WASHINGTON — The GridWise® Alliance, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), will host the second annual GridWise Global Forum on Nov. 8-10, 2011 in Washington, D.C. According to the organization, the GridWise Global Forum provides a global perspective on the smart grid as seen through the eyes of senior international business and government leaders.

The forum is designed to provide attendees with a world view on the smart grid: progress to date and plans for the future. The alliance said that significant progress is being made on six continents as individual countries work to develop and deploy smart grid technologies to create a cleaner, safer, and more reliable electricity system.

One session at the forum is a featured panel on consumer issues that will be led by Bob McDonald, chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer, Proctor & Gamble. McDonald will share some of the ways P&G connects with consumers using a variety of techniques and media. He will then lead a discussion with two utility CEOs and two electricity industry vendor CEOs on strategies for conveying the smart grid message to the consumer.

The GridWise Alliance said it has partnered with key organizations to expand the breadth and reach of the forum agenda including the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Edison Electric Institute, Global Smart Grid Federation, and National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, among others.

The GridWise Alliance is a coalition of public and private stakeholders that advocates for a smarter grid. For more information about the GridWise Global Forum and to register for the event, visit www.gridwiseglobalforum.org.

Publication date: 09/26/2011