What Is A Smart Grid?
A Smart Grid is defined as using digital information and controls technology to improve the reliability, security, and efficiency of the electric grid. A Smart Grid allows deployment and integration of distributed and renewable resources, "smart" consumer devices, automated systems, and electricity storage and peak-shaving technologies. Source: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007)
Learn More About Smart Grid Technology
Related News
Funding Opportunity Announcements for $3.9 billion in Recovery Act funds for the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program and Smart Grid Demonstration Projects have been released.
Read the
DOE press release for more information.
EmPOWER Maryland
The goal of the EmPOWER Maryland initiative is to reduce per capita energy consumption by 15 percent by the year 2015.
Empower Maryland is one of the nation's most ambitious energy conservation
projects and hopes to accomplish it's goals by encouraging Marylanders
to conserve energy within their homes.
Learn More About
the MEA EmPOWER Maryland Initiative
Events
Thank you to all who attended the stakeholder meetings at Chesapeake College and the University of Maryland College Park. Please visit the Events page to view the meeting presentations.
Could Marylanders Be Impacted By A Smarter Grid?
All Maryland consumers have a stake in the potential elements of a smarter electricity grid. Learning about these potential elements, and the costs and benefits of such a grid for all Marylanders, is important. MEA would like to share the results of its research via this website. In addition to the recently completed stakeholder workshops in Wye Mills and College Park, MEA and the project team will be sponsoring a Smart Grid Forum in the fall, and will make research results available on this website.
If you are a Maryland resident or business owner and want to learn more about the Smart Grid Maryland project please continue to visit this website and read the posted reports, and plan to attend the Smart Grid Forum. Details will be posted as they become available.
Learn More About Smart Grid Maryland here.
Smart Grid Technologies and Programs
The Smart Grid Maryland project includes four elements, including an initial report on Smart Grid technologies and programs.
This first report includes four different sections:
- Literature Review - Over 30 reports on Smart Grid technologies, policies, regulatory issues, costs, and benefits have been examined.
- Smart Grid Technology Review - Various types of smart metering and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system types have been reviewed.
- Smart Grid Costs and Benefits - The costs and benefits of potential Smart Grid deployment in Maryland are critical to this project.
- Smart Grid Pilot Projects - Smart Grid (especially AMI) projects, underway or completed in Maryland and other mid-Atlantic states, have been reviewed.
View the Smart Grid Technologies and Programs Report (PDF 1.03 MB)
Read the MEA Press Release on this Report
(PDF 1.03 MB)
The Maryland Smart Grid Forum has been postponed because the Maryland Public Service Commission is scheduling hearings on the recent Smart Grid filings by Maryland's investor-owned utilities. We will post the new Forum date as soon as it is available.
Recent Maryland Smart Grid Utility Filings:
Maryland Public Service Commission Orders for Smart Grid Hearings in November: