An interesting debate in energy circles in the west: should we waste time educating customers on smart grid? Does the customer (the bill payer) define the profile of the consumers (rest in the household included)? How equipped are we to deal with change of technology?
For instance, with smart grid, generation is changing from steady state fossil fuels to intermittent clean renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Transmission of high voltage electricity is getting a communications makeover to provide realtime situational awareness. Distribution of low voltage electricity to residential and commercial customers is experiencing the most change and the old electricity supply chain is evolving into a new value chain that puts an emphasis on consumers who begin to become producers as well.
For utilities this new value chain means a shift in perspective from meters and ratepayers to customers and consumers. If a utility is targeting all its communications and outreach to the customers who pay the bills, they are missing other consumers in those buildings.
These are decidedly times when utilities need to get a step ahead in smartness if the purpose of going smart is to work. Not only will technology change, but alongwith it will change the various relationships between providers and users. The latter may be the deciding factor in the success of a new order.
For instance, with smart grid, generation is changing from steady state fossil fuels to intermittent clean renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Transmission of high voltage electricity is getting a communications makeover to provide realtime situational awareness. Distribution of low voltage electricity to residential and commercial customers is experiencing the most change and the old electricity supply chain is evolving into a new value chain that puts an emphasis on consumers who begin to become producers as well.
For utilities this new value chain means a shift in perspective from meters and ratepayers to customers and consumers. If a utility is targeting all its communications and outreach to the customers who pay the bills, they are missing other consumers in those buildings.
These are decidedly times when utilities need to get a step ahead in smartness if the purpose of going smart is to work. Not only will technology change, but alongwith it will change the various relationships between providers and users. The latter may be the deciding factor in the success of a new order.
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