Austin Energy Launched First Utility Generation Mix Online Game Ever

On Monday, we introduced and launched our "Change Your Generation" game to continue to grow our global leadership in the industry. This is the very first of its kind generation mix simulation game by any electric utility to help stakeholders, partners, professionals, teachers, students and citizens at large to understand and learn the details of our generation mix challenges as an industry and society. The game is open to anyone in the world.

To play the game click here http://changeyourgeneration.austinenergy.com/

Below is an article posted by KEYETV on their website about our game.

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Austin Energy launches online game

Monday March 30, 2009

The Who aren’t the only ones talking about their generation.

Austin Energy launched its new program “Change Your Generation” which is designed to help educate energy rate payers and get feedback as to what energy resources people want to use in the future.

This is not your typical website game – there are no levels, enemies or bonus points. Instead, players are given 100 megawatts of energy to distribute among a variety of energy resources in order to determine what combination will help the community.

As participants select options on the screen it shows the consequences or benefits of using or depleting some energy resources such as coal, natural gas, solar power and wind. The goal of the game is to meet the projected electric demand in the Austin area over the next 11 years.

The game is part of a public participation process which began in November to survey community preferences on how to power the Austin area in upcoming years.

http://www.keyetv.com/news/local/story/Austin-Energy-launches-online-game/9dTdZGZshE6sQhzhhggKlw.cspx?rss=909

Austin Energy named Top Tier Smart Grid Utility in the US

Thank you to Jesse Berst for publishing the article below and acknowledging that Texas is a top tier Smart Grid state in the US. Furthermore, I want to thank him for naming Austin Energy the top tear Smart Grid Public Power Utility in the nation and one of the six top tier Smart Grid Utilities in the US.

Austin Energy has been on the Smart Grid journey since 2003. We are currently managing 200,000 devices real-time (smart meters, smart thermostats, computers, sensors, network elements) covering 1/3 of our service territory. By July 2009 (yes, this year), we will grow that capacity to managing 500,000 devices real-time and be servicing 100% our service territory. Effectively, by July 2009, Austin Energy will have the first full service territory Smart Grid ever built by any utility in the US.

Once again, our Smart Grid includes smart meters, smart thermostats, sensors, computers, and network elements across our entire service territory and covering 100% of all our customers (1 million consumers and 43,000 businesses).

Jesse's article follows. And I have included a link to get you there as well.

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Smart Grid Leadership: The Top Ten “Smartest” States in 2009
March 24, 2009 by Jesse Berst

With over $4 billion in Washington DC’s stimulus money now available for Smart Grid improvements and innovations, the burden now falls on the states to use these funds effectively and efficiently. The goal, as Smart Grid News’ Stimulus Scorecard makes clear, is to help consumers, utilities, the nation and the planet win.

Given that the world is moving to an Electricity Economy, modernizing the grid is one of the smartest things any state can do to ensure it will remain globally competitive. But which states have made the most progress? And which are now in the best position to deploy recently released stimulus dollars productively?

I asked a cross section of the brightest Smart Grid experts around the country for the ten “smartest” states in America. To my surprise, there was a strong consensus about who’s leading the charge toward a modernized electricity system. So, without further hesitation, here are the top ten smart grid states, as measured by their progress in policy, planning and implementation:

Tier 1

California: The Golden State is at the top of everyone’s list. On the policy side, regulators are out in front, pushing new Smart Grid practices. For their part, the state’s three big utilities – SCE, SDGE, and PG&E – have each developed best practice studies and frameworks that can help the rest of the country grasp the benefits of Smart Grid improvements. The three utilities are also rolling out smart meters to all of their customers. And, in terms of stimulus readiness, the state’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has vowed to get more stimulus money than any other state in the nation.

Texas: The Lone Star State is just behind California as the current Smart Grid leader. From a policy perspective, however, Texas is not quite as proactive as California. But three of its utilities – CenterPoint Energy, Oncor, and Austin Energy – are as progressive as any in the country, and they are well under way with smart meter rollouts. The next breakthrough here will be integrating a host of digital tools for the Smart Grid.

Tier 2

Florida: The Sunshine State has established a strong build out for the Smart Grid – especially in the area of load control and communications infrastructure. A major utility, FP&L, has many substantive programs and is planning a number of new rollouts that will advance Smart Grid efforts.

Illinois: The Prairie State has been cited for its collaborative approach to the Smart Grid. This involves and engages communities up and down and all across the state. Tight community linkage is crucial for optimal Smart Grid success.

Pennsylvania: The Keystone State is the nation’s leader when it comes to smart meter installation; a 2008 report from FERC indicates that advanced metering penetration has reached nearly 25 percent in Pennsylvania.

West Virginia: The Mountain State is about to unveil a fully integrated statewide Smart Grid plan. Experts are impressed by this comprehensive approach at such an early stage.

Ohio: The Buckeye State has a group of enlightened policy makers who have stressed smart grid education.

Tier 3

New Jersey: The Garden State’s guiding light on the Smart Grid, Commissioner Fred Butler, is a progressive pragmatist who also serves as the Chairman of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), where he is spearheading studies on standards and best practices for the Smart Grid.

Connecticut: The Constitution State is considered a Smart Grid policy and build-out leader. A supporter of Energy Improvement Districts, Connecticut has begun to increase use of distributed generation and demand response programs.

Colorado: The Centennial State has lots going for it in the Smart Grid world: First, Xcel's 100,000-person Smart Grid city; second, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Boulder; and finally, Governor Bill Ritter, who is a big believer in Colorado’s new energy economy.

States to Watch

Michigan: DTE Energy is a forward-thinking utility that will enhance Smart Grid upgrades.

New York: Utilities in the state have done innovative research on the Smart Grid and how it would fare in dense urban areas.

Hawaii: The Department of Energy has selected Hawaii as a Smart Grid test case because of fossil-fuel dependence.

Indiana: Duke Energy’s plan for smart meter installation is currently under consideration by the state.

These informal Smart Grid rankings are a snapshot in time. Our electricity system is about to undergo major changes, thanks – in part – to federal stimulus funding.

In such a dynamic environment, it’s unclear who will be the Smart Grid leaders and followers in 2010. It’s also hard to say which states will be able to stay ahead in all three major smart grid categories – policy-making, planning, and implementation.

That said, there are already many lessons to learn right now – in how to plan, how to set policy, and even how to pursue stimulus dollars – from regulators and utilities in states like California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut and Colorado. These lessons will be invaluable if we are to keep pace with China, Europe and the Middle East, all of which are aggressively upgrading their electricity grids.

So, as we close the first quarter of a very eventful 2009, these are the country’s “smartest” states.

A version of this article previously appeared in GreenTech Media.

http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/commentary/Smart_Grid_Leadership_The_Top_Ten_Smartest_States_in_2009-546.html

Andres Carvallo to Deliver Opening Keynote at Storage Networking World

I have been asked by Ron Milton to deliver the opening visionary keynote for Computerworld's Storage Networking World (SNW).

SNW is the world’s largest event for IT end-users, vendors, channel partners, press and analysts involved in storage, data center, infrastructure, and business continuity.

At SNW, you can choose from over 190 educational sessions and network with peers from around the globe-plus visit with top solutions providers in the world's largest Expo devoted to storage and related technologies. This is your opportunity to amass reliable, firsthand, practical knowledge in only a few days, set at a luxurious resort environment.

http://www.snwusa.com/

SXSW Interactive 22nd Year Kicks-Off in Austin, TX

SXSW Interactive daily picks: parties, panels and more
What to do and where to go at South by Southwest Interactive? The choices can be overwhelming and you always feel like you’re missing something.

Friday, March 13
Thom Singer writes and speaks about networking, and today he discusses how to make connections at SXSW Interactive during “Core Conversation: The Conference Networking Catalyst” (2 p.m., Room 19B). To read some of Singer’s advice, visit statesman.com/lifeguide. You can also get ready for the rest of the conference at “How to Rock SXSW: The Basics” (3:30 p.m., Room 18BCD).
“The Ecosystem of News” is the first of several panels on the future of the news business (3:30 p.m., Room 12AB).
If you’re facing career transition (and who isn’t these days?), Jonathan Fields reads from his book “Career Renegade” (4:30 p.m., Day Stage).
More panel picks: “Everything You Know About Web Design Is Wrong” (2 p.m., Room A); “Social Engineering: Scam Your Way Into Anything or From Anybody” (5 p.m., Room 18BCD); “Try Making Yourself More Interesting” (5 p.m., Room A).Nighttime events: “Pastries and Pasties! A Burlesque Cupcake Cookoff!” 9 p.m., Emos, 603 Red River St. Free to badge-holders.

Saturday, March 14
Last year’s panel by the staff of The Onion News Network was a hit. This year’s must-see panel for comedy fans is “Comedy on Television and the Web” (5 p.m., Room A) featuring Ricky Van Veen of CollegeHumor.com and B.J. Novak, producer and Ryan Howard on “The Office.”
Tony Hsieh, the popular CEO of online shoe seller Zappos.com, presents the opening remarks (2 p.m., Room A) on how to build a massive audience for a brand.
Where is old media going in a new-media world? Call us curious. Designers at the Gray Lady explain “Designing the Future of the New York Times” (5 p.m, Hilton C).
Last year’s sudden video-game celebrity Jonathan Blow, who made the breakout downloadable game “Braid,” speaks on “Being Indie and Successful in the Video Game Industry” (3:30 p.m., Room 6). The panel also includes Ron Carmel of 2D Boy, the company that made fan fave “World of Goo.”
More panel picks:“Curating the Crowd-Sourced World” (11:30 a.m., Room C), “What Your Startup Can Learn from Barack Obama and Howard Dean” (11:30 a.m., Room 9), “Feed Me: Bite Size Info for a Hungry Internet” (3:30, Room B), “HOWTO: 149 Surprising Ways to Turbocharge Your Blog With Credibility!” (3:30 p.m., Room 18BCD).Nighttime events: Dorkbot (6 p.m., East Tent, Brush Square Park across from Convention Center) is always a mix of cool gadgets and extreme geek culture. The legendary Frog Design Opening Party (8 p.m., Mexican American Cultural Center) never disappoints. Last year, it featured fire dancers and Grupo Fantasma. Free drinks for badge-holders at both events.

Sunday, March 15
Nate Silver, the numbers wiz at fivethirtyeight.com who correctly predicted much of what went down in the 2008 presidential election, is the Sunday keynote interview. (2 p.m. Room A)
Several day events deal with tech and women’s issues including “That’s Not My Name: Beating Down Online Misogyny” (10 a.m. Room 8), “Moms Who Tech” (11:30 a.m. Room 19B) and an interview with Blogher founder Elisa Camahort (3 p.m. Studio SX) by Time Out NY columnist Julia Allison.
Joss Whedon company player Felicia Day (“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”) is on the “No Budget to Low Budget” Web video panel. (10 a.m. Room 12AB).
Singer/songwriter Jonathan Coulton, Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos and Burnie Burns of Austin’s Rooster Teeth Productions lead a star-studded panel, “Marketing Meets New Media: Building Your Audience Online” (3:30 p.m. Room 12AB).
More panel picks: “From Flickr and Beyond: Lessons in Community Management” (3:30 p.m. Room A), “Your Personal Blog is Dead” (3:30 p.m., Room 5A), “Video Blogging: Turning Wine Into Gold” (5 p.m. Room A).Nighttime events: Adobe’s 12th-Annual SXSW Web Awards Ceremony (7:30 p.m. Hilton Austin, 500 E. Fourth St.) celebrates the best of the Web, and the Facebook Friends.Get Party hits downtown. (9:30 p.m. Pangaea, 409 Colorado St.) The American-Statesman’s Texas Social Media Awards holds its first party to celebrate social media and award an overall winner. (6 p.m., Ballet Austin, Tickets $15).

Monday, March 16
This year’s lineup boasts some interesting panels about women and the Web, including “Grokking Bloggers: It’s About Love and Underpants” (10 a.m., Room C). Elisa Camahort of BlogHer talks about women’s avid adoption of Web 2.0 tools. It’s followed by “Are Women Taken More Seriously on the Web?” (11:30 a.m., Room C).
Get a double dose of perennial SXSW favorite Kathy Sierra today: She’s part of the “Presenting Straight to the Brain” panel (10 a.m., Room A), and later she presents “Change Your World in 50 Minutes: Making Breakthroughs Happen” (3:30 p.m., Room A).
The best-selling authors of “The Power of Nice” are now talking about “The Power of Small” (10 a.m., Room 10).
Virginia Heffernan of The New York Times talks with artist James Powderly in today’s keynote interview (2 p.m., Room A).
Bruce Sterling’s pronouncements are a SXSW mainstay (5 p.m., Room A).
More panel picks: “Beyond Aggregation — Finding the Web’s Best Content” (10 a.m., Hilton Room A); “Shift Happens: Moving From Words to Pictures” (10 a.m., Hilton Room C); “WhiteHouse.gov 2.0: Upgrading to Open Source Government” (3:30 p.m., Hilton Room D). Nighttime events: “Interactive at the Movies: The Two Bobs.” (7 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave.). The gaming-themed movie by Tim McCanlies (“Iron Giant” screenplay) plays for Interactive badge-holders.

Tuesday, March 17
“Ur Blog Sux and Print Is Dead” features a lineup of blogging all-stars (Ben Huh of I Can Has Cheezburger?, Christian Lander of Stuff White People Like, Kerry Miller of Passive-Aggressive Notes, Heather “Dooce” Armstrong and ex-Wonkette Ana Marie Cox) talking about, appropriately enough, blogging success (11:30 a.m. Room 18BCD).
We were charmed when the 1960s characters from “Mad Men” showed up talking with each other on Twitter. The perpetrators of it all explain how it happened at “Behind the Scenes with Mad Men on Twitter” (2 p.m. Room 18BCD).
Leaders at popular Web destinations Fark.com, Ars Technica and BlogHer talk about “Building Strong Online Communities” (11:30 a.m. Room A).
Today’s keynote interview features former Apple Fellow and venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki interviewing Chris Anderson (“The Long Tail”) about “the power of free” (2 p.m. Room A).
More panel picks: “The State of the Internet Memescape: 2008-10” (10 a.m. Room 18BCD); “Photojournalism in 2009 and The Big Picture” (10 a.m. Room 10); “Digital Tsunami: Breaking News at Breakneck Speed” (11:30 a.m. Room B); “Designing Change in America”(3:30 p.m. Room 8).Nighttime events: Media Temple Closing Party (7 p.m. La Zona Rosa, 612 W. Fourth St

http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/digitalsavant/entries/sxsw_2009/

Andres Carvallo to Keynote CIO Global Forum

I have been invited to deliver a visionary keynote in day two of the event. I will be delivering my vision of "The New Energy Ecosystem" in which I recount the transformation of the electric industry business models and technologies and possible future scenarios that will create a new powerful worldwide economy.

The CIO Global Forum is an invitation only private conference for the top leading Global CIOs. The Forum is run by an advisory board made of Global CIOs. Prior advisory board members include the CIOs from DirecTV, MaterCard, Kroger, WebMD, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Northrop Gruman, and many others.

The Forum is focus on solving the most pressing issues and forecasting the most relevant new technologies and trends in the hi-tech industry with business value.

http://www.cxogf.com/

Andres Carvallo to Speak at APPA on Smart Grid

I have been invited by the American Public Power Association to deliver my "Building the Smart Grid" presentation, in which I recount the strategy and journey of the nation's very first Smart Grid to be built here in Austin, TX by Summer 2009.

The American Public Power Association has been hosting their annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference for 53 years in a row. The Engineering & Operations Conference was founded to meet the unique needs of professionals charged with designing, developing and maintaining the electric systems across the country.

http://www.appanet.org/events/index.cfm?ItemNumber=21725