February 7, 2003—Cisco Systems has become a member of a public/private consortium that is taking the lead in the makeover of the nation’s aging electric system.
The Consortium for Electric Infrastructure to Support a Digital Society (CEIDS) is a multi-million dollar project managed by E2I to meet the complex energy demands of the increasingly digital society. E2I is an affiliate of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
“Our immediate goal is to create a networked architecture for the ‘smart grid’—an open, standards-based electricity system that will support new generations of technologies and provide innovative customer services,” said T. J. Glauthier, president and CEO of E2I. “The smart grid will utilize sophisticated communications and computing technologies to deliver highly reliable power over a system that is secure from hackers or terrorists.”
EPRI described a digital-quality networked electricity superhighway that will enable all participants to communicate data and exchange information easily and openly. The system architecture will include a networked communications infrastructure that links energy users to markets and enable real-time pricing, customer energy management, and innovative energy services.
For more information, contact The Electricity Innovation Institute (E2I).
