SMUD Gets "Smart" On New Metering Technology
Advanced meters will lay groundwork for a "smart grid" in the Sacramento region
At its June 18 meeting, the SMUD Board of Directors voted to approve a contract with Landis+Gyr to supply approximately 620,000 two-way advanced meters, meter management software and installation training. A contract with Silver Spring Networks to provide wireless network equipment to connect the meters to the SMUD distribution and billing systems was also approved.
Silver Spring also will provide software for network operations and data communications and project management services. "This is the first big step in modernizing the electrical grid for Sacramento," said SMUD Deputy Assistant General Manager Paul Lau. "It opens the door to many improvements that will help customers use energy more efficiently and better manage their bills." Lau noted that the new meters will also provide two-way communication with customers and enable SMUD to know when customers have lost power and thereby improve restoration.
SMUD plans to begin installation of the first 50,000 meters in October and finish testing them in February. That would pave the way for installation at all residential and commercial accounts, with full deployment in March 2011. In all, SMUD will be installing 620,000 new meters.
"We are proud to have been chosen as the advanced meter vendor for SMUD's large-scale smart grid deployment," said Landis+Gyr North American CEO Richard Mora. "After the very thorough selection process, we feel that SMUD's selection of our FOCUS® meters will allow their customers to better manage energy usage."
"Silver Spring Networks is thrilled to be working with SMUD and Landis+Gyr to deliver the benefits of a smart grid to customers across Sacramento County," said Chairman, President and CEO of Silver Spring Networks Scott Lang. "With an intelligent network, SMUD can build a true partnership with its customers, empowering them to manage their energy consumption more efficiently and become full participants in building a more energy-efficient community."
SOURCE: SMUD