The 3rd Edition of Research Reports International's The Development of the Smart Grid in the U.S. (formerly titled Understanding the Smart Grid) is a 50-page report which seeks to provide a thorough understanding of what the Smart Grid is and the changes it will bring about in the U.S. electric industry.

The current grid in the United States is based on technology that was invented more than one hundred years ago. Today, it is inefficient, congested, and incapable of meeting the future energy needs of the Information Economy without changes in operations and investment of significant capital over the next several decades. To meet the challenges of the future, the grid must undergo a transition from a centralized, producer-controlled network to a decentralized, user-interactive one. Not only will the technology involved in the electric grid change, but the entire business model of the industry will change too.

The Development of the Smart Grid in the U.S. provides electric industry participants with the knowledge they need to begin implementing the Smart Grid. Topics covered in the report include:

• Overview of the characteristics that define the Smart Grid
• Identification of the components that make up the Smart Grid
• Analysis of deficiencies of the current grid and the need for new investment
• Discussion of how the Smart Grid differs from the current grid
• Identification of the key concepts involved in transitioning to a Smart Grid
• Analysis of the benefits of a Smart Grid for both market participants and society in general
• Evaluation of the impact of the Smart Gird on electric industry participants
• Identification of government legislation to support development of the Smart Grid
• Discussion of utility efforts to implement the Smart Grid in the U.S.
• Discussion of industry efforts to develop standards for and support implementation of the Smart Grid

The Development of the Smart Grid in the U.S. comes in Adobe Acrobat PDF format and is available via electronic download, CD-ROM or Hardcopy for $299.