>"We'll spy on you through your refrigerator."
>– Petraeus
https:// www.smartgrid.gov/files/sg_introduction.pdf
page 11
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is an approach to integrating consumers based upon the development of open standards.
It provides consumers with the ability to use electricity more e ciently and provides utilities with the ability to detect problems on their systems and operate them more e ciently.
AMI enables consumer-friendly e ciency concepts like “Prices to Devices” to work like this: Assuming that energy is priced on what it costs in near real-time – a Smart Grid imperative – price signals are relayed to “smart” home controllers or end-consumer devices like thermostats, washer/dryers and refrigerators – the home’s major energy-users. The devices, in turn, process the information based on consumers’ learned wishes and power accordingly.
Next-generation visualization is on its way. Of particular note is VERDE, a project in development for DOE at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. VERDE (Visualizing Energy
Resources Dynamically on Earth) will provide wide-area grid awareness, integrating real-
time sensor data, weather information and grid modeling with geographical information.
Potentially, it will be able to explore the state of the grid at the national level and switch within seconds to explore speci c details at the street level. It will provide rapid information about blackouts and power quality as well as insights into system operation for utilities.
With a platform built on Google Earth, it can also take advantage of content generated by Google Earth’s user community.