Ad Opportunity: Electric Utilities Promoting Smart Grids

 

Smart grids have been touted as a key component in meeting the national goals to reduce energy consumption and our carbon footprint on the environment. Utility companies in places like Boulder, CO and Miami, FL have already deployed these systems.  In a smart grid system, a two way communication system exists between utilities and customers.  The utility notifies customers regularly of use levels and varying costs for use at specific times of day. Customers can then adjust their rates of electricity consumption to lower cost time periods. For example, consumers can program their dishwashers to run at midnight. But for these systems to work, homes must be equipped with smart meters and other technology. While the federal government has funded initiatives for utilities to increase smart grid programs, many consumers remain unaware of  or confused about the benefits of the programs.

According to a recent Harris Poll over 2/3′s of consumers say that knowing how much power they use would help them cut consumption. Here are consumer responses on the topic of technology and energy consumption.

• Have you heard of Smart Grid?  Yes-32% No-68%
• Have you heard of Smart Meters? Yes-26% No- 63% Not sure 9%
• Smart Grid will increase the cost of electricity: Agree/Strongly Agree 60%
• Smart Grid will increase use of renewable electricity sources Agree/Strongly Agree: 51%
• Smart Grid will increase reliability of electricity Agree/Strongly Agree: 43%

Smart Grid rollout programs are taking place throughout the nation. As these systems deploy, utilities will be advertising availability and launching educational programs to inform consumers about this exciting new technology. Contact local utilities in your region to determine their timetable for their Smart Grid and Smart Meters program marketing needs.

[Sources: Katzman, Lela. The Smart Grid Coming of Age. Electric Power Research Institute Journal. Fall 2009. Web. 11 March 2010; Pasquel. Tish. Consumers Have Little Awareness of Smart Grid and Smart Meters. Harris Poll. 25 February 2010. Web. 11 March 2010]