SAN MATEO, California, September 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Chris King, Chief Regulatory Officer at eMeter, a global smart grid software platform provider, is urging policymakers to adopt a universal Smart Grid vision for consumers in response to slow deployment of consumer-oriented smart meter functionality.

To meet consumer needs while fulfilling policy goals, global leaders are urged to share an emerging consensus vision of Smart Grid benefits:

• At the societal level:
  • Huge financial savings via improved load factor and system efficiency
  • Faster and wider adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles
  • Primary policy tool to achieve policy goals of energy savings, renewable portfolio standards, and emission reductions
• At the consumer level, empowerment via:
  • Access to detailed energy information
  • Choice of time-based pricing options
  • Widespread availability of automated appliances and devices

World-wide experience has shown that these benefits are delivered most effectively when regulators establish specific smart meter installation and functionality targets.

"Financial savings due to higher system efficiencies and the wider adoption of renewable energy are possible if Government leaders set uncomplicated compelling high-level vision for the Smart Grid," says King. "Leaders should leverage policies to allow the market to deliver creative solutions in order to fully achieve their Smart Grid goals and deliver benefits to both consumers and utilities."

The European Union's visionary policy of 80 percent meter installation by 2020 and 100 percent by 2022 is just one prominent example of forward thinking national policy. The United States on the other hand has visionary renewable portfolio standards and Smart Grid implementation policies on a state-wide level but no cohesive national policy for the country to reach its Smart Grid goals. Smart Grid planning continues to progress in countries such as Brazil and the UK and as more national policies are created, consumers empowered by energy consumption information will make smart energy choices with positive global effects.

King is an internationally recognized authority on energy regulation and competitive energy markets. He is widely recruited by regulators and legislators to consult on technology issues in electric restructuring and grid management.

King has testified before Congress and was instrumental in crafting the Smart Grid provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that paved the way for advanced metering initiatives in the US. In addition, King met with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and presented global Smart Grid benefits to delegations at the UN Business for Environment Summit in Seoul in April 2010.

King also founded the Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition based in Washington D.C., and is a co-founder and chairman of the Smart Energy Demand Coalition based in Brussels. He will address attendees of Metering, Billing/CRM Europe on October 3, 2011.

About eMeter

eMeter provides essential software that enables electric, gas and water utilities to realize the full benefits of Smart Grid. Leading utilities worldwide depend on eMeter Smart Grid Management software to reduce operational costs, improve customer service, and drive energy efficiency. With the most large-scale deployments in the industry and strategic partnerships with Accenture, IBM, Logica, and Siemens, eMeter has built a reputation for unparalleled expertise that ensures customer success. For more information visit: http://www.emeter.com.

SOURCE eMeter