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

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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
time‑of‑use rates, load control, and the use of smart appliances, smart thermostats, etc. The automated meters streamline the meter reading process, improve the accuracy of readings, reduce billing errors, re‑reads, and re‑bills, and enable remote service starts/disconnects, troubleshooting and outage management. “With the smart grid system we utilities envision our respective customers will be able to better manage their energy usage and we, as their service providers will be able to enhance our customer service to them,” said Pope. KBR General Manager Rich Walters is excited about the Smart Grid project. “The term ‘Smart Grid’ means different things to different people,” he said. “I personally see Smart Grid as a way to utilize technology to provide data and information which can be used to make quicker and more accurate decisions based upon time responsive facts. Cedar Knox PPD General Manager Dan Leise agrees. “Our AMI project would provide an abundance of information to our ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2009 9 operations and customer service departments, thus greatly improving efficiency and customer service,” he said. “Customers will have more ‘ownership’ in operating the electric grid, especially with load control,” continued Walters. “The customer will be able to monitor and operate his irrigation well with technology provided by the utility. Smart Grid also opens up new possibilities with irrigators, and other customers, and the possibility of using time‑of‑use rates.” (See story on pages 10‑11). When asked what they thought about the collaboration between the utilities to work on the grant application, Walters said, “This was an excellent example of Public Power at its best. By partnering with and using our power supplier’s leadership, large and small utilities along with power supplier and customer were able to work together for a common cause to benefit the ratepayers of Nebraska.” The collaboration between the utilities involved was typical of the Public Power System in Nebraska, echoed Leise. “NPPD did a great job of pulling this together in a short period of time,” he concluded. Smart Grid Alliance City of Beatrice Burt County PPD Cedar-Knox PPD Cornhusker PPD Custer PPD Dawson PPD Elkhorn Rural PPD KBR RPPD Loup PD NPPD Northeast Nebraska PPD City of Superior Twin Valleys PPD City of Wayne Core internal team members Annette Bailey Sharon Brown Ken Curry Joel Dagerman Jay Dring Steve Merrill Pat Pope Ed Wagner Dave Webb
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July / Aug. / Sept. 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District

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