'Smart grid' would save energy, cut costs for US consumers
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - 14:20
in Physics & Chemistry
Momentum is building for a new energy "smart grid" that would overhaul the U.S.'s 100-year-old electrical power network. The impact would be huge from installation of a new web of electrical transmission lines to smart meters to control home appliances. The meters would offer consumers discounted rates if they use electricity at off-peak hours. A key objective of the $1.5 trillion dollar plan is "time of use" electricity pricing that would increase the cost to consumers of energy at peak mid-day hours and lower it at others, according to an article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine.