New electric smartgrids, their metering and demand side management

Abstract

Increasing electric energy demand and

growing contribution from renewable

energy sources to energy supply require

a change in the operation of electricity

networks. Electric grid must evolve from

the traditional role of electricity carrier

to becoming an infrastructure which not

only allows the fl ux of electrons, but

also the fl ux of information between the

different participants in the electricity

system, i.e., becoming a smart grid.

In order to fully develop smart grids,

household consumers’ demand must

be softened, so that its fl exibility can

be used for improving electric system

stability. Nevertheless, residential

consumers will not be able to manage

their electricity demand, unless they

can access the required infrastructure.

This paper presents the characteristics

of PRIME technology, both for allowing

the required information exchange for

smart grid evolution, and for giving

household consumers access to demand

side management services.