Conclusion

Across the country, states and utilities are busy building the grid of the future, transforming the transitional passive, electrical and electromechanical grid into an active electronic grid with dynamic control. The technology drivers for grid modernization include:

• Bringing electronic technologies and semiconductor devices to meters at the edge of the grid.
• Integrating distributed renewable generation resources.
• Adapting to electrical transportation systems and their charging infrastructure.
• Making improvements in grid monitoring, protection and control.

Modernizing the grid and the controls that communicate and work together to deliver electricity more reliably and efficiently greatly reduces the frequency and duration of power outages, diminishes the impact of storms, and restores service faster when outages occur. Updating an aging system is not easy, and it will not be accomplished quickly, but it ultimately proves beneficial to society and the economy for decades to come.