Arizona smart grid toolkit

Arizona smart grid projects

Salt River Project advanced data acquisition and management

Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District’s (SRP) Advanced Data Acquisition and Management Program project involves the installation of smart meters, supporting communication infrastructure, and the expansion of advanced electric service options for customers. Virtually all SRP customers are receiving new smart meters, which monitor electric consumption and power quality. A two-way communication system relays customer electricity data to the utility, where upgraded software platforms analyze and present the data. SRP expects the smart meters to reduce meter-reading costs and field service visits, lower vehicle emissions, and enable development of advanced electric services for customers. These services include a web portal and expansion of existing time-of-use rates that empower the customer and enable a lower peak demand for SRP. Charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles and transformer metering are being monitored and evaluated. Get details >>

Arizona Cooperative grid modernization

The Arizona Cooperative Grid Modernization project upgrades electric infrastructure for three electric cooperatives in Arizona. Southwest Transmission Cooperative (SWTC) is the primary recipient of the project. The project also includes two distribution system cooperatives, Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) and Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC), which receive transmission service from SWTC. SWTC is upgrading the communications infrastructure of their transmission network by installing optical ground wire cables between several substations. SWTC is also installing micro-processor-based protective relays and equipment monitors. MEC is replacing thousands of existing meters in its service territory with smart meters and is expanding the communications network and power line carrier-based meter communications system. SSVEC is implementing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and distribution automation. SSVEC is also expanding its existing fiber optic communication infrastructure and upgrading its monitoring software. Get details >>

Navajo Tribal Utility Association AMI

The Navajo Tribal Utility Association’s (NTUA) Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project deploys up to 28,000 residential smart meters and the supporting communications and information technology systems. The project provides automated meter reading, improved outage detection and response, power quality monitoring, and tamper detection capabilities. The communications system relays customer electricity data to NTUA, where the new meter data management system helps NTUA leverage the data to better manage peak demand, which will result in reduced system-wide capacity needs, reduced electrical losses, and reduced maintenance and environmental costs. Get details >>

News and trends in Arizona

Arizona Public Service and smart technology investments

I've recently cited suggestions that utilities need to move on from pilots to deployments, whether that's the semantic difference between large "pilots" and "early phase deployments" or a substantive shift in mindset from caution to confidence. I understand the concern that the utility industry's oft-cited, glacial pace of change needs shaking up. Read more at Intelligent Utility >>

Talking Smart Grid In The West

Though the US government may be stalling on energy policy, the Western Interconnect should move ahead with its own initiatives, said former Arizona state energy office director, currently Southwest representative of the Western Grid Group, and independent energy consultant Amanda Ormond. Read more at AOL Energy >>

New NSF-DOE Research Centers Focus on Solar and Smart Grid Technology

The NSF-DOE Engineering Research Center for Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies (QESST), led by Arizona State University, will aim to make solar energy technologies sustainable, ubiquitous, and multifunctional. The NSF and DOE will jointly provide $18.5 million for the first five years of QESST. Read more at Solar Novus >>

NRG snaps up Arizona solar plant following $937m loan guarantee award

NRG Energy completed its purchase of the Agua Caliente Solar project last week after the Department of Energy agreed a $937m loan guarantee package to fund construction at the Arizona site. The 290MW photovoltaic solar plant in Yuma County, Arizona will use thin film solar panels manufactured by First Solar, its previous owners, whose sale of the project to NRG was contingent on the confirmation of the loan guarantee. Read more at Environmental Expert >>

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