What is the Smart Grid?

A smarter grid applies technologies, tools and techniques available now to bring knowledge to power - knowledge capable of making the grid work far more efficiently...

• Ensuring its reliability to degrees never before possible.
• Maintaining its affordability.
• Reinforcing our global competitiveness.
• Fully accommodating renewable and traditional energy sources.
• Potentially reducing our carbon footprint.
• Introducing advancements and efficiencies yet to be envisioned.

The electric industry is poised to make the transformation from a centralized, producer-controlled network to one that is less centralized and more consumer-interactive. The move to a smarter grid promises to change the industry's entire business model and its relationship with all stakeholders, involving and affecting utilities, regulators, energy service providers, technology and automation vendors and all consumers of electric power.

A smarter grid makes this transformation possible by bringing the philosophies, concepts and technologies that enabled the internet to the utility and the electric grid. More importantly, it enables the industry's best ideas for grid modernization to achieve their full potential.

For more information, visit the US Department of Energy.