[sllug-members]: OT: Smart Electric Power Grid needs Open Standards

[ehrbar]

Thank you for the informative and relevant link regarding radio
interference problems of Broadband over Power Lines.  This is
certainly an issue which we need to be aware of.


In yesterday's meeting of the Renewable Energy Initiative Focus Group
the representatives from Rocky Mountain Power mentioned that they are
introducing the Itron CENTRON(R) meters for AMR (automated meter
reading).  Itron does follow open standards, see

http://www.itron.com/pages/news_press_individual.asp?id=itr_015749.xml

The meters do not transmit the information through the power grid but
use radio waves, but apparently Itron is developing the ability to
use power line carrier (PLC) technology to read these meters, see

http://www.cannontech.com/news/pressreleases/021006.asp

My question is now: do these meters have the capabilities needed for
distributed power generation and vehicle to grid applications?  I
compared Itron meters with a competitor's product, namely Elster

http://www.elsterelectricity.com/

and found the following:

(1) Elster has the ability to remotely turn off the power, which Itron
does not seem to have.  Assume you are in a neighborhood with lots of
solar panels on the roofs, and the power line needs maintenance.
Doesn't the utility need the ability to turn off all meters so that
the maintenance personnel is not electrocuted by electricity coming
from a neighborhood solar panel?

(2) Elster can be programmed remotely, while Itron meters apparently
have to be programmed by manually plugging in alternate electronics.

(3) Elster meters can serve as repeaters for a mesh network,
while Itron meters do not have this capability.

(4) Elster advertises that the customer has access to current consumption
and rates, again something which Itron does not seem to offer.

(5) On the other hand, I did not see Elster advertising that they
are using open standards.


My main concern is whether Itron meters lock Utah Power into an
infrastructure which gives them the cost savings of AMR but is not
optimal for distributed energy generation and storage.  Itron stresses
that they are flexible and open to upgrade paths, so this concern may
be unjustified.  But as energy activists we cannot afford to naively
assume the best.  Any help on-list or off-list would be greatly
appreciated.


Here is an article from the Toronto Star warning against infrastructure
which is not future-proof enough:

http://www.thestar.com/article/231510

BTW, I have started a mailing list about energy issues at

http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/energy

Everyone is invited.  I will also teach a class about energy policies,
see

http://gaia.econ.utah.edu/planning/seminar/syllabus/

This class was put on the books in the last minute,
and I would appreciate you advertising it to students
you are on contact with.


Hans G. Ehrbar   http://www.econ.utah.edu/~ehrbar ehrbar at economics.utah.edu
Economics Department, University of Utah     (801) 581 7797 (my office)
1645 Campus Center Dr., Rm 308               (801) 581 7481 (econ office)
Salt Lake City    UT 84112-9300              (801) 585 5649 (FAX)