[3] In May 2009, IEEE announced the launch of a new smart grid effort targeted to the power engineering, communications, and information technology disciplines.

The redesigned site included improved search capabilities and other new features, such as a broader selection of video interviews and Q&A's with industry experts, business leaders, and researchers.

It also facilitated greater user access to approved and in-development IEEE smart grid standards and an expanded conference calendar.

IEEE Smart Grid and its participating societies sponsor and host major conferences, symposiums, and other events on a global basis.

Conference programs often consist of educational tracks with keynote speeches, panel discussions, and roundtables led by industry notables, researchers, engineers, academics, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.

Manuscripts concentrating on sustainable energy power systems design, implementation, and evaluations, as well as surveys of existing work are also accepted for consideration.

[39] IEEE is home to 38 technical Societies encompassing a large array of disciplines and specialized fields of interest such as aerospace and electronic systems, medicine and biology engineering, magnetics, robotics, and vehicular technology.

As part of its goal to foster original work in all aspects of communications science, engineering, and technology, IEEE ComSoc sponsors a variety of publications, conferences, educational programs, local activities, and technical committees.

The group offers a variety of resources, including certification programs, printed and electronic books and journals, and conferences and events.

Among the technical subject matter addressed by IEEE PES are electric power research, as well as system design, installation, and operation.

The society aims to ensure the safe, sustainable, economic and reliable conversion, generation, transmission, distribution, storage and usage of electric energy, including its measurement and control.

Among the topics addressed by its 2,000 global members are ethics and professional responsibility, the history of electrotechnology, public policy, and technology-related societal issues.

IEEE SSIT members are generally professionals from multiple disciplines, including energy, information technology, and telecommunications.

[63] On July 1, 2010, McDonald along with Dr. George W. Arnold, National Coordinator for Smart Grid, NIST; Mason W. Emnett, Associate Director of The Office of Energy Policy and Innovation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Conrad Eustis, Director of Retail Technology Development, Portland General Electric; and Lillie Coney, Associate Director, Electronic Privacy Information Center were called upon to brief the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, House Committee on Science and Technology.