Vision
The U.S. electric power system is in the midst of a fundamental transition from a centrally planned and utility-controlled structure to one that will depend on competitive market forces for investment, operations, and reliability management. Electricity system operators are being challenged to maintain the reliability of the grid and support economic transfers of power as the industry's structure changes and market rules evolve. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy depends more than ever on reliable and high-quality electricity supplies. New technologies are needed to prevent major outages such as those experienced on August 14, 2003, which cost an estimated $4-10 billion and affected 10's of millions of customers.
CERTS' Vision is to:
- Transform the electricity grid into an intelligent network that can sense and respond automatically to changing flows of power and emerging problems;
- Enhance reliability management through market mechanisms, including transparency of real-time information on the status of the grid;
- Empower customers to manage their energy use and reliability needs in response to real-time market price signals; and
- Seamlessly integrate distributed technologies—including those for generation, storage, controls, and communications—to support the reliability needs of both the grid and individual customers.