PUC to Host Briefing on Electricity Reliability
Research Group to Show Development Needs for a "Smart" Grid

PUC Contact:Terry Hadley 512-936-7135
E2I/CEIDS contact: Bob Gee: 202-293-6184

Monday, September 16, 2002 -- The Public Utility Commission (PUC) next month will host a briefing from a newly formed research and development organization to help ensure reliable and affordable electricity for the future.

The briefing is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Austin at the PUC of Texas on the 7th floor of the Travis Building, 1701 N. Congress Ave.

Demand is increasing throughout Texas and the rest of the country for high-quality digital grade power to serve digital applications in manufacturing, on the Internet, and for other telecommunications systems. To address this concern, the Electricity Innovation Institute (E2I) - a newly created affiliate of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) - has formed the Consortium for Electric Infrastructure to Support a Digital Society (CEIDS), a public/private partnership fostering research and development collaboration among utilities, electric and electronic equipment manufacturers, businesses, government agencies and foundations. A multi-year initiative, CEIDS aims to accelerate the development of critical technologies to enhance overall power quality and reliability for an increasingly digital society.

CEIDS is currently undertaking three high-priority projects:

• A "Self-healing" Grid - This project seeks to develop intelligent sensors and controls to prevent power service disruptions, improve security and increase energy efficiency.

• Distributed Energy Resources Integration - This project focuses on the development of standardized interface devices and communications infrastructure for grid-connected DR applications of the future.

• Integrated Energy and Communications Systems Architecture - This project will lay the foundation for creating a standards-based system architecture to improve reliability and integrate intelligent power system components for a self-healing grid and real-time pricing.

Anyone interested in receiving materials or information concerning the briefing may contact Bob Gee, Vice President of Development and Partner Relations for E2I at 202-293-6184. Mr. Gee is a former chairman of the PUC and was on the Commission from 1991 to 1997. He also served as an Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Energy from 1997 to 2000.

Last Updated: 09/16/02