Sep. 14, 2009 (The Korea Times) -- By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff Reporter
The nation's first smart grid energy service, in which electricity is delivered from suppliers to consumers monitored through digital technology, began Monday in a move to build the most intelligent form of energy network.
Consumers of high voltage electricity here will be able to use the Power Consumption Consulting System (PCCS), an energy portal service aimed at offering customers real-time information on their energy use and inducing them to save energy and reduce its related cost, Korea Electric Power Corp. (NYSE:KEP) (KEPCO) said Monday.
Under the system, customers can check the rates calculated from the previous meter-checking date, and predict the month's overall electricity charges through graphic data that enables them to analyze energy-consuming patterns during the period, according to the state-run energy firm.
The network also allows the efficient collection, analysis and management of energy demand through collected usage data to promote more reliable, affordable and environment-friendly operations for corporate customers, KEPCO added.
KEPCO plans to further expand the PCCS service, ultimately aiming to apply the network to all local costumers by 2020.
"As part of an advanced electric infrastructure, the PCCS is a huge achievement that lifted the nation's energy portal service to a smart grid network level," KEPCO said in a statement.
"With its cumulated know-how of operating an automatic meter reading system for the last decade, along with development of the PCCS service for nearly five years, the company successfully proved its ability to build and conduct smart grids," it added.
With competition intensifying between countries looking for ways to improve energy independence and combat global warming issues, Korea unveiled in June an ambitious scheme to be the world's first country to convert its electricity network into smart grids.
The government expects the project will bring immense economic effects to the country. The cutting-edge nationwide energy grid will generate a new market worth 68 trillion won ($55.5 billion) and create 500,000 new jobs annually, and also reduce the country's power consumption by 3 percent by the time it is completed, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.
By enabling utility firms to get an accurate view of energy use, smart grids could reduce as much as 41 million tons in carbon emissions, according to the ministry, and also allow the country to save around $10 billion in energy imports.
