Smart Grid Customers' Acceptance and Engagement

This chapter provides energy systems researchers and decision makers with a good insight into the fundamental drivers of customer acceptance of the smart grid (SG) and the logical steps for their engagement to apply the SG technology and make it feasible in a timely manner. A SG is responsive to consumer, utility, and energy market needs by complete and dynamic implementation of systems and processes. Although utility‐customer relationships were one‐sided, utilities usually allocated most of their resources to energy generation, distribution, and ratemaking. The challenge of accomplishing more customer motivation with SG technology is among behavioral changes. The chapter explains challenges for SG customer engagement and policy recommendations. The main challenges entail privacy issues, radio frequency safety, and potential rate rises. Consumer engagement within the electric power industry is an evolving, ongoing process that is just on the beginning to emerge.