NPPD and 13 public power partners seeks stimulus funds to develop smart grid technology

COLUMBUS -- 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, Nebraska Public Power District is filing 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.

"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."

In addition to NPPD, the utilities collaborating in the stimulus funding request include the public power districts of Burt County PPD, Cedar-Knox PPD, Cornhusker PPD, Custer PPD, Dawson PPD, Elkhorn Rural PPD, KBR Rural PPD, Loup River PPD, Northeast Nebraska PPD, Twin Valleys PPD and the cities of Beatrice, Superior, and Wayne.

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 allow for time-of-use rates, load control, and enable 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.

Always there when you need us, NPPD's mission is to safely generate and deliver low-cost reliable energy and provide outstanding customer service. Working in partnership with the state's rural public power districts, cooperatives and municipalities, NPPD helps serve an estimated 1 million Nebraskans with retail or wholesale electric power and energy-related products and services. For more information about NPPD visit www.nppd.com.