42 U.S.C. § 17381
Verified against govinfo.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on govinfo.gov ↗
It is the policy of the United States to support the modernization of the Nation’s electricity transmission and distribution system to maintain a reliable and secure electricity infrastructure that can meet future demand growth and to achieve each of the following, which together characterize a Smart Grid:
- (1)Increased use of digital information and controls technology to improve reliability, security, and efficiency of the electric grid.
- (2)Dynamic optimization of grid operations and resources, with full cyber-security.
- (3)Deployment and integration of distributed resources and generation, including renewable resources.
- (4)Development and incorporation of demand response, demand-side resources, and energy-efficiency resources.
- (5)Deployment of “smart” technologies (real-time, automated, interactive technologies that optimize the physical operation of appliances and consumer devices) for metering, communications concerning grid operations and status, and distribution automation.
- (6)Integration of “smart” appliances and consumer devices.
- (7)Deployment and integration of advanced electricity storage and peak-shaving technologies, including plug-in electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and thermal-storage air conditioning.
- (8)Provision to consumers of timely information and control options.
- (9)Development of standards for communication and interoperability of appliances and equipment connected to the electric grid, including the infrastructure serving the grid.
- (10)Identification and lowering of unreasonable or unnecessary barriers to adoption of smart grid technologies, practices, and services.