| | JUNE-JULY 20176On 22nd of last month, we celebrated the Earth Day, signifying a growing focus on sustainable energy resources and shift of the balance towards newer and more unconventional power pockets. The smart grid is an answer to both prongs in this bi-directional effort. The concept and definition of a smart grid isn't recent--it has been around since the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 came to existence. The act touches upon concepts such as modernization of the electrical utility grid, increased use of digital information to forecast demand, incorporation of 'smart' devices that can supply the utility grid with information that can facilitate critical decision making, and so on. The first ever step towards realizing these metrics started with the introduction of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in the grid network, and this system is still being used extensively today.Smart grids offer greater reliability, by automated anomaly detection and `self-healing' of the grid, and greater flexibility by allowing bi-directional flows and peak-shaving. In the longer run, it ensures sustainability by improving equipment efficiency and bringing up opportunities for energy savings on the consumer end.With multiple touchpoints in the energy network today, smart grid solutions must also be capable of recognizing and allowing ingress of renewable sources, both at a larger scale, and also minor feed-ins from rooftop solar panels, for instance. This helps overcome the inability of present grid system to treat the distribution network as an arena for minor generation plants, due to extreme rigidity in its design. In this edition of Energy CIO Insights, we have identified the "10 Best Smart Grid Solution Providers 2017", to help our readers know which companies stand at the forefront of the smart grid revolution.Let us know your thoughts.Laura DavisEditor-in-ChiefEnergy CIOInsightsEditorialThe Grids of TomorrowCopyright© 2017 ValleyMedia Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the magazine and accordingly, no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof.JUNE-JULY, 2017Editor-in-Chief Laura DavisEditorial StaffT:510.493.7546VisualizersChetan.NAsher BlakeSalesMailing AddressValley Media Inc.44790 S. Grimmer Blvd Suite 202, Fremont, CA 94538T:510.936.8381, F:510-894-8405 JUNE-JULY, 2017, Vol 03- Issue 05Published Monthly by ValleyMedia Inc. To subscribe to Energy CIO InsightsVisit www.energycioinsights.com Edwin Josephedwin@energycioinsights.comAaron PierceElizabeth LeeJonathan SmithJudy SimonJK KarthikSandra LewisSMART GRID TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL*Some of the Insights are based on the interviews with respective CIOs and CXOs to our editorial staff
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