Utility Smart Grid Investment Analysis: Consortium Registration Through April 30

ORLANDO, Fla., March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration for the 2011 Smart Grid Research Consortium is open for electric cooperatives, municipal and other public utilities through April 30.  The objective of the Consortium is to provide a quantitative framework to evaluate smart grid investments, programs and strategies.

Each member of the Consortium receives a customized Excel-based Smart Grid Investment Model™, a utility customer-class/end use hourly load impact submodel, a User Guide, a Smart Grid Business Analysis Resource Guide and two complimentary passes to the conference scheduled for October 27-28, 2011 in Orlando.

The Smart Grid Investment Model provides a comprehensive, integrated framework to evaluate smart grid technologies, programs and strategies ranging from the substation to behind-the-meter technologies for each utility.  "Our hourly load models evaluate specific technology and program impacts reflecting weather, customer characteristics and other utility-specific factors that have proven to be important in quantifying smart grid benefits," said Dr. Jerry Jackson, leader and research director of the Consortium.

"The consortium approach is a perfect way for electric cooperatives, municipal and other public utilities to develop a smart grid business model evaluation capability," Jackson said. "Members receive benefits of a large-scale research project while sharing costs with other consortium members." The 2011 Consortium membership fee is $15,000. Additional information including a registration form is available at: www.smartgridresearchconsortium.org

About the 2011 Consortium

The inaugural 2010 Smart Grid Research Consortium developed and applied utility-specific cost/benefit investment analysis models for nine electric cooperatives, three municipal utilities, and one generation utility.  The 2011 Consortium will continue the research program extending the model to address new issues identified by 2011 Consortium members.  Cost/benefit parameters will be updated with information on current smart grid activities.

About the Consortium Team

The Consortium is managed and its research is led by Dr. Jerry Jackson, an energy economist with more than thirty years experience in new energy technology market analysis, financial model development, utility program development, energy modeling and project management. He was previously a professor at Texas A&M University and chief of the Applied Research Division at Georgia Tech Research Institute. He is also president of Jackson Associates where he has worked with utilities, state regulatory agencies, equipment manufactures and others in addressing energy industry issues.

In addition to research associates and support staff, project team members are assembled from academia and industry to provide research and applications expertise.

http://smartgridresearchconsortium.org  

SOURCE Smart Grid Research Consortium