Ingenieur Vol 58 April-June 2014 Ingenieur Vol 58 April-June 2014 | Page 54

INGENIEUR Phases  of  funcEonaliEes  of  AMI  (Fig  3.2)   Figure 3.2: Phases of Functionalities of AMI Time of Use (TOU) Based Billing, Smart Payment (Pre-payment), and ●● Incentive Based Demand Response. ●● These features or value-added services to the customers will be developed and introduced in phases based on the readiness of the IT integration and legislative framework such as Demand and Response. The targeted development of the functionalities is depicted in Figure 3.2. ●● CONCLUSION The Smart Grid project is a ‘change management’ journey which involves innovation throughout the electricity value chain, utilizing advanced IT and communications infrastructure, people and processes. It requires advanced planning to ensure seamless integrations with the existing/ new systems, ICT infrastructure readiness, business process re-engineering, human capital development and comprehensive consumer engagement plan. The successful implementation of Smart Grid requires strong Government and regulatory support with the relevant policies and supporting grants, and allows the utility to recover the costs through the rate base. The benefits that can be accrued from this project are long term in nature and dependent on the availability of value-added services to customers. In this regard, most countries provide significant grants (e.g. USA, Japan, Korea) and/or regulatory passthrough to customers (e.g. Australia, Spain) to cover the high capital investment of Smart Grid implementation. 6 52 VOL 58 APRIL 2013 2014 VOL 55 JUNE – JUNE REFERENCES POWERING THE NATION 4 1. Utility-Scale Smart Meter Deployments, Plans, & Proposals, IEE Report May 2012 2. European Smart Metering Landscape Report, Smart Regions Feb 2011 3. Electric Power Research Institute, http:// smartgrid.epri.com/Index.aspx 4. Erlinghagen, S and Markarda, J. 2012. Smart grids and the transformation of the electricity sector: ICT firms as potential catalysts for sectoral change, Energy Policy 51 (2012) 895–906 5. Farhangi, H., 2010. The path of the Smart Grid. IEEE Power and Energy Magazine January/Feb, 18–28 6. House of Commons, UK, SMART METERS, page 3, Dec 2012 7. Accenture, Forging a Path toward a Digital Grid: Global Perspective on Smart Grid Opportunities, 2013 8. The Edison Foundation, Innovations Across the Grid: Partnerships Transforming the Power Sector, Dec 2013. 9. San Diego Gas and Electric, Smart Grid Deployment Plan 2011-2020, June 6, 2011. 10. Ministry of Power, Government of India, Smart Grid Vision and Roadmap for India, August 12, 2013. 11. BC Hydro, Smart Metering & Infrastructure Programs Business Case, 2012. 12. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), January 2014.