Effectively Transforming Our Electric Delivery System to a Smart Grid
Opening Statement By Chairman Brian Baird
Good morning and welcome to today’s hearing on “Effectively Transforming Our Electric Delivery System to a Smart Grid.”
I would like to welcome our expert panelists who will discuss both the role of the federal government and industry stakeholders in transforming our power grid.
Even today with tremendous advancements in technology, electrification is considered the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century. However, parts of this infrastructure are nearly a century old, and our increased reliance on electrical power is straining this systems’ capacity.
In the past nine years, we have experienced three big blackouts. It is estimated that the blackout of 2003 resulted in a $6 billion economic loss to the region. In order to improve efficiency of power delivery and incorporate renewable energy technologies we need to modernize our grid infrastructure.
A smart grid is a sophisticated, two-way communication system for managing our electric infrastructure. It will operate more efficiently and reliably and empower consumers to more actively engage in energy usage decisions. The technology to encourage their participation in these decisions will be at their fingertips.
Accurate and timely price signals will help consumers reduce energy consumption during peak demand when prices are highest. This shaving of the peak load, in turn, offers power plant operators the opportunity to avoid investment costs for new generation capacity. In addition, utilities will be better-equipped to manage their systems and integrate energy from renewable sources, plug-in-electric vehicles, and other energy storage technologies.
Also, there is growing recognition that a smart electric grid is extremely important for responding to environmental problems such as ocean acidification and lethal over-heating of the planet. More efficient electricity production and increased use of renewable energy resources will help to set us on a course to address these environmental challenges.
Again, I would like to thank the witnesses for their participation today, and I look forward to your testimony.
Witnesses
Panel
1 - Dr. George W. Arnold, Eng.Sc.D
National Coordinator for Smart Grid Interoperability National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
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3 - Ms. Patricia Hoffman
Acting Assistant Secretary Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity Del
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4 - Ms. Suedeen G. Kelly
Commissioner Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
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2 - Mr. Paul De Martini
Vice President of Advanced Technology Southern California Edison Southern California Edison
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6 - Mr. Michael A Stoessl
Group President Cooper Power Systems - Div HQ Cooper Power Systems - Div HQ
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5 - Mr. Jeff Ross
Executive Vice President Gridpoint Gridpoint
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