27 March 2009 — State and federal regulators outlined what they think the Department of Energy must consider when it starts providing money for Smart Grid projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The regulators, who are members of the Smart Grid Collaborative jointly sponsored by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, developed the criteria to establish conditions under which Smart Grid projects could get funding through the stimulus.

The criteria fall into eight categories focusing on the conditions for the grants themselves, technologies, rate designs and regulatory issues.

The list suggests that DOE should require smart grid grant applicants to show how the project will provide for interoperability in the absence of approved standards, address cyber security concerns and maintain the grid integrity. It also says DOE's criteria should state that grant-funded projects should focus on both the transmission and distribution system and include a range of technologies — not just meter installation.

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