Customer Enablement
Enabling the customer represents an important aspect of developing the New York State smart grid. Providing the customer with adequate and timely information and options will encourage them to make informed decisions. The options will come in the form of pricing that more closely reflects the cost to deliver energy (Demand Response, time of day, variable), simple, interoperable equipment (AMI, smart devices, DG, storage, PHEV) and network automation to manage their energy costs. These decisions will benefit customers and be aligned with state energy policy goals. In essence, the customer becomes an active participant
within the grid instead of being a passive user of electric services.
Grid Enhancements
The grid connects the customer to generation, transmission and distribution in
the electric power system. As the aging infrastructure is upgraded, it will provide significant opportunities to improve cost and reliability through advanced sensors and controls (e.g., PMU) designed to limit outages (self-healing, islanding), linked by integrated communications networks and managed by intelligent advanced systems and operations. As grid enhancements provide a reliable supply of electricity at reasonable costs, they elevate security risks (cyber and physical)
and the importance of managing them. Standards that are being developed by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with support from the GridWise Architecture Council will enable the safe and efficient operation of
the smart grid.
Diverse Supply Integration
The energy supply portfolio will continue to evolve and several newer types of generation (wind, solar) tend to be intermittent and less predictable. Incorporation of renewable energy sources into the electric power grid will require a combination of solutions including storage, demand response, transient mitigation and advanced analytics. This integration will facilitate a more timely achievement of renewable portfolio standards.
