Texas A&M Nov 8-9 Conference Debuts Cooperative/Municipal Smart Grid Investment Model and Addresses Smart Grid Investment Issues

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Oct 21, 2010, 09:46 ET

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The first conference devoted to assisting electric cooperatives and municipal utilities with smart grid investment decisions will present a new Smart Grid Business Investment Model developed as part of the Texas A&M University Smart Grid Research Consortium. The conference, "Evaluating the Business Case for Smart Grid Investments," will be held on November 8-9 in Austin, Texas at the Omni Southpark hotel. Presentations will update attendees on current technologies and applications in this rapidly changing industry.

"We have received an enthusiastic response for the conference with attendees registered from 45 coop and municipal utilities across the country," said Jerry Jackson, conference organizer and energy economist at Texas A&M University. Registration is open through November 1 at a cost of $495 per person. The conference begins at 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 8 and adjourns at 3:00 p.m. November 9. Additional information and online registration is available at: http://www.smartgridresearchconsortium.org/smartgridconference.htm.

"Making the case for the various options available for building out smart grid system investments requires a careful analysis of costs and benefits associated with each option. The model we developed in the Consortium project includes investments that range from substations to in-home devices and customer engagement programs so it represents one of the most comprehensive business approaches to smart grid investment analysis conducted to date."

In addition to presenting the Smart Grid Business Model and application examples, conference presentations include the following topics: