Paul Murphy, chief executive officer of the Independent Electricity System Operator, the agency that manages the flow of megawatts in the province, is expected to announce today – on the heels of Earth Hour – the creation of an industry-led group to lay out of vision for modernizing Ontario's aging electricity system.
"We have some catching up to do," said Murphy, explaining that the deployment of smart meters across Ontario, while a pioneering move in North America, is only a first step toward creating a truly "smart grid" in the province.
"Overall the industry needs to be thinking about this, because there are some big benefits that could accrue from the more intelligent use of our delivery system.
"If we can do it in a more co-ordinated fashion, we'll be better able to take advantage of the opportunities that this developing technology presents."
A smart grid is an electricity system that uses software, two-way communications and automation to manage the flow of electricity more efficiently – from power generation, through transmission and distribution lines, and all the way into homes and businesses.
Ontario, in its 20-year power system plan, has placed high priority on building new electricity generation based on nuclear, natural gas and renewable energy, but industry experts say that making the grid smarter would let the province get by on less generation by using what we have more efficiently and better targeting conservation.
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