This page is dedicated to the current realities of implementing a smart grid where rate payers can monitor and control their own electrical energy use. The local utility continually boasts about their aggressive adoption and use of the latest technology in this field. This same mentality is mirrored in any number of other organizations. Because I am a rate payer as well as being retired from 40+ years working in a technical capacity in the utility industry, I feel I know a little something about this topic. The following data details my actual experience in trying to implement some level of the so-called smart grid technologies. It has proven to be a very frustrating experience.

I live in a rural part of western Colorado where electrical energy is provided by a local REA style COOP. Our family members live in two apartments plus a main house. Electrical energy is supplied to and through a fairly good size farm maintenance shop. Our electric service is a standard 200 A, 3-wire system supplied from a single meter. From the meter to the farthest distribution point measures approximately 300 feet. All structures have access to a simple, industry standard, 100 Mbit Cat-5 based wired Ethernet feed. Internet service is provided by a Motorola Canopy radio system that routinely achieves a fairly symmetrical 5 Mbit/sec data rate. The local utility COOP recently installed their so-called smart grid, smart meter system The actual meter used is pictured to the right. As reported by the COOP, their new meters employ the TWACS system for meter reads and other functions.

The picture to the right shows what I ended up with. I have little faith that appliances will have non-proprietary and fully standardized interfaces for communications and energy usage, at least in the short term. All major appliance power feeds go through the NEMA box on the right. This box is also only 5 feet from a 100 Mbit Ethernet switch. I would have little trouble controlling energy flow to each individual appliance and high speed communications via a simple, standardized, power line adapter device would also be easily accomplished. This configuration also provides for a simple single point ground system for everything inside the structure. There is an NEC mandated disconnect switch on the outside of the structure because there is no meter installed. Load centers installed on the outside of structures provide a difficult arrangement to control and/or communicate with individual appliances. I also suspect technology upgrades and/or expansion would be difficult and expensive to accomplish with the outside boxes. Cat-5e cabling to adjacent structures terminate in the same general area via cable protectors. All grounding is to a single point.

If I could find the appropriate devices at reasonable cost, I would start installation tomorrow. I would love to know the current cost and amount of power used. Daily to the hour accumulated power use and cost would be quite valuable and informative to have. The technology is available to accomplish all of the above if only someone would produce products appropriate for the need.

Related Topics Pages - - PURPA

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• ACLARA TWACS Technology
• Landis+Gyr
• Smart Grid Interoperability
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• Smart Meter Diagram
• IP Based Meters
• A Better System?