The July/August 2014 issue of Electric Perspectives features an article by Council Chairman Jesse Berst on the need for cities to have a utility partner in their quest to be smart and sustainable. Below is a brief excerpt; you can click here to read the full article. Cities cannot become smart or sustainable city without a utility partner. Energy plays a critical role in almost every aspect of a city. It pumps the water people drink and processes the waste they create. It lights and heats homes, schools and businesses. It fuels cars, light rail and subways and powers the technologies that are the foundation of a smart city. Energy (especially electricity) is one of the two pillars of a smart city. The other pillar is telecommunications. It's not that these two things are more important than other issues such as transportation, economic development and education. But the solution to those other issues inevitably rely upon electricity and telecommunications.
