Lessons From a Failing Smart Grid

When I was working at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (~2002), there was considerable interest in monitoring grid loading via a simple frequency meter. If the grid is maxed out, there will be dips below 60 Hz. During such times, noncritical appliances could be shut off. This distributed method does not necessarily require a smart grid, but there might be some tricks needed to prevent the simultaneous restart of multitudes of appliances.

I wouldn't want the grid to have control of my appliances, but I would like to be aware of and respond at my choosing to real-time price fluctuations. If the meter is smart enough to give this information to me, great--but not so great if it cedes control to the utility.

From the article.....

It's hard to say what caused the failure....For example, it says, XCel failed to perform a simple cost-benefit analysis before beginning the initiative

Blatantly obvious lesson number one - self explanatory

Meanwhile, project costs ballooned from $15 million to $42 million (not counting operation and maintenance costs) thanks to unforeseen obstacles with permits, software, tree trimming, and rock drilled through to install fiber optic line,

Blatantly obvious lesson number two - Perform a detailed analysis of actual and estimated costs before starting, not just rush/guess/sugar-coat for financial backing.

etc.

Know your market and take it slow and one step at a time (especially when new concepts that directly effect people are concerned). People resist change after all (and it doesn't help if a company doesn't even know if they will benefit financially from the change, which is one of the primary reasons for implementing a smart grid).

Jack - Actually involved in pilot program Power distribution Smart grid deployment.

The expectations people have of the 'smart grid' and reality of what it can deliver are very far apart in most cases.

The roll outs in TX & CA are effectively installing TOU meters as far as I can see. The problems we see in the news seem to be from some very loud unsatisfied customers who either 1) don't like anything different or 2) have no idea what they are talking about.

The error rate and failure rates of the new meters seem to be very small but the utilities have totally mishandled the public relations side. The customers claiming very much higher bills seem to never post anything but words - never any bills or actual amounts.

Smart grid compatible appliances are still in the pipeline but most will not care. Most people prefer to plug something in and never worry about it. They do not want a control panel they have to diddle with from time to time.

I see it as a standard problem of the technology for the most part works and can be used however like far to many past examples of failed tech innovations it all comes down to the real on going problems caused by poor management decisions and short sighted failings brought about by those who where supposed to know what they where doing with this new technology.

The tech works but the management that goes behind its correct implementation and usage clearly does not.

In years gone by the maximum demand meters at the suburban substations were read and recorded on a regular basis by the local supply authority and the results collated to direct where capital expenditure went. Then came the cost cutting to satisfy the insatiable demand to hand over cash to the politicians. With the cost cutting there was no one available to read the meters so the planning failed due to lack of data. The result as they say is history.

I'm interested in what other Electrical professionals have seen in their local areas.

It seems then that the smart grid has largely been foisted on the unsuspecting public to make up for what isn't being done ( a bit like more police powers when the existing laws aren't enforced).

A few years ago when I installed a heat pump hot water system I also installed a new electronic dual rate meter. I utilize the tarriff 11 (continuous tarriff) and tarriff 33 (a controlled tarriff) and it seems there is also provision for time of use metering via another output terminal. While this is all new and flash with a serial port etc (which doesn't get used), it really only presents what we always had in a convenient compact package (which is why I paid the extra to buy it from the Supply Authority, as it saved me a lot of extra work). The "Zelleweger" ripple control relays that have been around for at least 50 years has been able to assist with load control in the same way.

All that has changed is the administrative regulation allowing more and different devices to be connected to controlled tarriff ie. greater control of load. What has always been an issue with controlled tarriffs, is abuse of the ability to switch off load by switching it off for longer than the contract, especially if there happens to be a strike on.

So having explained all that, what do we really expect to gain as consumers from the "Smart Grid".

The stuff in the media is pure rubbish from journalists and others who just don't have a clue.

Going by the Boulder Co. experience, I'd say traditional data gathering and investment would provide a much greater level of Grid security and efficiency at significantly less cost and disruption than any "Smart" option. For the owners of the distribution system the attractions of the "SG" are being able to access funds from some other source for "smart" technology and not spend their usual reinvestment funds. The thing to remember is these entities are often, in today's world, ruled by accountants etc who don't actually know how things work.

A useful source of load planning data that seems to be ignored at least locally is the records of the electrical goods retailers. The amount of extra load to be connected each month (especially things like airconditioners) can be closely monitored by accessing sales records.

Profit taking instead of investment has been the destroyer of electrical grids world wide (from everything I've been able to access anyway). It is not a technology issue, the distribution technology remains the same, the problem is a management issue.