Intelligent Utility -March/April 2009 - (Page 57) a new way of managing the distribution network and rethink how they conduct traditional functions like meter installation, maintenance and reading or work crew dispatch. For instance, does the new DMS require as much of an IT background as it does a power systems engineering background? rEgulatory coMPliancE and utility lEadErshiP The myriad of new regulatory compliance requirements will continue to challenge utility leadership as it touches finance, operations, customer care and engineering—virtually every aspect of a utility. And, if history is any indication, regulatory compliance needs will grow over time. Some recent regulatory developments—including the North America Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards and SAIFI, SAIDI, and CAIDI outage metrics— will impact the use of DMS technology. financEs Fill ’er up with electrons ©© VISION STRATEGY REALITY Pseg and others Pave the Way For evs by Mike breslin aftEr haVing bEEn burnEd by high gas PricEs, autoMaKErs and And, of course, all of this is set against a backdrop of the new economy. For example, during fourth quarter 2008 and into first quarter 2009, overall energy consumption was down in the United States, pushing utilities to readjust the capital and operations and maintenance budgets, as well as their priorities and expectations. With a new administration working on stimulating the economy, utilities stand to receive billions of dollars directly related to smart grid and intelligent utility initiatives. Much of these federal dollars will likely go toward smart metering, but this will all be for naught if there are not robust, reliable systems running the distribution networks. Enter DMS. Mike Smith is senior vice president of Sierra Energy Group, a division of Energy Central. consumers are primed to go electric, and the U.S. government seems ready to support the initiative to reinvigorate our economy. “We are really excited about the ultimate electrification of transportation, because in our view it’s the only way that the [United States] is going to get its greenhouse gas emissions under control,” said Kevin Quinn, vice president corporate planning at Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). eleCtriC vehiCles There is also a growing consensus that our the next three articles focus on national energy security is in jeopardy due electric vehicles (EVs). Mike breslin to dependence on imported oil, the global looks at visionary efforts by PsEg depletion of in-ground reserves and the and better Place. sara schwarz studies EV research at ohio state. expectation that gasoline prices will eventudavid Kaplan and leif Pearson wrap ally go up. it up with strategies for utilities Some utilities are looking forward to the considering EVs. prospect of new revenues while others see electric vehicles (EVs) as a more intelligent means of energy distribution and conservation. “It will be a significant revenue stream, but it’s going to take years to build just in terms of the penetration of vehicles,” said Quinn. “It will also take many years to ready the grid to efficiently distribute electrons to electric vehicles, and perhaps someday have batteries feed power back to the grid.” thE PartnErshiPs w w w.IntellIgentUtIlIt y.coM More than 40 utilities in the United States and Canada are partnering with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Society of Automotive Engineers, 57 http://www.intelligentutility.com
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