IBM to Update Vermont Comm. Network for Smart Grid

IBM and the Vermont Electric Power Co. have agreed to build a fiber optic and Carrier Ethernet communications network to support Vermont’s smart grid efforts, IBM announced Tuesday. 

IBM will provide program management and networking services for the network, which will connect transmission substations to Vermont’s distribution utilities. IBM said the network will relay information…

Verizon and Trilliant Deliver Next-Generation Public Network Smart Metering

Verizon Wireless and Trilliant announced Trilliant’s next-generation CellReader has been certified as compatible with the Verizon Wireless network. 

The CellReader “under-the-glass” communications module on Verizon’s network gives utilities easily deployed two-way AMI solutions that allow scheduled and on-demand access to all meter data. CellReader modules can integrated into existing meters.

Trilliant’s CellReader employs the ANSI C12.22 standard for data…

ABI Research Projects $39.5 Billion Will Be Spent on Smart City Technologies by 2016

ABI research reports that the $8.1 billion spent on smart city technologies in 2010 is projected to reach $39.5 billion by 2016.

There are currently 102 smart city projects worldwide including 35 in North America all containing the six dimensions for a smart city: smart economy, environment, governance,…

California Adopts First Cybersecurity Plan for Household Energy Meters

The California Public Utilities Commission recently adopted privacy rules for household smart meters to protect consumers from cyber intrusions that could compromise the security of energy use data and other private information. The decision marks the first of its kind for ensuring security measures.

As part of its efforts to build a smart grid…

White House Identifies Cybersecurity as Smart-grid Policy Concern

A White House smart-grid policy framework released this week has identified cybersecurity among the top priorities in the U.S. transition from an outdated electricity distribution system to a smart grid, InfoSecurity reports.

The policy paper also details other priorities, including enabling cost-effective smart grid investments, supporting innovation in the electricity…

Lockheed Martin to Provide Cybersecurity for Idaho Power Utility

Lockheed Martin today announced it has been selected to provide Idaho Falls Power with cybersecurity support for its utility smart grid operations.

The firm will support the power utility as it adopts a citywide, two-way communications Advanced Metering Infrastructure system, allowing the utility to securely gather and examine energy readings from advanced…

GovCon Heavy Hitters to Support European Smart Grid Cybersecurity Forum

A host of prominent government contractors have signed on to support the inaugural European Smart Grid Cyber Security Forum, taking place on the 14-15 March 2011 in London.

As governments and utilities around the world continue to work on the deployment of the Smart Grid initiative, cybersecurity issues surrounding the business model are…

Smart Grid Cyber Markets to See $3.7b by 2015

With the increasing push towards smart grid technology, security solutions to protect the smart grid are also likely to grow, according to a recent report.

By 2015, the cybersecurity market for protecting the smart grid is likely to reach $3.7 billion, a report by Pike Research claims. Under the funding for smart grid technology through the federal stimulus…

Leave My Electrons Alone: Security the Smart Grid

The use of the smart grid has been touted by many in government and in the private sector as a method to reduce energy prices, cut down on power glitches and increase the use of renewable resources. However, the system also has a number of security challenges that need to be addressed prior to implementation.

In a smart grid, the…

NIST Issues Second Draft of Smart-Grid Cybersecurity Plan

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued its second draft of its strategy, Smart Grid Cyber Security Strategy and Requirements, for public review.

The implementation of smart-grid technology opens up a variety of new vulnerabilities with the power grid. Foreign nations and terrorists would be capable of using cyberspace to take down the power grid throughout…