Chairman Wellinghoff Statement

Date July 16, 2009
Docket No. PL09-4-000
Item No. E-3

Chairman Jon Wellinghoff

Statement of
Chairman Jon Wellinghoff on
the Smart Grid Policy Statement
“The Smart Grid Policy Statement that we vote on today will help to inform and accelerate the smart grid
standards development process so that proposed standards will be submitted for Commission review and
approval in an expeditious manner.
I thank the team for their hard work, which has allowed the Commission to consider the thoughtful
comments of more than 70 parties.
When the Commission issued our Proposed Policy Statement on the Smart Grid in March of this year, I
said that I expected that the increased efficiency, reliability and flexibility of a “smart” electric system will
result in long-term savings for consumers. The comments submitted by many parties share this vision.
The Policy Statement adopts the priorities that we proposed in March. The Policy Statement also protects
consumers while providing cost recovery assurances to early moving utilities that invest in smart grid
technologies that meet specified criteria.
I look forward to the next steps in the Commission’s process of adopting smart grid standards.
Thank you.”