• Attempts to create a smarter and more adaptive grid that shows real-time demand and helps everyone adjust accordingly is hamstrung by pricing structures.
• A Battle Group study found that 99% of electric customers are billed on outmoded flat-rate price structures.
• A different study found that two-thirds of ComEd's 3 million customers in Illinois would save a median of 9% a year if real-time pricing were in effect.

From the article:

While most of the U.S. is moving to develop a smarter grid, many utilities still implement tired, static rate structures – a practice that is costing the industry and customers both energy and financial savings.

As energy demand and rates continue to rise, utilities and customers want to reduce consumption and save money. Adjusting rate structures is one avenue to accomplish this, according to speakers at a recent demand response meeting in Washington, DC. ...