How much is a usefull amount of electricity?

What a smart grid is

The function of an Electrical grid is not a single entity but an aggregate of multiple networks and multiple power generation companies with multiple operators employing varying levels of communication and coordination, most of which is manually controlled. Smart grids increase the connectivity, automation and coordination between these suppliers, consumers and networks that perform either long distance transmission or local distribution tasks.

* Transmission networks move electricity in bulk over medium to long distances, are actively managed, and generally operate from 345kV to 800kV over AC and DC lines.
* Local networks traditionally moved power in one direction, "distributing" the bulk power to consumers and businesses via lines operating at 132kV and lower.

This paradigm is changing as businesses and homes begin generating more wind and solar electricity, enabling them to sell surplus energy back to their utilities. Modernization is necessary for energy consumption efficiency, real time management of power flows and to provide the bi-directional metering needed to compensate local producers of power. Although transmission networks are already controlled in real time, many in the US and European countries are antiquated[14] by world standards, and unable to handle modern challenges such as those posed by the intermittent nature of alternative electricity generation, or continental scale bulk energy transmission.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_grid

Could I ask you, Dadpad, what your yearly heating/cooling load is?

Maybe to get a handle on what it's like where you are, ... do you know the heating degree days and the cooling degree days?

Sum'in tells me that the latter is quite a bit bigger than the former?

I do not understand what is meant by heating degree days and cooling degree days.

Heating Degree Day

Heating degree day (HDD) are quantitative indices designed to reflect the demand for energy needed to heat a home or business. These indices are derived from daily temperature observations, and the heating requirements for a given structure at a specific location are considered to be directly proportional to the number of HDD at that location. A similar index, cooling degree day' (CDD), reflects the amount of energy used to cool a home or business.

HDD are defined relative to a base temperature - the outside temperature above which a building needs no heating. The most appropriate base temperature for any particular building depends on the temperature that the building is heated to, and the nature of the building (including the heat-generating occupants and equipment within it).

For calculations relating to any particular building, HDD should be selected with the most appropriate base temperature for that building. However, for historical reasons HDD are often made available with base temperatures of 18°C (65°F), or 15.5°C (60°F) - base temperatures that are approximately appropriate for a good proportion of buildings.

continued at,


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heating_degree_day

jtt: Sum'in tells me that the latter is quite a bit bigger than the former?

DP: I think you'd be wrong. Although that has a lot to do with the very old drafty house i live in.