Utility companies countrywide are under pressure to optimize their assets while curtailing costs. Moreover, they are also challenged to improve the quality of service and power. All this is easier said than done. However, let’s not lose hope.Smart grid technologies have made utility companies hopeful. It is believed that they can provide immense relief and lessen the pressure on them. Low and medium-voltage substations are actively adopting smart grid technology. Put simply; smart grid technology is focused on overcoming the shortcomings of a traditional grid by making the current mode of electricity distribution and transmission more efficient and reliable.
Smart Grid—What is It?
A smart grid technology can be best described as a network or grid of electricity that ensures two-way electricity and data flow. They have become essential in the digital transformation of the electricity sector, detecting and reacting to changes in multiple usage issues. Furthermore, a smart grid has the capability to self-heal and empower electricity consumers to become active participants.
A smart grid:
- Supports and integrates renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydro
- Empowers consumers with quality and real-time energy consumption information
- Assists utility companies to lower outages and moves
Now that we know what smart grid technology is, let’s look at its uses and what is it for?
Smart Grid Technology—How It Can Help?
A smart grid serves several purposes. These include the following:
Optimize and Manage Assets Remotely
Smart grid technologies allow utility companies to maximize the performance of their assets. In other words, it helps them to optimize assets and manage them remotely. This further means that utility companies can lower their operational and management costs easily.
Improve Smart Meter Return on Investment
As smart meters are deployed worldwide, they serve as a massive investment for utility companies. Smart meters hence, make for smarter consumers.
They communicate through the substations they are connected to. This further means that medium voltage substations are essential in the data aggregation of smart meters. Moreover, utility companies can foresee better returns on investments if they leverage the data for current asset and distribution network optimization.
Reduce Interruption Time for Better Service Quality
To provide consumers with excellent services, utilities must make sure that they control the interruption time. This is because even the slightest of interruptions can be disruptive and costly for business customers. Besides this, it can also be extremely dangerous.
Therefore, with smart grids installed, underground utilities can easily take care of this issue. Underground smart grids have fewer disruptions than overhead grids as they are easily protected from hazards such as falling trees and storms that may otherwise cause an interruption in the electricity supply.
Smart grids truly help utility companies better balance service quality and cost. For more information contact us now.
