Governor Ritter and Xcel Energy show SmartGridCity

21 August 2008, 8:19pm

DENVER – Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr. and Xcel Energy today announced several milestones in the build-out of SmartGridCity™ in Boulder, Colo., and unveiled the SmartGridCity Experience, a new educational tool designed to allow customers to see what the project is all about.

Xcel Energy and its technology partners are making significant progress in SmartGridCity. The first meters are active and two-way communication between the customer and the utility company is a reality. Xcel Energy has installed 82 miles of fiber optic cable, which enables the two-way communication. By the end of 2008, Xcel Energy will have more than 13,000 homes enabled with smart meters and by mid-2009, another 10,000 meters will be available for installation at the customer’s request.

In addition, two substations in Boulder have been upgraded with smart technology. Now, the substations can automatically detect, isolate, and restore electricity load when an outage occurs. This information will allow the company to reduce the impact of outages by using predictive technologies to prevent outages from occurring and isolation technologies to reduce the duration of the outage event. By mid-2009, three additional substations in Boulder will be upgraded with Smart Grid enabled technologies.

“SmartGridCity is a prime example of how in Colorado we are using new technologies to build the New Energy Economy,” Ritter said. “This project is a great example of a public and private partnership between the state, the city of Boulder, Xcel Energy and its partners.”

“We are making great progress in Boulder,” said Dick Kelly, Xcel Energy chairman, president and CEO. “The technologies we’re installing are working together, bringing us closer to making our vision of a fully integrated SmartGridCity a reality. Now, with the SmartGridCity Experience, customers outside of Boulder and will be able to see the technology we’re installing and understand the potential for the grid of the future.”

Energy savings devices, energy management devices and renewable energy options are all part of the display, which will be open to the public during the Green Frontier Fest at the Denver Performing Arts Center. Public hours for tours are: Sunday, Aug. 23, through Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The SmartGridCity Experience is the first exhibit to display the components of a fully integrated smart grid. Smart Grid Consortium partners Accenture, Current Group, GridPoint, OSI Soft, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and Ventyx have provided their technologies for visitors to explore. In addition to our SmartGridCity Experience partners, the SmartGridCity is also benefiting from active engagement from a variety of industry partners as well as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

A demonstration home will soon be displayed with many of the technologies that are being implemented in Boulder on a wider scale.

SmartGridCity

Geo: International