DC Heat Wave: Smart Grid Consumer Symposium at GridWeek Seeks to Cool Controversies with Creative Thinking

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the Smart Grid Consumer Symposium at ConnectivityWeek in May, Clasma Events today announced that the Institute for Electric Efficiency will co-host a second Consumer Symposium at GridWeek on Sept. 12, in Washington, D.C.

"At the last symposium, we had some of the best minds in the Smart Grid community generating valuable strategies that can move us from a pilot mindset to staged deployments," said Lisa Wood, Executive Director, Institute for Electric Efficiency. "I am looking forward to GridWeek's Consumer Symposium so we can design opportunities that benefit consumers, while supporting evolving and sustainable business models for utilities."

The interactive symposium will address three topics:

• Innovations in Energy Literacy: This session will examine novel approaches being used in the field and suggest ways existing tools can be modified to integrate new concepts and reflect diverse consumer segments.
• Protecting Vulnerable Residents: Participants will discuss how modernized electricity systems can be leveraged to provide new support services to elderly and medically frail customers who are experiencing additional pressures from extreme weather, budget shortfalls and the economic downturn.
• Leave No Community Behind: Smart Grid visions of micro-generation, electric vehicles and smart appliances typically leave out renters, small businesses and disadvantaged communities. Participants will discuss new paradigms that could help all consumers benefit from a smart energy economy.

The anticipated 100+ stakeholders will range from utilities to technologists, researchers and consumer advocates. "Consumer advocates are doing a good job of raising concerns," said Chris Thomas, Policy Director, Citizen's Utility Board of Illinois. "We also need to be proposing solutions for the constituents we represent in collaboration with other stakeholders."

"This will be a working session where we roll up our sleeves, listen respectfully, collaborate and identify practical, effective approaches," said Symposium Organizer Judith Schwartz, President, To the Point. "We want to provide an opportunity to explore where smart technology can provide better consumer alternatives than we have today."

See video from The Consumer Symposium in May and visit www.GridWeek.com for more information.

Clasma Events, Inc. specializes in strategic conferences at the center of the worldwide energy discussion. Focusing on Smart Grid, connectivity, and the new energy economy, Clasma's major events include ConnectivityWeek, GridWeek and Grid-Interop.

The Institute for Electric Efficiency is a program of the Edison Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Its goals are to advance energy-efficiency practices and demand response among electric utilities; promote the sharing of information and ideas; and develop a resource base of effective business models, practices, and processes.

Clasma, GridWeek, ConnectivityWeek and Grid-Interop are trademarks or registered trademarks of Clasma International Corporation. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Clasma Events, Inc.