Smart grids, smart network companies

The introduction of intelligent technology to turn electricity networks into smart grids is an important vehicle to meet the many challenges modern society poses. However, technology alone will not make energy supply more intelligent and may for the medium and long range even involve risks of intelligence reduction in the larger energy system. Crucially important, yet mostly overlooked is the intelligence of the service company that runs the grids. Based on concepts of knowledge management and learning organizations, the paper develops guiding principles for designing intelligent knowledge infrastructures within companies adopting smart grid technologies. The case study of intelligent SASensor technology, which is currently being introduced by the Dutch power network administrator Alliander, provides an illustration of the argument. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.