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Larsh Johnson shows you how a new technology can reduce the lengths of power outages and brownouts
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Welcome back on the hunt -- -- -- double Jonathan Hunt is out today if you are experiencing blackouts due to the extreme heat this summer listen up.
Now all of there is smarter technology that could help large Johnson head of technology at Siemens the Smart grid division is here to explain how.
Using a Smart grid can help reduce the link the power outages and -- this first of -- it is the large.
Higher self pleasure having me very good first tell us what exactly is -- -- -- Well it's actually a collection of technologies and I think we can maybe draw an analogy to our highway systems that we have.
Installed sensors send traffic meter lights and other things to try to help us manage the flow on this those particular days when it's hot out for example -- -- your commission on what's a lot like a rush hour situation.
And so the Smart grid we're not only able to understand what those power flows are -- were also able to advise consumers when.
When maybe it's a little bit better to try to use -- a different time.
And that helps us avoid blackouts in when the blackouts do happen we can actually find the better with the same kind of sensing and and to our communications technologies.
Does that mean perhaps shorter blackouts if you will.
In brownouts where he can pinpoint with -- Any better.
That exactly what what what we can do today is is wait for customers to phone in and and tell us where the power's out based on their phone calls and then have -- and we'll drive around looking for the outages.
Mobile -- -- Smart grid is to actually have that I managed would isolated and and located quite quickly automatically.
Be able to switch power automatically around that particular location and then -- accrue directly to that location to fix the problem.
So in doing so we have -- many more customers back online in a matter of moments with the restoration activity more directed and occurring much front much much faster.
Well I'm sure the folks who experienced that blackouts in.
On August 14 2003 they'd -- would love to have this sort of help today.
Because that's like god as you probably well know infected a large portion of the midwest the north -- as well as Ontario Canada.
And nobody wants to do is loaded with this at all and you mentioned how all this Smart grid which would affect consumers.
The question is would be in in terms of telling them you know how to sort of that back up off of the energy that they're using that can it save money.
Large.
Well that's that's the idea behind behind the programs that are that are being deployed right now with Smart grid technologies that are being installed allow.
The consumer to actually understand how they're using their power given the information to manage their day to day use and then all those days when it's -- particularly.
Hot or there's a particularly high load on the system -- or crisis commission the utility can actually communicate with the customer through a text or email or even broadcast.
And let them know that today is a particularly hot day -- -- should try to conserve power.
And with the Smart monitoring devices out there the cholesterol actually get a rebate -- or based their credit for not -- not using power during those particular times.
And they'll save money doing so.
Well this sounds great but of course everybody what did this is going to be the question popping up which is.
It's investing in this market -- gonna cost a lot of money.
How much money we're talking about how only justify -- it -- who pays forty can we afford.
Not simple it's an invest in this Smart grid.
Well I think your last point is probably the most important -- there and I think you know there's there's always a good challenge investing in in economic times like we have now.
But I think what we see now is is that good infrastructure that has been an aging for some time.
It's not being used as efficiently as it -- it could be an -- and the investment and Smart grid is gonna help us all use power more efficiently help the utilities deliver more effectively.
And are resulting in -- -- of -- investment new power plants and to and new transmission lines at the same time be able to.
Support some of the new and and are more distributed.
Energy sources and renewable energy sources in particular.
Now of course it depends on how widespread.
Did the Smart -- would be and where they would be in place that could begin to give us a ballpark idea how much.
This could possibly caused.
Oh I'd I'd I'd be.
Guessing at the total cost across the country in fact.
These programs have been adopted by every State's.
And there's been national energy policy that has been supportive of Smart grid technologies for a few years now.
But even so I think the investments that are that are going on are are taking a pace that I think is prudent to to make sure that the costs are or are.
Justified in that the benefits or are being -- so today we only have about 25%.
Of the US is actually seen the deployment of Smart grid technology.
-- about 36 million electric customers.
But we do see that happening over the next four or five years and that being much more completely deployed and I think the benefits are starting to be -- -- where those existing Smart grids -- where they incorporate -- country.
Well certainly California's been one of the areas Texas has been another.
Certain there is in the midwest and Wisconsin for example and other other locations.
Here it here on the east have have begun sick more significant deployments as well.
You know this is an Internet interactive show larger what -- read a comment from Randy -- -- say that I think utility monopolies.
Should have to buy -- extra energy produced by residential solar panels.
Currently in so California they won't buy back the extra energy green energy energy is getting -- and then can you read this says.
Now we will be able to tell you when to shut up -- air conditioner and if you don't we will taxi.
I don't know that the -- of that event.
Well I think I think there's a lot of there's a lot of perspectives on on this but I think in the end the the there -- there is a -- -- A benefit to society if we can promote more renewable technologies I think what's happening today there.
What they call net meter and rules or fear and terrorists -- -- policies the utilities are putting in place along with the state -- -- regulators who who who just who actually are required to do this kind of thing.
And the regulators have been encouraging the use of net meter -- and -- -- -- to -- solar panel owners for the power that they use it's an excess of what they need.
And so those programs actually are in place today.
There are a number of different ways that consumers can participate in peak load reduction programs including having -- thermostat part of of a program such as was mentioned.
But for the most part these are voluntary programs and customers ought to be using the information they have about their power consumption -- -- -- -- -- an investment in solar is running.
-- that just that it helps them with their their own bills every at a pageant.
Absolutely so I think the base line here is that you can say look if I have more information about how I use my power.
I will use it more effectively and maybe use less but I could not manage my own bill.
And I may look at that information and say you know what I can cut my -- during those critical peak times and save some money I'll let them control my thermostat I don't I don't have a problem about.
And so these are the kind of things don't embody what she's deal with large.
-- and I let go up.
Where did you -- value that you may not.
-- -- because I was I was gonna say I think I think you know that's that's where I think individuals making choices here in aggregate make a big difference so small choices by a lot of individuals make a big difference and this is what we're really after.
Large Johnson -- of technology -- Smart -- division thank you very much very interesting story.
We'll see you next time.
Thanks.
