What is a Consumer Portal?

The consumer portal is at the interface of the electrical network and the customer. It is a set of functions and capabilities that enables services for utility customers and also enables advanced applications that benefit the electrical system operation. Examples of portal applications include AMR, demand response, real time pricing, theft detection, remote disconnect, energy management, DER interface and control, and outage detection. Technologies for major aspects of the consumer portal, communications, security, and networking are available. The wake of failed portal pilot projects left by the utility industry demonstrates the need for a standardized, open architecture and gateway to allow technology providers to develop equipment and applications that meet the evolving needs of utilities. Consumer portal requirements and standards are designed to accommodate the numerous protocols and technologies that are in place today serving consumers for non-energy-related services