The smart grid is a fun name for the modernized electricity grid that will enable the United States’ electricity distribution infrastructure to meet the needs of the 21st century. The electricity grid is comprised of millions of miles of power lines, power plants, renewable energy farms, transformers, and more; it’s ultimately what allows you to turn your lights on or recharge your cell phone.
The modernized grid is considered “smart” because it adds a computer element that allows for two-way communication. Instead of electricity being sent out to homes and a meter reader coming by once a month to check on how much each house is using, the smart grid will allow for real-time communication back to distribution facilities about how much energy is being used where and when.
There are several major benefits to this huge project:
- Smart meters – customers can manage their electricity bills better with new insight into how much electricity they are using on a more regular basis.
- More efficient transmission of electricity – will help prevent future brownouts and blackouts.
- Real time recovery – if a power line goes down, the utility will know immediately and will be able to dispatch a crew to the exact location of the downed line. Plus, they can reroute power around the damaged equipment to minimize public inconvenience.
- Better integration of renewable energy sources into the electricity grid.
The Department of Energy has developed an entire site to introduce the public to the smart grid. Visit it here.
