A smart grid has a pretty useful device called the GPS controlled clock. The GPS controlled clock adjusts itself automatically so that it always shows accurate readings. According to an article by Erich Gunter in news website called SmartGridNews.com the devices connected to the grid can drift by a few minutes every month. The GPS satellite controlled clocks minimize the inaccuracy to just a few milliseconds every month so that smart grid resources are optimally utilized.
You will never be able to know how much time or money you are saving or wasting if there is no real time communication between the costs and the usage for the home owner or the business owner. Hence allowing the time to drift may keep the system from being able to make the right adjustments.
In case these adjustments cannot be made then there could be no optimization because the calculation of the grid adjustments will come in too late.
Hence we see that every minute adds up and in case the fluctuation is about 2 minutes per months which leads to half an hour per year, then you can imagine the millions of dollars that can be saved if the devices and the grid are synchronized. The smart gird needs several things to make the cycle possible. Today’s smart grids are able to make the grade in terms of meter reading there are a few failings. These failings have to be taken care off in the future so that the smart grid can be universally accepted and it becomes safer and effective in terms of time synchronization and demand response.
The GPS clock has different categories depending on its accuracy. The accuracy classes range from a few milliseconds to a few minutes which is purposely done for security.