The millions of smart meters and grid sensors in operation across North America are providing a flood of information that utilities are still struggling to process. But changes in operations are already emerging, and potential uses grow by the day.
Rebecca Smith looks at how utilities are filtering the flood of information inundating them from the millions of meters, sensors and smart controllers installed over the last decade. "As utilities get their arms around the data, the implications for consumers could be significant," she says. The data is already speeding up repair processes, alerting customers to abnormal electricity use, and tipping off utilities to electricity theft.
"The power industry 'is where the retail industry was 25 years ago, when it was just beginning to use bar codes and scanners,' says Ken Seiden, director of energy for Navigant Consulting Inc. Retailers initially saw scanners as a way to trim labor costs, but soon found the devices helped them sharpen inventories and provided new insights into consumer preferences. Mr. Seiden believes utilities will learn a great deal more about their customers as well, thanks to the meters."
FULL STORY: Utilities Try to Learn From Smart Meters
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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