For years there’s been talk of broadband over power lines as an alternative way to deliver Internet into the home. Today I heard about an interesting concept–using broadband to complement the delivery of energy into homes. I’ll call it power over broadband lines (PBL).
Today the Technology Policy Institute hosted an interesting conference on Energy public policy issues. Kathryn Brown of Verizon discussed the idea of a “smart grid” and the way that broadband and ICT can help add to the smarts. Energy meters in the home could tap into the ‘Net to help users monitor and evaluate their energy use. Energy companies could also use broadband communication networks to better monitor distribution and be alerted to problems on the energy grid.
Maybe, just maybe, the power of the Internet can come help rescue an energy industry that faces many technical, regulatory and environmental challenges.
The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.