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Grid Net, Inc. Comments on Implementing the National Broadband Plan by Studying the Communications Requirements of Electric Utilities to Inform Federal Smart Grid Policy

Comments from Southern California Edison on DOE Request for Information—Implementing the National Broadband Plan by Empowering Customers and the Smart Grid: Data Access, Third Party Use, and Privacy

Urgent action is needed to address utilities communications needs. Utilities and other CII are deploying smart grid and making investments in communications upgrades now. Promoting access to spectrum will accelerate the deployment of smart grid and other CII communications, which will in turn promote larger public policy goals for energy independence, infrastructure security, environmental quality and public safety. Therefore, UTC looks forward to working with the DOE, as well as the FCC and NTIA to support the communications needs of utilities and other CII.

Google is pleased to offer these comments in response to the Department of Energy’s Request for Information (RFI) regarding consumers and the smart grid. We applaud the Administration’s efforts to date to ensure the smart grid benefits consumers directly and delivers transformational change to our aging electricity system. We stand ready to assist the Department as it works with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other agencies on implementation of the National Broadband Plan and other efforts to empower energy consumers.

Alcatel-Lucent (“ALU”) appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the Department of Energy’s (“Department”) Request for Information (“RFI”)1 to better understand the communications requirements of utilities, including the requirements of Smart Grid Technology. ALU sees smart grid as one of several solutions offered by the technological advances and widespread deployment of broadband networks. While in its comments ALU addresses the narrow issues raised specifically in the Department’s RFI, these comments also convey broader policy recommendations for the Federal Government, including the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”), to consider.

Qualcomm is pleased to provide these detailed comments to the Department of Energy (“DOE” or “Department”) on how current and future wireless broadband communications capabilities can support the energy management needs of electric utilities, businesses, and consumers, which include requirements for the evolving and growing Smart Grid. The DOE should be applauded for timely following-up on the recommendations in the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Plan (“NBP”) that focus on how broadband communications systems can achieve the critically important U.S. goals of energy independence and enhanced energy efficiency. See FCC NBP at 247. In this regard, Qualcomm explains how commercial wireless technologies can be used to satisfy the varied and increasing communications needs of electric utilities. Qualcomm looks forward to continuing a dialogue with the DOE and its industry partners on these important issues as Smart Grid technologies are further integrated into our electrical networks.

The Edison Electric Institute ("EEI"), on behalf of its member companies, hereby submits the following comments in response to the request by the Department of Energy ("DOE" or "Department") for information on state efforts to enact Smart Grid privacy and data collection policies; utility practices and policies regarding data access and collection; third party access to detailed energy information; the role of the consumer in balancing benefits of data access and privacy; and policies and practices that should guide policymakers in determining who can access consumer energy information and under what conditions.

Similar to the electric utility industry’s implementation of smart grid, oil and natural gas companies are in the midst of transitioning to next generation communications technology that will provide significant benefits in terms of safety, incident response, effectiveness and efficiency that are critical to United States energy independence. At the same time, however, API’s members find themselves increasingly constrained by the lack of exclusive, licensed spectrum available for higher-speed applications.

Xcel Energy, a combination electricity and natural gas utility operating in eight Midwestern states, submits these Comments in response to the Department of Energy’s May 11, 2010 Request for Information: "Implementing the National Broadband Plan by Empowering Consumers and the Smart Grid: Data Access, Third Party Use, and Privacy."

FPL hereby respectfully submits the following comments in response to the request by the Department of Energy for comments to Implementing the National Broadband Plan by Studying the Communications Requirements of Electric Utilities To Inform Federal Smart Grid Policy (Federal Register/Vol.75, No.90/Tuesday May 11, 2010).