You are absolutely right. Not many were focused on 'smart utilization' or 'safety' when it comes to 'smart grid'. Perhaps you can throw your ideas and try to explore them constructively!

Having been in power field in early 1990s when "power system economics" appeared, we may start by considering "power system microeconomics" and the cost/benefit of there very expensive add-ons. Not many touch-screen controlled smart homes around yet?

The question highlights one 'salient issue; related to smart grid operation. Smart Grid goal is to manage supply - demand gap through DG + PHEV + EE + DSM. However, DSM through Smart Metering & Energy Management should not violate 'safety'. There are fools in organizations who were resorting 'turning off' practice to conserve energy blindly jeopardizing safety.

There is need to 'simulate smart grid environment' for deregulated & regulated electricity market with static and dynamic electricity pricing with and without RE.

Good point, i think this is where smart grid comes in. If fully implemented touches all these aspects control, safety, efficiency at generation and utilization, reliability, economics etc. Question is how and when we will get there?

There will be no new Tesla-like AC revolution unless we can integrate energy "markets" with financial markets - a new epoch of uber-regulation may represent a great catalyst. Somebody please try explaining why do we need investment banks involved in power trading when micro-grids can be more sociallybeneficial and sustainable? A bold new field experiments are required: let each socket make a load-shedding yet "smart" "bid" !

DATE: 30-OCT-12

THIS NEW TRENDS ON POWER USAGE IS INDEED HELPFULL AND ECONOMICAL NOWADAYS AS USERS OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY COULD IN EFFECT CONTROL AND MONITOR IT'S USAGE AND THERBY CUT THE MONTHLY BILLS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE WAYS HOW THE PROVIDERS OF THIS NEW TECHNOLGY AND INNOVATION SELL OR IMPLEMENT IT TO THE USERS. ONE IS BY PRE-PAID SCHEME JUST LIKE BUYING A LOAD TO YOUR CELLPHONE AND UTILITIY COMPANIES INSTALL A MODEM CONTROLER ON YOUR METER OR PANELBOARD TO CONTROL YOUR USAGE EITHER BY DELIBERATE SHUTTING THE CKT. BKR. OFF OF A PARTICULAR CIRCUIT LOAD WHEN NOBODY IS USING THIS LOAD AND OT TIME OF USE SCHEME WHEN YOU ARE BILLED ONLY ON THE ACTUAL USE OF ELECTRICITY AND AGAIN WHEN THE COST OF ELECTRICITY IS CHEAPER AT CERTAIN TIME OF THE DAY THAT YOU ARE BILLED THE COST OF ELECTRICITY AT THAT SAME INSTANT OF TIME OF USAGE. THE RESULT EITHER WAYS ARE INDEED COST REDUCTION SO THAT THESE NEW TRENDS WILL BECOME ATTRACTIVE AND POPULAR WITH THE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

COMMENTED BY: FMSJr.

Jemimah, when the things you mentioned were implemented across grid you will arrive at smart grid. Thus, you know the answer when these things will be implemented in your own country!

Chilukuri, its going to be a long way to get there. thanks for the comment

The things mentioned here are absolutely essential for raising the current limits on integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. I think as concerns about climate change continue to build, a growing desire for more sustainable energy sources will drive smart grid development. I can't wait.

Matt, you are right, but it will take long time as not many countries except US & EU are not even doing an work, except fooling around with iPhone and iPAD and wasting time, resources and energy!

you can read my IEEE panel paper below. That was already old....

J. Lin, “Issues and Challenges in Smart-Grid Market Operation and Simulation,” IEEE PES General Meeting: Panel on “Agent-Based Modeling of Smart-Grid Market Operations,” Detroit, MI, Jul 24-29, 2011