[RTC List] Smart grid & broadband

[M Welch]

I do not know a lot about it, but I wonder about some key elements of communications over power lines (CPL).

As part of the funded and high-priority smart grid that is being developed in N. America, we will soon be seeing smart KWH meters and smart appliances, with the dual ideas of preventing blackouts and to help the end consumer better manage energy consumption.

The thing is, this will require a lot of comm. As it is shaping up, each home will have a mesh network for appliance and metering comm, and the utility meters will be part of this. The utilities will communicate with the meter, and even be able to adjust their system-wide loading by turning off heavy users like electric water heaters and even adjusting thermostats on household A/C.

Right now, the utilities are content to do most of the communication with 2G/3G cell technologies and maybe soon over already-existing broadband services. But as the smart grid technologies proliferate, you can pretty much count on the utilities starting up their own broadband service, and making a little money on the side by offering it to us in competition with cable and phone line broadband services.

When I notice the momentum building up for smart grid, I wonder what CPL will be offering rural areas, and if it is being included in the discussions that are happening about bringing redundant access to our community, and for currently under-served rural areas.

And I wonder if CPL is a backbone technology, or if it is only for local use requiring fiber for the backbone.