by Doug Chandler March 23rd, 2010
It’s hard to say how consumer perceptions at this stage will make much difference in the build-out of a smart electrical grid, but General Electric this month set out to find out what they think.
GE commissioned a survey earlier this month by StrategyOne to learn more about consumers’ awareness of the smart grid concept and their expectations about the technology.
The poll found that more than three-quarters of those surveyed (79 percent) where unfamiliar with the smart grid idea, but among those who were familiar with it, 78 percent expect a smart grid to reduce power outages and restore power more quickly when it does go out. Other benefits they are expecting include:
* 74 percent understand that smart grid will give them the info they need to make better decisions about their electricity usage
* 72 percent think that smart grid will help them save money on their monthly bills
* 63 percent believe smart grid will create new jobs in the energy sector
GE’s conclusion:
“Consumers are ready to embrace the smart grid, and particularly time-of-use pricing models (75 percent of those familiar with smart grid), if it helps them save money.”
Related Topics: Channel Chatter, Market Trends
by Doug Chandler March 23rd, 2010
Border States Electric, Fargo, N.D., has been awarded an integrated supply contract to support We Energies’ requirements for electrical distribution, wire, cable and select maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) materials. BSE’s branches in Pewaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Kingsford, Michigan, will service the contract. We Energies is a multi-faceted utility, providing natural gas, electricity, steam and water services in portions of Wisconsin and Michigan.
Related Topics: Big Deals, Channel Chatter
by Doug Chandler March 23rd, 2010
Communications Supply Corp. (CSC), a subsidiary of Wesco Distribution, Pittsburgh, has opened a new branch in Salt Lake City. The operation is “co-located” with an existing Wesco branch. Wesco says it opened nine CSC locations in 2009 and expects to open at least 10 in 2010. Details.
Related Topics: Channel Chatter
by Jim Lucy March 23rd, 2010
Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, said its order trends have turned positive for the first time since Oct. 2008, with four of its five business segments showing improvement. Positive performance in the trailing three-month order trends excluding currency came from the company’s industrial automation, network power, climate technologies and appliance and tools segments. Details
Related Topics: Channel Chatter
by Jim Lucy March 23rd, 2010
Siemens Industry Inc., Atlanta, will provide power metering equipment and services for the U.S. Navy’s Southwest Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project by teaming with American Systems, Chantilly, Va., a provider of systems engineering, technical, and managed services to government customers. The contract to furnish and install advanced electrical metering infrastructure at various locations throughout the Navy’s Southwest Region is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Siemens is supplying advanced electrical power meters, WinPM.Net energy monitoring software as well as implementation engineering services. Siemens also received orders for project management services along with gas, water and steam flow meters that provide data to the WinPM.Net systems. Details
Related Topics: ARRA projects, Green News
