http://inhabitat.com/as-the-summer-heats-up-utilities-go-into-over-drive/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Mon, 20 May 2013 06:38:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://inhabitat.com/as-the-summer-heats-up-utilities-go-into-over-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-347203 lazyreader Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:56:52 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=280419#comment-347203 Several utilities have attempted to create a “smart grid” program using public subsidies that would stick low income customers with higher power bills. But the plan was rejected by regulators as it “eroded important protections for low-income customers against shutoffs. The plans unfairly target low-income customers and circumvented laws made to help struggling consumers keep the lights on. benefits are unlikely to be realized without a difficult transition period during which the luster of the promised potential of the technology is diminished by the extreme cost overruns and by reduced reliability (due to software bugs and unanticipated problems). In Maryland BGE has been under investigation regarding all it's attempts at smart grid and smart meters. Customers are being left without power for as much as half the day all the while questioning sharp spikes in utility bills. Cities should invest in micro-generation and tri-generation where power and utility heat and cooling are provided close by without associated grid transmission losses and drastically reduce likelihood of overheating or brownouts. Several utilities have attempted to create a “smart grid” program using public subsidies that would stick low income customers with higher power bills. But the plan was rejected by regulators as it “eroded important protections for low-income customers against shutoffs. The plans unfairly target low-income customers and circumvented laws made to help struggling consumers keep the lights on. benefits are unlikely to be realized without a difficult transition period during which the luster of the promised potential of the technology is diminished by the extreme cost overruns and by reduced reliability (due to software bugs and unanticipated problems). In Maryland BGE has been under investigation regarding all it’s attempts at smart grid and smart meters. Customers are being left without power for as much as half the day all the while questioning sharp spikes in utility bills. Cities should invest in micro-generation and tri-generation where power and utility heat and cooling are provided close by without associated grid transmission losses and drastically reduce likelihood of overheating or brownouts.

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