---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17381"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17381"
heading: "Statement of policy on modernization of electricity grid"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17381"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter IX — Smart Grid"
---

# §17381. Statement of policy on modernization of electricity grid


It is the policy of the United States to support the [modernization](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=9) of the Nation’s electricity transmission and distribution system to maintain a reliable and secure electricity infrastructure that can meet future demand growth and to achieve each of the following, which together characterize a Smart Grid:

- (1) Increased use of digital information and controls technology to improve reliability, security, and efficiency of the electric grid.
- (2) Dynamic optimization of grid operations and resources, with full cyber-security.
- (3) Deployment and integration of distributed resources and generation, including renewable resources.
- (4) Development and incorporation of demand response, demand-side resources, and energy-efficiency resources.
- (5) Deployment of “smart” technologies (real-time, automated, interactive technologies that optimize the physical operation of appliances and consumer devices) for metering, communications concerning grid operations and status, and distribution automation.
- (6) Integration of “smart” appliances and consumer devices.
- (7) Deployment and integration of advanced electricity storage and peak-shaving technologies, including plug-in electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and thermal-storage air conditioning.
- (8) Provision to consumers of timely information and control options.
- (9) Development of standards for communication and interoperability of appliances and equipment connected to the electric grid, including the infrastructure serving the grid.
- (10) Identification and lowering of unreasonable or unnecessary barriers to adoption of smart grid technologies, [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), and services.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title XIII, § 1301, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1783.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.