Oncor Soldiers On Without Smart Grid Stimulus Help

Texas energy transmission and distribution giant Oncor, which had asked for $317 million in three Smart Grid stimulus grant proposals and got nothing, will continue with its grid upgrade and smart meter deployment, the company said recently.

The stimulus funds goose egg for the largest transmission and distribution company in Texas came as a surprise to many, not to mention Oncor. Spokeswoman Carol Peters told the Waco Tribune-Herald newspaper that the company was surprised at the snub.

She commented, "It's unknown to us. We don't see a pattern as to how the money was distributed."

Also, Oncor's service area includes the fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and into Williamson County to the south. The stimulus money would have been used for statewide upgrades and meter deployment, and was considered a natural winner by many for that reason.

The Energy Department grant awards were announced early last week as part of the country's economic stimulus package. While there were about 400 applications for a piece of the energy stimulus pot, only 100 projects were picked for funding. A total $258 million in stimulus grants was awarded to five other Texas utilities.

However, Peters said the company will continue its grid upgrade and meter deployment plans.

Oncor is installing about 2,000 to 3,000 smart meters daily and has deployed roughly 350,000 meters throughout the state—and intends to switch all 3.4 million conventional meters by 2011. The new meters are a cornerstone technology for the more efficient, reliable and clean Smart Grid envisioned for the country's energy future. The new meters are capable of two-way communications which will allow utilities to quickly react to grid conditions should they change, and of providing consumers detailed information about their electricity use, information they can use to manage their energy costs.

While the Texas Public Utilities Commission earlier gave Oncor permission to include a $2.21 surcharge in customers' utility bills, Peters said customers can anticipate savings of $15 to $18 per month. She added that the specifics of the savings aren't available yet because the installation of meters and other infrastructure is not complete.

   Quick Take: Let's hope other applicants that didn't get stimulus funds will shake it off and do the right thing like Oncor is doing.

   Waco Tribune-Herald news article

   Oncor profile on SGN

   Will We Get Our Money's Worth stimulus commentary on SGN

   Video: Obama Announces Billions for 'Smart' Power Grid