How Information Communication Technology Is Used in the Electrical Field

The U.S. electrical power industry uses information technology to conserve power.

The electrical power industry is beginning to use information technology to help deliver power more efficiently and give consumers information about their electricity use to help them conserve power. The technology is called "smart grid."

Background

The traditional electrical power network in the U.S. includes more than 3,200 electrical utilities which own and operate the transmission lines delivering power to homes and businesses. Historically, there has been little use of information technology to help individuals and businesses conserve, but as of 2011, efforts were underway to use advanced IT systems to better monitor electrical power usage.

Smart Grid

The Smart Grid concept is based on information sharing between the utility companies and the business and consumer locations, which would be equipped with specially equipped meters which, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, can record customers' consumption of electricity and communicate daily over a communication network to a central collection point managed by the power utilities.

Benefits

The Smart Grid gives consumers real-time pricing information, so that when the power system is reaching peak demand, and electricity prices are highest, they can better conserve their energy use. Also, power utilities can more quickly locate electrical power failures and restore power to users.

References

• Cleveland.com: Ohio power utilities test futuristic technologies; John Funk; April 2010.
• Columbia Missourian: Electric power industry buzzing over 'smart grid' technology; H. Josef Herbert; April 2009.
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: Assessment of Demand Response & Advanced Metering; December 2008.