July / Aug. / Sept. 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District

8 ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2009
NPPD and 13
public power
partners seek
stimulus funds
to develop
smart grid
technology
Nebraska’s public power utilities
routinely work together in and out
of storms, but one fair‑weather
project that has 14 different power
districts and municipalities excited
about the future is a potential and
collaborative “smart grid.”
On behalf of the partnering
utilities, NPPD filed a grant
application with the Department
of Energy for approximately $32
million to install and integrate
smart meters communication
systems and data management
systems, collectively used by the
14 utilities, for a smart grid that
will improve system reliability,
operations and efficiency.
The team had six weeks to work
on the application process which
included reviewing more than
400 pages of the stimulus bill to
identify potential opportunities for
NPPD and its customers, obtaining
the required information from
those involved and developing the
joint application. The deadline to
submit the application was Aug.
6. The team has since heard back
from those involved with the
grant program that the application
was compliant and subsequently
forwarded on for merit review. An
announcement should be made
in October as to whether or not
stimulus funds will be provided to
the utilities.
“Smart grid is the next
evolutionary step to enhance electric
utility operations by enabling new
technologies to establish two‑way
communications between generators
and connected consumers,” said
Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer Pat Pope. “Similar to
the introduction of electricity,
smart grid benefits will not occur
instantaneously, but will be
progressive over the next generation
as consumers and generators fully
integrate two‑way communication
technologies.”
The alliance of public power
utilities are requesting 50 percent of
the project’s total cost, estimated to
be more than $64 million.
NPPD will lead the design and
implementation of the wireless
system. Other components of the
project include a modern database
architecture that allows for the
collection of massive amounts of
time‑based data, as well as customer
metering data, and power plant,
transmission, sub‑transmission and
distribution system information.
All of the participants want to use
an advanced metering infrastructure
of automated meters that enable