Monday, March 18, 2013

DOE creates smart grid committee for power industry


Business Mirror

Published on Monday, 18 March 2013 20:11
Written by Lenie Lectura / Reporter

AN interagency committee shall be created by the government to craft a comprehensive smart grid policy framework and road map for the power industry.
The Department of Energy (DOE) will be part of the committee. Other government agencies that will be participating include the National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., National Electrification Administration, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and Philippine Electricity Market Corp., a circular from the DOE stated.
The committee shall invite other government agencies and the private sector to assist in the development of the proposed policy and road map and it shall “tap funding from bilateral or multilateral funding institution willing to finance smart grid initiatives.”
It is also tasked to formulate and prepare the transition policies and guidelines for the effective implementation of the smart grid by all electric power-industry participants, namely, generation companies, transmission company, market operator, distribution utilities, power suppliers, consumers and other network service providers.
Smart grid is a multi-technology innovation that builds intelligence into the electricity network so distribution utilities like Meralco have access to real-time feedback on network conditions, consequently minimizing outages and significantly improving restoration and complaints handling.
The circular stated that the committee “shall propose the national strategy for the smart grid for the period until 2030 with major consideration on the possible impact to the price of electricity.”
The road map shall also include success criteria, timelines and coverage, business case framework, integration for low-carbon technologies, among others.
According to Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, a smart grid policy and a road map are vital “in order to encourage greater participation from all stakeholders of the electric power industry.”
The road map itself will promote technology innovation, business growth and job creation thereby enhancing regional and global competitiveness of power industry players.
Meralco is already involved in the promotion of smart grid technology and has engaged various stakeholders on discussions on its proposed company-wide smart grid road map. The said technology will allow Meralco to offer prepaid electricity to its customers.   source

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