Smart-Grid Questions Have IT Answers

Austin Energy in Texas is among the most innovative utilities in America, and its general manager Roger Duncan understands the connection between IT and developing the smart grid.

In an interview with Kate Galbraith, who covers renewable energy for The New York Times, Duncan concedes there are plenty of questions that must be answered before a grand vision of a smart grid is achieved. Quoting Galbraith in her posting:

“What are the actual hardware connections that we need? What is the software that will allow us to communicate, even to the level of communicating with appliances like your refrigerator or your pool pump?”