The state’s Public Service Commission sent their chairman to Washington this week to discuss smart grids for electricity use. PSC Chairman Kevin Gunn says the energy grid is the series of electrical wires that bring power to our homes, but with some changes, we could make it smarter, and cheaper.
Gunn says once the grid is updated, Missourians can use smart meters, which monitor how much electricity a house uses, and keeps track of how much it will cost. People can also set timers on lights, air conditioners and other energy-efficient appliances from one place, so they’ll turn off when they aren’t needed. The theory is people will use less energy that way.
Gunn says 85 percent of Missouri’s energy comes from coal, which allows us to produce a lot of power. In fact, we export power to other states. But, this becomes a problem in our future because as environmental protection agency standards increase and coal becomes less available, prices will go up. Gunn says if we want stability in our prices, we should be proactive in updating our grid.