Mark Spitzer, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

One word sums up the ability for designers to make progress in developing smart grid-smart car technology -- understanding. And that comprehension must be forged between the two main players in this process, utility companies and auto makers.

Mark Spitzer, a commissioner for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, delivered that key message at the lunch break of the OSU-PJM’s PHEV Summit.

“The utility sector model does not translate easily to the automotive model and those are the two huge business sectors in this country,” Spitzer said. “They have great difficulty communication with each other.”

But the two may well be wedded by economic, environmental and energy security necessities, Spitzer said. Today’s conference helps that process.

“This university’s work with businesses across the country is very profound,” Spitzer said. “Forging new alliance is very important.”

Both Democrats and Republicans are commissioners on the federal board, but as Spitzer pointed out, “energy is not a partisan issue.”

“We will continue the policy of open access in terms of the grid,” Spitzer said. “That sends a good signal to the industry that we want to solve problems.”

Spitzer said he would like to see more organized markets like PJM and he said the commission is committed to wholesale markets and regional transmission of energy.

Many challenges exist for evolving smart grids and cars, but Spitzer prefers to see opportunities. For instance, batteries are going to be expensive, but this technology should not be only for the rich.

“Electricity is the lifeblood of the country,” Spitzer said. “It’s a U.S. national security issue. We are exporting trillions in wealth to countries to buy oil from governments who are not supportive of our interests.”

Valerie Lemmie, a commissioner for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, spoke about the exciting times of these developments.

“We’ll see more changes and technological development over the next 20 years that we have in the past 100 years,” she said.

The PUCO strongly supports consumers being able to control usage, she said.

“So we need real-time pricing, it’s the best way to keep energy costs down,” Lemmie said.