Understanding and acceptance of the Smart Grid concept is one of the main hurdles to full implementation of smart grid, according to a survey conducted by the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP).

Ninety five percent of the respondents said that the consumer does not understand the meaning of the term Smart Grid, according to the survey conducted among professionals in the energy efficiency sector of the industry.

Over 75 percent of the surveyed respondents said Smart Grid technology can be used to significantly lower electricity consumption and electric bills.

"Clearly there is a lot of confusion about what is meant by the term Smart Grid," said Meg Matt, CEO of AESP, in a statement. "That means we need to do a better of job of explaining what the Smart Grid is -- and isn't.”

“The Smart Grid is important not only for enhancing energy efficiency, but for ensuring reliable delivery of energy to the consumer in the near- and long-term future, as the existing power grid continues to age and as demand increases," Matt added.

Resistance to smart metering is still high. The resistance can be a major challenge to bringing online the more sophisticated back-end less visible elements of the Smart Grid, including comprehensively digitizing the electricity delivery system, according to the AESP survey.  

According to fifty one percent of the surveyed respondents, customer resistance to smart metering technology will be a significant factor in slowing implementation of the Smart Grid.

However, 68 percent of the respondents reported that customers’ concerns about the smart grid, which range from privacy issues to radiation, are not justified.

Recently, market research firm Frost & Sullivan said that smart grids are about building, expanding, operating and maintaining the electricity networks of the future in a way that will also help meet the European Union (EU)'s 20/20/20 climate change objectives.  

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