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Smart Grid

“Really anyone who likes science or math, we’ve probably got a job for you,” said Justin Johnson, Senior Director of Engineering at Oncor, one of the country’s largest transmission and distribution utilities based in Dallas, Texas. Find out more about the exciting career opportunities smart grid technology is offering.

Modernizing the Grid: Getting More out of America’s Energy
A crew from Electric Power Board (EPB) of Chattanooga, TN, install an S&C IntelliRupter PulseCloser on its distribution network. EPB is installing more than 1,000 of the smart switches which can detect customer outages remotely, isolate damaged sections of the power lines and quickly restore power to customers. | Photo courtesy of EPB Chattanooga

As modernization of the nation’s electric grid moves forward, consumers and businesses are experiencing fewer outages, faster power restoration when outages do occur, more efficient operations, and cost savings. Here are some of the latest examples of how Smart Grid Investment Grants from the Energy Department are helping the electric grid to better serve the American people.

Protecting the Nation's Electric Grid from Cyber Threats
A smarter, modernized, and more secure grid will be pivotal to the United States’ world leadership in a clean energy future. | Photo courtesy of National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Electric Sector Cybersecurity Risk Maturity Model Pilot is a new White House initiative led by the Department of Energy to develop a model to help us identify how secure the electric grid is from cyber threats and to test that model with participating utilities.

Smart Grid Technology Gives Small Business New Light
Smart grid technology installations provided not only new work, but new customers for Narrows Electric owner Gary Miklethun, far l., and his team, from l. to r., Ken Dehart, Rodney Thomas and Dave Brosie.

Gary Miklethun, the owner of Narrows Electric, a small electrical contractor in Gig Harbor, Wash., that specializes in residential and small commercial projects, definitely felt it when the economy slowed down. But installing new smart grid technology in 500 homes not only gave his team new work, but new customers.

Lessons Learned: An Ongoing Dialogue About Smart Grid
EPB’s $226 million Smart Grid Investment Grant project, part of the Energy Department's Recovery Act funding has allowed upgrades on its distribution system and the installation of “smart” switches and sensor equipment for 164 distribution circuits as well as the deployment of approximately 1500 smart switches system-wide. Thanks to these smart grid technologies, EPB saved thousands of hours of outage time for their consumers. | DoE photo

Assistant Secretary Patricia Hoffman explains lessons learned from the recent Southeast peer-to-peer workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina. Many of the attendees represented awardees from the Energy Department's Recovery Act programs, and while they demonstrated success in their work, there was a consistent theme of community involvement as essential to that success.

Five Million Smart Meters Installed Nationwide is Just the Beginning of Smart Grid Progress
A 21st Century Grid includes increasing the overall efficiency of our generating, transmission and distribution system to facilitate the growth of renewable energy sources. | Energy Department Image

If Edison were transported in a time, he would be amazed by progress in lighting and sound recording, such as the LED light or the iPod. On the other hand, he would easily recognize much of the basic technology behind today’s power system.