The smart grid concept is transforming- how the United States
will produce, deliver and manage electric power to factories,
schools, offices and homes. A continental end-to-end rebuild may
be years away, but its development is now. Learning what a smart
grid is and how to meet installation, maintenance and expansion
needs is a sure way for electrical contractors (ECs) to get into
the game. “This is an extremely dynamic time for smart grid
development,” said Chris Irwin, program analyst, U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability. “It’s clear our current grid system over the last
100 years is not necessarily ready for the next 100. As we grow
as a nation and economy, the current grid will not produce at
the same rate of our growth. We need to handle it in a much more
intelligent way.” Defining smart grid and the EC’s role A smart
grid comprises a number of elements. Each requires a level of
research and development, policy-making and, -ultimately,
customer buy-in. Why