Smart Grid & Distribution Automation News

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Awarded $600,000 Federal Grid Resilience Grant

The Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) $600,000 to install smart-grid technologies. The Grid Resilience Grant helps fund half of SMUD's $1.2 million Resilient Grid Initiative that is designed to make SMUD's distribution system more adaptable to major disasters and reduce the effects of climate change through the installation and operation of high-voltage switches and the implementation and operation of voltage optimization measures.

PowerStream Introduces New Energy Management Program to Customers

PowerStream launched a pilot to a limited number residential customers living in the utility's service territory. With funding from the Ministry of Energy's Smart Grid Fund, the Residential Energy Management (REM) pilot tests technologies that help consumers reduce energy consumption and manage costs while giving them more control over their day-to-day usage. The project is funded by Ontario's Smart Grid Fund and is structured to act as a template for other Ontario distribution companies to follow once the pilot is complete in 2016.

Lockheed Martin and Dominion Introduce New Grid Location Technology

Lockheed Martin and Dominion Resources co-developed a new smart grid technology called VirtuGrid, which will enable remote detection of power outages for faster mapping and response. VirtuGrid enables data, including voltage, power, energy readings, GPS location, phase and circuit connectivity, to be sent from the remote location to the substation over the same path as the power. The technology facilitates control and timing of remote communications with multiple types of communication networks with very low bandwidth usage.

Accenture Expands Smart Grid Operations Risk Management Services with Acquisition of Structure

Accenture entered into an agreement to acquire Structure, a provider of consulting, system integration and customized solutions and services to energy and utilities clients. The transaction will expand and enhance Accenture's deep experience and capabilities in smart grid solutions, especially grid operations, as well as energy commodity trading and risk management (CTRM). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the acquisition is subject to regulatory review and other customary closing conditions.

Pepco Holdings Contracts with Landis+Gyr for Enterprise-wide Grid Analytics Solution

Pepco Holdings Inc. (PHI) entered into an enterprise-wide license agreement to deploy a comprehensive grid analytics solution from Landis+Gyr across its service territories. The analytics package includes a suite of applications aimed at enhancing asset life, reliability and distribution system optimization. PHI's operating companies, including Pepco, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric, will deploy six different analytics applications for visualization, planning and real-time operational analytics support.

ABB to Provide Substation Solution in Southern India to Help Meet Growing Power Demand

ABB won an order worth around $10 million from Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Ltd (TANTRANSCO), the state-owned utility, to build a new substation in downtown Chennai, India. As part of the turnkey contract, ABB will design, supply, install and commission the substation. Key product supplies include nine bays of 230 kV GIS, power transformers and 23 indoor switchgear units rated at 33 kV. The substations will also be equipped with IEC 61850 based open protection, automation and telecommunication systems as well as ancilliary systems.

ComEd’s SmartGridExchange Forum Explores Opportunities to Develop New Smart Grid Apps

ComEd, in partnership with Silver Spring Networks and Accenture, hosted its SmartGridExchange Forum, bringing together leading technology and innovation companies, including Oracle, NestLabs, Home Depot, GE Energy, and the Energy Foundry, with other customer and stakeholder organizations, including the City of Chicago, Citizens Utility Board and Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative, to discuss how to leverage the smart grid to deliver increased value to consumers.

GE to Modernize Aberdeen, Mississippi Grid

GE’s Digital Energy business and the City of Aberdeen will implement GE’s Solutions as a Service (SaaS) technology. SaaS is a cloud-based, fee-for-service grid management system that enables small- and mid-market utilities to build modern and interconnected grids. Using SaaS, a GE Predictivity solution, GE will provide Aberdeen with access to an online customer portal, enabling residents to visualize their energy usage and billing information.

Energy Department Invests Over $10 Million to Improve Grid Reliability and Resiliency

The Energy Department announced more than $10 million for projects to improve the reliability and resiliency of the U.S. electric grid and facilitate quick and effective response to grid conditions. This investment which includes six projects across five states- California, Hawaii, Missouri, North Carolina and Washington - will help further the deployment of advanced software that works with synchrophasor technology to better detect quickly-changing grid conditions and improve grid reliability.