Smarter, more efficient energy use requires an educated customer. DTE Energy and Southern California Edison's smart grid initiative programs focus on three core elements to help create a smarter customer: smart metering, smart circuits, and the smart home. Linking these three elements together is a wireless communications pathway, which connects smart meters to the home to enable load control and demand response applications, customer communication and data presentment. In addition, a home area network (HAN) provides advanced capabilities such as outage detection and restoration notification, remote device configuration and firmware updates. The HAN also provides support for new service options such as prepaid metering. Hear about SCE's smart grid strategy and its focus on Edison SmartConnect technology as well as how this foundation impacts customers. Likewise, DTE will discuss an upcoming pilot, the types of equipment used, and the structure of their pricing programs. Hear how both of these utilities leverage smart grid technology to empower and educate customers via interactive, in-home data presentation; conserve energy through home automation and smart appliances; and participate in demand response initiatives through peak-load reduction.

This is a two-part session with the first portion focusing on presentations, while part two will provide an informative and moderated discussion between panelists and engage the audience in an interactive Q&A opportunity. If you have questions you would like to field ahead of time, please email them to sarah.reedy@penton.com.

A Collaborative Panel Brought to you by Detroit Edison and Southern California Edison

Moderator:

Sarah Reedy,
Senior Editor
Connected Planet

Ms. Reedy is Senior Editor for Connected Planet (formerly TelephonyOnline), primarily covering wireless applications and services, Web 2.0, over-the-top and the smart grid. She graduated with honors from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism, emphasis in Magazine. Her previous work experience includes internships with Fleishman-Hillard, AT&T group; TelephonyOnline; Ingram's: Kansas City's business magazine; American Spa magazine, and QuizFest in NYC.

Speakers:

John Bubb,
Manager, SCE's Edison SmartConnect Product Management
Southern California Edison

Mr. Bubb has been leading Product Management for SCE's Edison SmartConnectTM program for the last year and a half. John is responsible for overseeing Program Quality, Contract Management, and Product Development. Prior to this, he provided technical leadership in the network architecture. He has been involved in all aspects of the technical architecture and utilizing systems engineering principles to deliver an adaptable and component based solution that can evolve over the life cycle of the metering and communications system. Prior to joining Edison SmartConnectTM, Mr. Bubb worked on a variety of networking and telecommunications projects to support electric system transmission and distribution including telephony, SONET and digital microwave transport, IP switching and network security. He has over 22 years of utility engineering and operations experience.

 

Stephen R. Johnson, Jr.,
Senior Product Marketing Manager
Itron

Mr. Johnson is currently a Senior Product Marketing Manager for Itron, focusing on "behind the meter" applications in smart grid systems, including demand response, dynamic pricing, PEVs, and customer engagement. He has been with Itron since 2002, and currently resides in Spokane, WA. Throughout his tenure at Itron, Mr. Johnson has focused on advanced electricity metering applications and data collection systems. Prior to joining Itron, he spent seven years working in precision agriculture, designing and marketing solutions that leverage site-specific data to provide operational efficiency and increased quality to agriculture cooperatives and crop consultants. Stephen obtained a B.S. and M.S. from Oklahoma State University.

 

Shaun Summerville,
Marketing Program Manger
Detroit Edison (DTE)

Mrs. Summerville is currently a Marketing Program Manger in Retail Marketing at Detroit Edison. In this position she is responsible for developing new products and services delivered through AMI that will be offered to Detroit Edison's customers. She has 3 years experience at DTE in several departments including Gas Operations as well as Corporate Finance. Prior to joining DTE, she worked for 7 years in the automotive industry in product development and vehicle operations and 3 years in the pharmaceutical industry in both production operations and product pricing. Mrs. Summerville has an MBA from Columbia University and a BS in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan.

 

Arthur Vos, IV,
Chief Technology Officer, Vice President of Strategy
Comverge

Mr. Vos joined Comverge in April 2003 as Vice President of Development for the 6DiNET Group after the acquisition of Sixth Dimension, Inc. Mr. Vos was named Vice President, Marketing, Products and Strategy in 2004. As co-founder and Vice President of Sixth Dimension from 1997 to April 2003, Mr. Vos has been extensively involved in the electric utility industry for over 12 years, including the development of Demand Response offerings based on real-time monitoring and control technology, strategic sales to electric utilities, alliances and joint product and development offerings with partner companies.

 

Seth Kiner,
Director, Customer Experience Management and Marketing
Southern California Edison

Mr. Kiner is Director, Customer Experience Management and Marketing, where he is responsible for development and implementation of Southern California Edison's Customer Experience, delivering integrated marketing strategy and outreach to SCE's 4.8 million customers, managing market research efforts to leverage customer input and managing customer satisfaction. Currently, he is on the executive leadership team that is designing and engaging customers in smart grid enabled services and technology, moving customers from passive users to engaged proactive smart energy consumers.