FierceSmartGrid reports on various utilities’ move toward the smart grid. Those who have had successful transitions involved consumers from the beginning of implementation. A California company, for example, faced customer backlash in the form of a class-action lawsuit after deploying one of the largest smart grids in the U.S. without first warning customers, the report states, and Naperville, Illinois, is facing a federal lawsuit over privacy concerns despite its early consumer outreach program. By contrast, Florida Power & Light experienced success with a customer dashboard allowing customers to view and control their energy consumption and cost. “Clearly, customer involvement and consumer education are key” in smart grid deployment, the report states. Editor’s Note: For more on how to effectively deploy a smart grid program, see “Amidst fledgling smart grid safeguards, utilities self-regulate and an expert offers a how-to” from September’s edition of The Privacy Advisor.
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