The European Union recently announced concern that more than 55% of its energy still comes from outside of its jurisdiction. Therefore new legislations have been passed to force large utilities to promote to their customers a more frugal approach to energy usage, backed by massive investment in the renewable sector. The end goal is to reduce the energy reliance outside the EU.

Owing to this, leading energy experts of the NGU EU council (hosted by GDS International) have been summoned to construct a plan to cope with the transformation of the electric grid towards a networked infrastructure. However, this is fraught with several insecurities, as expert’s debate between a smart grid program and the inevitable modernization of existing infrastructure.

‘Verizon’ has been highlighted by the council as illuminating the energy industry, and will be prominent at the NGU EU Summit, in Vienna. Rilck Noel, Vice President (VP) and managing director (MD) of Verizon Business' global energy and utilities practice has been invited to give his thought leadership and will address conference participants on smart grid communications demonstrating Verizon’s leadership in delivering smart grid solutions to its customers.

"As the power industry employs more Internet protocol (IP)-based controls and machine-to-machine communications to monitor and control power generation, transmission and distribution, we can apply our communications expertise to help accelerate the adoption of smart grids" Said Rilck Noel.

The illustrious meeting also includes the respected Joao Torres Chief Executive Officer EDP Distribution and Michael Lewis Managing Director Europe for E-ON and is set to center on the collective role of advanced metering and smart grid technologies, their effect on consumers’ energy consumption, educating them on the importance of interconnectedness, interoperability, and feasibility of use.

“This meeting is essential for us to understand the implications of rolling out an intelligent grid system and help our customers to also understand the significance of smart grid deployment” states Kieran Barkley, the NGU council chair.

It’s no secret that the global energy and utility industry is experiencing extensive transformation. Smart grid conversion places enormous demands on all parts of the utility business. A unified approach across the industry will help aid this process as we look to a greener future.

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