Smart Grids have to deliver, otherwise...
December 16, 2011
Utilities in the US state of Illinois will have to prove their smart grid can do what it promises.
The state’s two big utilities are rolling out smart grids at the cost of $3.2 billion. The state regulator has agreed that the utilities can add about $3 per month to customers’ bills.
To justify it, however, the utilities will have to reduce outages by 20%, energy theft by 50% and inactive meters (those delivering power to unoccupied homes) by 90%. If they fail to do so penalties will apply.
