FCC Looks to Oversee Smart Grid Industry

Saturday, 23 January 2010 10:07

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On March 17, the United States’ Federal Communications Commission will present recommendations to Congress on how to bring broadband to the smart grid through the National Broadband Plan. The recommendations will include suggestions on promoting open standards and commercial networks, how to use policies to encourage utilities to provide their customers with real-time open access to energy data and ways to use federal spectrum bands for utilities’ smart grid deployments.

Nick Sinai, the FCC’s new Energy and Environmental Director, said that the FCC “will look at how to remove impediments and disincentives to using commercial networks.” He also noted that the FCC is “exploring ways to encourage private networks built by utilities to operate in the same band, in order to drive down costs, and to drive open, non-proprietary standards.” The FCC may work with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to look at available federal spectrum bands.

Utility trade associations and energy providers have been vocal in their desire for dedicated wireless spectrum because as utilities roll out smart grid services, they will need more network bandwidth.  Dedicated spectrum is much less likely to receive interference. And if interference is experienced, dedicated spectrum has processes to correct it.

Sinai was bullish on providing consumers access real-time energy data, saying real-time feedback in standard digital formats allows companies to innovate new products and services. “We must aspire for policies that facilitate the ferocious competition that drives innovation,” he says.

Sinai noted that the FCC is reviewing how best encourage utilities to provide real-time information from smart meters sooner rather than later. One possibility is for the FCC to work with the government by rewarding states and utilities with strong data access policies in its grants and loan programs. National energy data accessibility legislation also remains an option.

Angus Doyle CEO at Smartmeters.com welcomes Nick Sinai's forward thinking, whereby allowing consumers access to real-time energy data and encouraging innovation that could revolutionise the way in which we all consume energy.  Doyle said "The world is at the cusp of a technological revolution, the convergence of IT, Energy and Communications will bring information and innovation only dreamed of in the minds of science fiction writers. To ignore the need for consumers to be a part of this revolution would have been the greatest missed opportunity of our time, thankfully forward thinking individuals are realising the need to engage and involve the customer.  The smart meter is the foundation, the technology needs to be realised now to avoid costly mistakes later."