"Thanks to SmartGridCareers.com and their conference pass scholarship of YoungEnergy Network members I attended the Smart Energy East Coast hosted by Spintelligent in NYC last week.  This was my first exposure to the east coast Smart Grid movement and I discovered some very interesting differences that exist between east and west coast IOU’s and their integration of Smart Grid solutions.  Perhaps more important are the similarity that exist which are driving IOU’s in the same Smart direction but at a different pace.

I am from California, which means I maybe jaded in how I perceive the Smart Grid and its role in the coming decentralized energy economy.  So hearing from the eastern IOU’s was a change of pace and brought some fresh prospective on where most of the country is related to the Smart Grid Switch (SGS).  Basically the east coast IOU’s energy situation was well summarized by a ConEd engineer when she said; “our (current) grid is build to be strong, not smart”.  We in California cannot really say our grid is either.  Which is one of the major reasons why California is moving faster to implement a fix.  Because California’s grid is consistently closer to it’s breaking point.   For the east coaster’s to have the luxury of watching and learning from the experience of their west coast counterparts will likely be a considerable advantage.  They don’t have to go through the pain and expense of hacking a trail through the hairball of standards, new market structures and combining technology to work in symphony. 

Perhaps not surprisingly the fundamental reason the Smart Grid switch is consistent on both sides of the country.  Reduction of CO2 emissions is driving smarter change.  While many fellow Americans still question the significance of CO2’s effect on the environment, or perhaps do not make a connection between a culture sustained by energy and how it can melt ice at the ends of the earth.  Utilities simply accept the fact the world is changing through new regulations focused on reducing CO2 emissions.  The investment of billions of dollars into the utilities in order to meet those new regulatory goals also helps utilities to accept the inevitable change.   The need for change to a smarter grid appears to be generally accepted, so we know ‘what’ we are going to do.  The questions still being worked out are ‘how ‘ and ‘when’.

In summary I am encouraged by the event.  It was a reminder of the monumental task we have embarked on.  What the Smart Grid intends to change encompasses every aspect of how we use energy.  Many unforeseen obstacles will have to be overcome which will open the door for many none utility professionals to entry the energy industry.  Having the opportunity to attend industry conference through organizations like SmartGridCareers.com and the Young Energy Network is invaluable.  If you have the chance to get to one of these events go for it. The change is underway for those that get their foot in the door." - PHIL BALTAZAR

ABOUT PHIL BALTAZAR:
In the past 3 years Phil has been in direct contract more then 1,000 end users to reduce their electric bill through solar solutions.   With a prospective formed by the end user experience Phil approaches the smart grid switch from the end user as a priority and is working to encourage adoption and compliance.  As Founder of iWill Energy Phil has been able to successfully identify specific market segments, apply existing EE & ADR programming knowledge and achieve cost savings ranging between 25-40% for electric cost. By remaining focused on intergrading utility programs, Smart Grid technology, and end user experience iWill Energy is currently achieving smart solutions for smart customers.

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