers think of a smart grid? Do they understand what it means? How do they expect to benefit from it? What are their concerns? How should the smart grid information be communicated to them?
The survey entitled, “Separating Smart Grid from Smart Meters” found that approximately 70% of Americans are not familiar with the term “smart grid.” However, once the phrase was defined to the consumers, the EcoPinion survey found strong levels of acceptance and support of the smart grid deployment. 55% of respondents believe that the smart grid will be of significant benefit to them. One half found the ability to review their-own energy consumption to be extremely or very appealing. ‘Smart meters’ were defined as advanced energy metering devices with real-time two-way communication capabilities, which share energy utilization between consumers and energy providers. 
The survey also found that most consumers like the idea of a smart grid and expect it to lower their energy costs, however the report pointed out several critical challenges:
• Reliability - meet consumer expectations to cut energy consumption
• Big picture - move beyond the commodity (smart metering) to a greater value proposition (smart grid) and expand functionality into energy efficiency.
• Flexibility – incorporate consumers’ personal preferences and needs.
Overall, the survey found that consumers are optimistic about the benefits of the smart grid. Most view the smart grid as advanced metering which provides means to lower and manage their rising energy bills. Respondents said they will use the smart grid capabilities, analyze their utility bills, and prefer receiving information through e-mail. Two-thirds expressed concerns with privacy issues and believe that only the customer should have access to, and control of, his/her detailed energy usage data.
A copy of the full EcoPinion report is available at EcoAlign’s website at www.ecoalign.com/node/359. The report is free and requires registration online.
The smart grid represents policy, information technology and communications (ICT), and utilities, but also the electricity value chain. Interconnecting solutions in homes, businesses, manufacturing, and industry are coming to market with new applications, products and services, and new ways to provide energy reliably and safely due to improved control of the grid itself. The smart grid presents many career opportunities and transition options for already skilled workforce. To check more about the future of the smart grid, check ConnectivityWeek blog.
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* Smart meter image from commons.wikipedia.com
Tags: smart grid careers, smart grid consumers, advanced metering, smart meters
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