Before smart grid had a name
THE STORY STARTED LONG BEFORE RENEWABLES AND AI.
Jim was already working with utilities and energy companies in the late 1990s and early 2000s on deregulation, web self-service, interval metering, distributed generation, grid communications, resilience and the digital oilfield.
1999-2000
Consumers Energy / CMS
Electronic bill presentment, web self-service and new customer communication models in deregulated energy markets.
2000-2004
Toronto Hydro / Enersource
Interval metering, remote bill presentment and the idea that utility customers would actively manage consumption and price.
2002
NRECA
Thousands of rural electric cooperative leaders challenged not to let a downturn stall investment in community technology, distributed generation and modern grid infrastructure.
2003
Blackout Resilience
After the massive North American blackout, Jim focused on backup power, microgrids, local generation and resilience against transmission failure.
2004
Shell Smart Fields
Real-time reservoir surveillance and IT-enabled oilfield operations aimed at higher production and lower operating expense.
2005-2006
UTC / BC Hydro / CAPPA
Utility telecom, SCADA, smart grid communications, conservation culture, wind, solar, bio-energy and the changing economics of petroleum.
Distributed generation was the Internet of power: decentralized, resilient and built from many connected nodes.
The long view
BEFORE “SMART GRID” WAS A BUZZWORD.
Jim was already speaking to utilities and energy organizations about digital customer care, distributed generation, interval meters, blackout resilience, bio-energy and networked field operations in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
1999–2000
Digital Customer & Deregulation
Consumers Energy / CMS Energy, Toronto Hydro and Nova Scotia Power: electronic bill presentment, web self-service, changing customer expectations and the implications of deregulated markets.
2001–2004
Smart Metering & Customer Control
SaskPower, SaskEnergy and utility audiences: interval metering, remote energy management and the idea that customers would become active managers of their own consumption.
2002
Distributed Generation
NRECA annual meeting: do not let a market downturn stall investment in community technology, localized generation and the infrastructure required for the next grid.
2003
Blackout Resilience
After the North American blackout, Jim focused on backup generation, microgrids, distributed generation and local energy systems as a hedge against transmission failure.
2004
Smart Fields & Bio-Energy
Shell’s “Smart Fields” vision, real-time reservoir surveillance, and centralized biogas systems that turned manure and organic waste into electricity.
2005–2006
Grid Communications & Conservation
Utility Telecom Council, BC Hydro Power Smart and CAPPA: SCADA, utility communications, energy conservation, wind, solar, bio-energy and the changing economics of petroleum.
Distributed generation was the Internet of power: more nodes, more intelligence, more resilience, and less dependence on a single path.
