Vermont’s eEnergy Smart Grid Initiative

Presentation to

AEIQ

eEnergy Vermont – Participation

• Collaboration of all eEnergy VT Participants– One Vermont Application– Includes:

• 17 electric utilities• VT Department of Public Service• Norwich University• University of Vermont• Efficiency Vermont

• VELCO as SGIG “Program Management”

Vermont as Nation’s Energy Laboratory…Again

• History – Vermont has a history of providing a small and vertically integrated energy laboratory for the nation.

  • Location – Vermont is located in-between three regional control areas:

ISO-NE, NY-ISO, and Hydro-Quebec.

• Beginning Base Work Done – Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) smart meters to over 70% of customers — they will serve as a “test bed” for work which will be leveraged across the state. VELCO fiber optic network well underway.

• Vermont Vision – Establish Vermont as nation’s first truly statewide smart grid with enhanced capability from regional grid to state grid to distribution utility to customer

Elements of the eEnergy Vermont Project

• Project work has impacted customers throughout the state, though not all service areas have identical deployments. Generally, projects cover the following:

– Smart Meters: deployments to approximately 300,000 premises in the state connecting meters and utilities, some backhaul communications utilizing ARRA Broadband Project (Vtel)

– Grid Automation: upgrades and new deployments of SCADA controls to substations and the distribution circuits

– Dynamic Rates Testing: pilots to test different combinations of dynamic rate structures and customer-side devices (in-home displays, etc…) to determine the most effective combinations of rates and electronics

– Fiber Optic Backbone: leverage separately financed VELCO 1000-mile fiber optic backbone project needed for grid reliability and communication to serve as eEnergy Vermont’s “communications highway”

eEnergy Vermont – Smart Meters and Beyond

The eEnergy project will enable customers make choices around their energy consumption