ATLANTA - The Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) has announced the addition of five new members, putting the nonprofit over its goal of 50 members in its first year. The group also announced its first permanent executive director in Patty Durand

The new members of SGCC are:

• The Alliance to Save Energy, Green DMV, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance;

• San Diego Gas & Electric, one of the nation’s largest public electric utilities; and

• Vertex Business Services, a business process outsourcing and IT services company.

“The SGCC was formed to foster mutual understanding between industry and consumers regarding the creation of a next-generation energy infrastructure,” said Jesse Berst, SGCC interim director. “We’ve grown rapidly by welcoming utilities, vendors, and consumer groups to listen, educate, and collaborate through research and forums for sharing best practices.”

Founded in February 2010, the SGCC’s charter members include General Electric, IBM, and the GridWise Alliance. For a complete list of members, visit http://smartgridcc.org/members.

Publication date:02/14/2011