Electric Utilities Seek Spectrum Allocation in Broadband Plan Comments

Wireless technologies will play a greater role in management of the grid, especially given the growth of rooftop solar panels and wind turbines and other distributed power sources, said Edison Electric Institute, the main electric utility association. EEI cited studies that show utilities need at lest 30 MHz of spectrum to meet their needs.

Critical infrastructure industries “have been losing access to spectrum, due to refarming, rebanding, and pure reallocation forcing their removal from several critical allocations,” EEI said. “This has resulted in increased congestion and interference to existing radio systems, as well as systems that are more costly to retain the same amount of reliable coverage.” Electric utilities can’t rely on commercial services which can become overloaded and unavailable during emergencies, EEI said.

The Utilities Telecom Council filed similar comments, also urging a 30 MHz allocation in the 1800-1830 MHz band. “This band is already reserved in Canada for utility purposes,” UTC said. “A harmonized allocation with Canada would promote interoperability with Canadian utilities that interconnect with U.S. utilities. It would promote equipment development and availability by creating a larger market that would attract manufacturers and investment.” While the band is in government hands it could be shared with utilities “consistent with federal policies encouraging spectrum sharing among public and private entities,” UTC said.

Southern Co. said utilities are still developing their smart grid plans, which it said is “an extraordinarily complex process” handled differently by different utilities. One common thread, the company said, is the need for additional spectrum. “Utilities already face significant spectrum constraints even as their need for spectrum is rapidly increasing,” the utility said. “Additional spectrum is therefore needed to expand or augment the capabilities of existing systems and facilitate the implementation of Smart Grid and other critical utility communications needs.” But any spectrum “should be in addition to -- not a replacement for -- existing spectrum currently used by utilities, and the use of this new spectrum should be optional, not mandatory,” it said.

“FPL would support the allocation of dedicated, fee free, spectrum to meet critical business operations that require the ability to overcome issues of vegetation, distance, climate and topology,” said Florida Power & Light. “Examples of these operations include Substation Communications, SCADA and other areas identified as Critical Infrastructure. FPL today uses wired solutions to mitigate these concerns.”

The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association countered that the FCC shouldn’t just give away spectrum for smart-grid operations, as UTC and utilities ask. “Several electric utility commenters in this docket have suggested that 30 MHz of spectrum in the 1800 - 1830 MHz band should be set aside for smart grid applications to match a Canada bandwidth allocation proceeding, and that this spectrum should be assigned auction-free or without cost,” NTCA said. “Spectrum is too valuable a resource for the Commission to give away for smart grids.” Assigning 30 MHz for smart grids would “cut deeply into the limited available supply of spectrum, and the Commission has not prioritized smart grid as a spectrum use higher than other broadband applications,” NTCA said.

The Wi-Fi Alliance asked the FCC to consider allocating a spectrum block below 1 GHz for Wi-Fi-like operations for smart grids. “The Wi-Fi Alliance applauds the efforts of the FCC to consider the Smart Grid application under the National Broadband Plan. These efforts to improve communications and control of utility infrastructure can only pay dividends of energy and resource conservation while allowing consumers to access information that will aid in their day to day energy usage decisions,” the group said.

Major phone and cable companies said existing commercial networks are capable of supporting the smart grid. Qwest said it’s “far more cost effective” to use commercial networks “than to spend precious stimulus money or other government resources to overbuild those networks.” Verizon agreed: “Not only are such multi-use wireline and wireless networks already in place throughout most of the country, but also the providers who manage and operate those networks possess the experience and competence needed to support the required communications capabilities in an efficient, reliable and secure manner.”

NCTA said existing cable broadband facilities can support smart grid at low cost to the majority of U.S. consumers. That “a small minority” of utility customers lack an existing broadband connection “should not be used as a rationale to support the construction -- or subsidization - - of new parallel networks or spectrum giveaways,” it said. AT&T agreed: “To the extent that a utility requires expanded coverage or enhanced network performance not presently available from the services commercial communications operators offer to consumers, utilities can negotiate service level agreements with commercial communications operators to facilitate the expansion of network coverage or to obtain guarantees of enhanced network performance, such as through the use of managed services.”

For customer premises, carrier and cable services including wireless data networks “may be reasonable solutions, especially where utilities would be permitted and find it advantageous to negotiate bulk service rates,” said Hewlett Packard. The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions said “existing communications standards and technologies are well suited” for smart grid applications. However, it urged the utility industry “to better define its broadband requirements and to work with the information and communications technology (ICT) sector’s standards development organizations to establish necessary technical and operational standards.”

Bad net neutrality rules could “hamper” commercial carriers’ ability to deliver smart grid networks, AT&T said. The national broadband plan “should recognize the ability of commercial communications operators to manage network traffic to ensure effective routing of Smart Grid data,” the carrier said. Also, the smart grid should be interoperable and based on the Internet Protocol standard, which commercial operators “readily” support, it said.

States can provide an objective picture about what technologies provide the most benefits at the least cost, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners said. “Most commercial or company comments will necessarily be driven by the company’s bottom line.” Federal and state regulators should work as partners to ensure the success of smart grid networks, it said. “The federal government has resources the States do not; the States have expertise in the development and implementation of programs the federal government lacks.”

In other comments, consumer privacy groups raised red flags about possible disclosure of consumer information. Smart grid technologies “will collect an unprecedented amount of highly detailed information about consumer energy consumption,” said the Center for Democracy & Technology. “This granular usage data reveals deeply personal information about consumer habits, and about consumer activities within the private space of the home.” That data could be used by utilities, third-party businesses, law enforcement and criminals, it said. The existing “patchwork” of state and federal laws don’t “provide adequate protection for the categories and quantities of data that may be generated by the Smart Grid.”

The Future of Privacy Forum said it’s formed a smart grid privacy working group “composed of companies committed to advancing the goals of the Smart Grid while maintaining user privacy.” The group aims to “promote transparent data practices that are practical for businesses and yet also ensure personal autonomy for consumers.”

Meanwhile, a coalition of Ohio consumers said they fear a smarter grid means higher utility prices. The FCC public notice made no mention that the smart grid effort could cost “billions and even tens of billions of dollars to already overstrained family and business budgets,” it said. “No mention is made of how such costs would be recovered, who would pay for such costs, when would these costs be recovered, and whether there would be any ’so-called’ stranded costs for older metering systems which would be replaced by these newer systems.”