An initiative to create a unified AMI and HAN solution

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is collaborating with the ZigBee Alliance and the HomePlug Powerline Alliance to develop a common language for home area network (HAN) devices to utilise advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).

The groups will work in cooperation with the many utilities already supporting ZigBee Smart Energy and will look for ways to further expand the smart grid by creating a standard communication approach between AMI systems and HANs, as well as a common set of certification procedures.

Development efforts of the initiative will center on expanding the ZigBee Smart Energy public application profile.

The initiative will enhance the capabilities of Smart Energy to incorporate new features, support ZigBee wireless and HomePlug wired devices, and accelerate the development and certification of HAN devices capable of plugging into the Smart Grid such as thermostats, pool pumps, water heaters, appliances and plug-in vehicles.

"EPRI's involvement in this effort will focus resources and bring together a strong coalition whose work to establish the standard for Smart Energy HAN devices will accelerate the deployment of the Smart Grid," said Bob Heile, chairman, ZigBee Alliance.

PG&E to deploy up to 3.3m GE meters equipped with SmartMeter technology

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has shared its plans of deploying 3.3 million GE meters equipped with SmartMeter technology to utility customers in Northern and Central California.

Overall, PG&E plans to deploy 10.3 million SmartMeter gas and electric meters by the end of 2011 to virtually all of its customers.

The GE meters will be equipped with Silver Spring Networks smart grid/advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) communications technology.

According to GE energy, this technology will enable two-way communications between the utility and the electricity customer. It will support renewable generation at the customer's home, critical peak and time-of-use pricing and more. The company also shared that by employing SmartMeter technology, PG&E will, in the future, be better able to detect and respond to power outages.

According to EPRI, California experiences the greatest losses associated with power outages and disruptions, totaling $13.2-20.4 billion per year. That's more than any other state.