Chicago utility eyes smart grid
A consumer's advanced electric meter could report an outage to the utility in an instant and ComEd could notify the customer by call or page when a power event occurs, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The smart grid would feature technology that immediately alerts ComEd when a disruption in power occurs, reroutes power so fewer customers are affected and allows ComEd to begin repairs more quickly, utility officials said.
The grid also provides customers with real-time information so they can make more informed choices about when and how they use electricity, the utility said.
ComEd officials also said the utility wants to install global positioning technology in its repair and maintenance vehicles, enabling a more efficient crew deployment.
The utility said its annual investments for the smart grid could range from $20 million to $250 million between 2008 and 2013.
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Texas produces and consumes the most electricity in the US
AUSTIN - For nearly two decades, the Lone Star State has generated more wind-sourced electricity than any other state in the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration, or EIA.
In 2022, EIA reported Texas produced more electricity than any other state and generated twice as much as second-place Florida.
However, Texas also leads the country in another category. According to EIA, Texas is the largest energy-consuming state in the nation across all sectors with more than half of the state’s energy being used by the industrial sector.
As of May 2023, Texas residents paid 43% more for natural gas and around 10%…
