Smart grid is a concept that has been gaining traction and attention in the field of electric utilities. Now, the University of Vermont is announcing a new multi-disciplinary program in smart grid.
Vermont Law School is studying the roll-out of smart grid technology by Central Vermont
Public Service and six other utilities around the country. The school says the adoption of the technology by the
state’s largest electric utility is going well.
Smart meter technology allows customers to save electricity, and gives utilities the ability to respond quickly to power outages. But the wireless meters have also raised health and privacy concerns, and now voters in several southern Vermont towns will get a chance to weigh in at next month’s town meetings.
Vermont’s top health officer is telling lawmakers not to be
overly worried about a form of radiation emitted by the wireless smart meters
some Vermont utilities want to install in customers’ homes and
businesses.
The Vermont company that runs much of the electric distribution
system in the state is joining with IBM to build a fiber optic control system designed to make the system more
efficient and reliable.
The
technology promises greater efficiency because consumers and utilities
can collect information on how much power a household is using at
certain times of day, but some say it violates privacy rights.
Three Vermont utilities have finalized an agreement to install
"smart grid" electric technology and to expand broadband computer service. Green
Mountain Power, Central Vermont Public Service and Vermont Telephone will work
together.
Voters
in Burlington are in favor of a $13.5 million bond
that will allow the city’s electric department to upgrade the system and
implement a smart-grid.