That's Advanced Meter Infrastructure, which Con Ed would install, on their own terms, while charging customers more for their own increased efficiency.
"Con Ed filed application on March 28, 2007, for approval of AMI deployment plan and cost recovery. Con Ed plans to use radio frequency communication technology. Con Ed’s analysis demonstrates $713 million in AMI costs and $782.5 million in AMI benefits over 15-year period. Con Ed requests approval of surcharge, adjusted annually, to recover all capital and O&M costs for AMI deployment, plus lost revenues."
It turns out that the writer of the above-linked article is a consultant with KEMA, the group hired to do the study and write Con Ed's AMI proposal, which included no provisions for customers to use meter data to increase conservation. And put cost recovery for the upgrade on the customer as a surcharge.
Did they get approval? Is this moving ahead?
Digging a little deeper, here is a paper trail:
In response to the PSC's 2006 call for AMI implementation plans, Con Ed submitted this:
CON ED NEW YORK AMI FILING (March 2007)" (pdf)
Public Service Commission noted that the submissions left out a number of important provisions and called for utilities to comment:
Case 94-E-0952, Notice Seeking Comment (Oct. 10, 2007)
Con Ed's response - no, no, and no:
Con Edison Metering Comments (pdf)
Here is the repository on PSC's site for all related documents - nothing past an April 2008 technical conference and an October 2008 list of approved meters.
Where do we stand?
From the Edison Foundation's State Regulatory Update: Energy Efficiency:
New York has declined so far to authorize full-scale AMI implementation, but has directed utilities to implement pilots. The regulators cite uncertainty over the forecasted value of societal benefits and lack of proven technology.
Edison Foundation's description of AMI and its benefits:
Upgrading efficiency and related programs may require upgrading of delivery systems. Many utilities and regulators are looking toward the use of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which would use “smart grid” technology to provide consumers with the ability to use electricity more efficiently. The technology, which includes use of meters allowing two-way communication, also would provide utilities with the ability to detect problems on their systems and operate them more efficiently, thereby ultimately improving reliability and saving money for consumers.
You're Leaving a Digital Trail. What About Privacy? - NYTimes.com
"Pachube (pronounced “PATCH-bay”) is a Web service that lets people share real-time sensor data from anywhere in the world. With Pachube, one can combine and display sensor data, from the cost of energy in one location, to temperature and pollution monitoring, to data flowing from a buoy off the coast of Charleston, S.C., all creating an information-laden snapshot of the world."
And soon to come, a Sketchup plugin and data overlay on Google Earth. Oh boy.
The big picture:
Pachube @ Homecamp08 | Pachube - community
Through Pachube, a look at EEML, an XML standard for exchange of environmental data.
EEML complete example | Pachube - community
Processing/Arduino application step-by-step | Pachube - community
Extended Environments Markup Language: EEML and IFC
Extended Environments Markup Language: EEML
Good tutorials on the Pachube site, another way to share sensor readings. It has some of the best how-tos on using Arduino to do the monitoring and then send the readings to Pachube.
Connecting your electricity meter to Pachube | Pachube - community
Daily Kos: State of the Nation - No Dark Cloud without a Darker Lining
"We couldn't sign Kyoto, because it would hurt the economy. Well here's news, we didn't sign, and the economy failed. We couldn't place tough requirements on our cars to protect the auto industry. We didn't, and the industry has been dragged to the brink of collapse. We couldn't restrict mountaintop removal mining, because it would cost us jobs. We expanded this form of mining at a record pace, and mining jobs evaporated. We had to open up the national parks to being drilled, chopped, and mined, because the economy needed it. We did all that, we did everything the purists asked, so where are our super duper trillion dollar economic boom times?"
From James Gleick:
Op-Ed Contributor - How to Publish Without Perishing - NYTimes.com
For over 50 years, oil companies have explored the Lacandon Forest looking for sources of oil. Franz Blom created the first modern map of the area in 1953 under contract to these companies.
From Mexico Solidarity Network:
Energy Secretary Georgina Kessel announced plans this week to begin
drilling for oil in the Lacandon rainforest. Citing a study conducted by
Pemex, Kessel estimated by 2021 Chiapas fields could be producing 500,000
barrels a day from 17,000 new wells. Kessel also announced the
construction of a bio-energy plant to produce biodiesel from the jatrofa
curcus, a hardy plant that can be grown in marginal soils. Experts
predict the facility will require at least 7,500 acres of mono-culture
production. The plant uses technology developed in Colombia and is
financed by at least US$800,000 in federal and state funds. Two
previously funded bio-energy plants in Cintalapa and Huehuetan consumed
about US$500,000 in state investment, but both plants are now abandoned,
due in part to the lack of a market for the relatively expensive
bio-diesel. Some communities participating in the federal ProArbol
(Pro-Tree) program are reportedly receiving seeds to plant jatrofa curcus
instead of trees.
Kessel’s announcement is part of an ambitious resurgence of Plan Puebla
Panama, now renamed the Mesoamerica Project, that contemplates four
regional development engines: tourism, minerals, oil and bio-energy.
Plans include construction of a controversial highway linking San
Cristobal de las Casas and Palenque. Canadian mining companies have been
particularly active in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas region. The plans are
generating substantial community-based opposition from indigenous
communities and environmentalists.
This is apparently based on reporting by Hermann Bellinghausen:
Oficial: Pemex explorará y extraerá crudo en la selva Lacandona, afirma Kessel - La Jornada
Los planes petroleros oficiales amenazan la biodiversidad de Chiapas: ecologistas - La Jornada
Secretary of Energy Kessel responded that no, they are not looking to drill in the Selva Lacandona. In her announcement she had referred to the "cuencas del sureste" not to the Lacandon specifically. The basin of the southeast.
Descarta Kessel planes de exploración en la Lacandona - El Universal - Finanzas
The promotion of the plan to expand production in Chiapas (whether in the Lacandon forest or not) may have come as a response to this:
Energy Tribune - Refinery Scheme Sunk by Falling Pemex Output
A new technique would allow highly efficient, non-damming electricity generation with lower required flow rates. (from Chris Shaw)
Ocean currents can power the world, say scientists - Telegraph
Weblog on all things show control, by the author of "Control Systems for Live Entertainment".
- John Huntington's Entertainment Technology Blog
Made some progress last night, and I think I am ready to tackle more remote xbee experiments. I'll use the following from Tom Igoe, Dan Shiffman, and Rob Faludi, plus the Xbee terminal sketch in Tom's book. Waiting on a login from Sensorbase.
code, circuits, & construction :: XBee Library graphing application
XBee API Library for Processing at Rob Faludi
UPDATE: May require that you upgrade firmware on your Xbee modules. Since I have a Mac, and the firmware upgrade tools are Windows-only, I will have to dig up my work PC or go to Parallels for continued work on this. See XBee Firmware Upgrade for info about X-CTU. The hardware setup for this is simplified in Igoe's book. Buy it.
Jeff LeBlanc devised an Xbee-based energy monitoring system while at ITP. Here's his how-to.
jleblanc :: energy - Power Monitoring
This forum has links to other solutions using Arduino.
Arduino Forum - The Arduino Energy Monitor
A compact microphone system that encodes 5.1 sound to two channels.
DV - Reviews - In Review: Holophone H4 SuperMINI
Well, 340 degrees, in any case. On Coldplay's latest tour.
Coldplay PufferSpheres PufferFish Barco XL video Hippotizer - Total Production Magazine
Video:
Pufferfish :: :: Digital Spherical Displays :: News :: Coldplay
The Lower Eastside Girls Club - A New Kind of Organization
Searching for a bike powered water pump (for Manuel and Anita), I found this group in Guatemala who are using bikes for many applications.
Now looking for Arduino-based building management systems (BMS).
pachube :: connecting environments, patching the planet - HDR Office sensors (low tech BMS)
Hobby Robotics » SHT15 Humidity and Temperature Sensor
That is, Direct Digital Control for the Lower Eastside Girls Club. The protocol that our mechanical engineer is using for environmental systems.
DDC Online - Direct Digital Controls
HVAC DDC Controls - Fan Powered VAV Boxes - Variable Air Volume Box
Start-up Meraki to sell solar-powered Wi-Fi gear | Wireless - CNET News
Joel at Mesoweb comes through again, with a great resource in three languages.
Mesoweb Resources - Introduction to Maya Hieroglyphs
Digital Domain - The Forces Driving Women Out of Computer Science - NYTimes.com
From Ron Canter
Panoramio - Photo of Chixoy River, above La Pita access
Panoramio - Photo of lower Chixoy from air
Panoramio - Photo of Río Chixoy River below confluence Río Copón
Simple audio synthesizer, using a combination of triangle waves instead of harsh square waves. Based on Arduino of course.
Auduino - tinkerit - Google Code - Details of the Auduino synthesiser
And something else that popped up (both of these from members of the NYCResistor mailing list):
Now we can reclaim Americana.
Remix America | America the Beautiful
And a first version of the POP Coalition's Chico/Obama/Copland remix (UPDATE - here's a final version):
VoteAmericaVoted_Final.m4v (AppleTV Format)
Plasma plant in Florida will power 50,000 homes.
Plasma Turns Garbage into Gas: Scientific American
There goes the neighborhood. We have to leave here tomorrow, but we'll be back soon.
Frugal Mexico - Frugal Traveler Blog - NYTimes.com
The electronics disposal and recycling business, from 60 Minutes.
The Electronic Wasteland Video - CBSNews.com
An online repository of sensor databases, and a datalogger from Tom Igoe that helps you write data to the site, for sharing and access.
SensorBase | Sharing is Caring
code, circuits, & construction :: Sensorbase datalogger
More from Tom Igoe:
code, circuits, & construction :: XBee Library graphing application
code, circuits, & construction :: Sensor graphing with 3 lines of code!
Another step towards the Xbee-based sensor network.
HCI at Stanford University: exemplar
Good (and entertaining) discussion of solar and crank options for charging portable devices up to laptops.
Slashdot | Portable Solar Power For Portable Hardware?
One promising technology:
PowerFilm Inc. - The worlds most lightweight and flexible solar panels
Satellite photos of flooding from Tenosique to Villahermosa. The lower Usumacinta is always hardest hit during heavy rains.
