Industry experts expect the Smart Grid to provide a wide range of benefits, but until the Smart Grid is built, it is difficult to quantify the impact of those benefits. DOE is working closely with the recipients of Recovery Act funds to monitor the progress of smart grid asset implementation, as well as quantify the impact of those investments. This section provides information on DOE’s approach for assessing the impact of smart grid technology on grid performance and consumer behavior.

Recovery Act Smart Grid Program funding recipients began reporting data on smart grid asset investments at the start of their projects. (See Tracking Deployments for reported data.) Recipients will begin reporting the impact on their transmission system, distribution system, and overall system load by the end of 2011.