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Smart grid projects

SVE smart grid program

The Sioux Valley Energy (SVE) smart grid program project involves installation of an advanced metering system and a pilot program across the service territory to assess the effectiveness of time-based rate programs and enabling technologies. The project is aimed at reducing peak electricity demand, overall energy use, and operations and maintenance costs, while increasing distribution system efficiency and reliability. The project implements two-way communications to: (1) allow customers to view their energy consumption at their convenience through a Web portal and other customer systems, (2) allow SVE to manage, measure, and verify targeted demand reductions during peak periods, (3) allow SVE to evaluate the breadth of outages and restore those outages more quickly, often without the necessity of the customer calling to inform SVE of the outage, (4) perform near-real-time engineering analysis of the electric distribution system to allow for the most prudent use of capital dollars for system improvements, and (5) facilitate the installation of customer-owned distributed generation, typically renewable energy, without any additional metering costs to the customer. Get details >>

Black Hills Power AMI/MDMS initiative

Black Hills Power (BHP) is one of three Black Hills Corporation subsidiaries deploying advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)—the other two are Black Hills/Colorado Electric (BHCOE) and Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power (Wyoming). BHP’s project includes the deployment of smart meters, communications infrastructure, and a meter data management system (MDMS). The project provides improved outage restoration from the integration of an outage management system with the AMI. Two-way communication allows for off-cycle reads, remote connect/disconnect of customer meters, tamper detection, and potential future implementation of time-based rate programs. Get details >>

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Energy news and trends

Energy-efficiency efforts dim in S.D., report says

An annual survey that tracks state-level efforts to promote energy efficiency has ranked South Dakota 42nd in the country, down slightly from last year.Read more from the Argus Leaders >>

Rural electric co-ops in 14 states get millions for transmission and smart grid projects

Rural electric cooperatives in 14 states, including Union County Electric Cooperative in S.D.,  will get a piece of $900 million in loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help the utilities upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural America's electric infrastructure. The money comes from the USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service. Read more from Smart Grid News >>

South Dakota Wind Partners receive 1603 Treasury Grant

South Dakota investors who purchased stock in a first-of-its-kind, locally-owned wind project received word on Friday that their application for the 1603 Treasury Grant, in the amount of $6.3 million, was approved. The 1603 Treasury Grant program was part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act approved by Congress in 2008. It provides a cash award for qualifying renewable energy projects. Read more from MadisoNet.com >>

Prospects for tribal renewable projects are dimming

Among those paying close attention to the collapse of the Solyndra solar cell manufacturer, once a poster child of renewable-energy development for the Obama administration, were the energy advocates who have long pushed for increased federal investment in tribal programs similar to those that funded the failed firm. Read more from Indian Country >>

North Dakota's booming oil patch swelling south

North Dakota's booming oil patch is sweeping down to South Dakota, amid speculation that a reservoir similar to the rich Bakken shale formation could contain millions of barrels of crude. The Associated Press has learned that a flurry of recent leasing activity in South Dakota is tied to hopes for the Tyler Formation. Read more from BusinessWeek >>