Boulder picked by Xcel for first smart grid
Company pledges $100 million in improvements to city system
By Ryan Morgan (Contact)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Xcel Energy will spend as much as $100 million in the next two years to upgrade its system to make
Boulder the nation's first "Smart Grid" city , the company announced Wednesday.
The new technology could allow customers to see real-time data reflecting their energy use. Backers say the upgraded system could even let people use their hybrid-electric cars to power their houses during outages, or to avoid drawing on the power grid during peak-demand hours.
The move drew praise from environmental and elected leaders across the state.
Richard Kelly, the company's CEO, said the first improvements could be online as soon as August. The first upgrades will mostly be behind the scenes, he said -- but they'll greatly increase Xcel's ability to track power outages and prevent them from happening in the first place.
"In the first phase, they're going to get better customer service," he said. "We'll be able to tell where outages are much more quickly, and we'll be able to tell where the loads are."
Kelly said Xcel officials settled onBoulder because of its size -- the utility wanted a city with
a population of about 100,000 -- and because people who live in Boulder seem likely to take advantage of what the new system will offer.
"We were looking for a place where you've got technologically oriented people who are more likely to participate," he said.
Waiting for the wind
Boulder City Councilman Ken Wilson, who's an electrical engineer, called the news "huge."
"I think it's very exciting," he said. "I look forward to working with Xcel and implementing this -- I think it's an exciting time to be on City Council and an exciting time to be in Boulder."
Jonathan Koehn, Boulder's environmental affairs manager, said the move will make it much easier for Boulder to meet its goal of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases.
The city has committed to cutting its emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels, or about 24 percent from today's emissions.
If the first phase of Xcel's upgrades meets the upper end of savings estimates, he said, it could help the city meet 25 percent of its emission-reduction goals nearly overnight.
And that's before some of the most powerful tools get deployed, he said.
For example, energy customers might soon be able to install devices that tell them exactly how much electricity they're using, and how much demand the grid is currently sustaining.
A customer looking at the display might decide to wait until demand on the grid is lower to do laundry, thereby helping to prevent backup power plants -- which produce more pollution -- from getting turned on.
The new system could also allow users to charge their hybrid-electric cars late at night, when demand is low, and then use their cars' battery systems as a backup for the entire house during an outage, Koehn said.
A wind-power customer might also be able to use the system to avoid turning on the dishwasher until the wind turbines are turning.
'Comprehensive snapshot'
Customers might also be able to tell Xcel their monthly energy budget, and get constant feedback on whether they're on target, Koehn said.
They might even be able to turn over the
control of certain appliances, such as air conditioning, to the system, so those appliances will not be turned on during times of peak demand, he said.
"If you have a choice on when perhaps to do loads of laundry or do things that do draw power, it allows you to get a really comprehensive snapshot of how you're using your energy in your home and the impact that's having," he said.
Upgrades could also steer the city clear of roadblocks that could hinder the adoption of solar power as more consumers buy large solar systems and try to sell their surplus power back into the grid. As it's now configured, the grid would have trouble accommodating too many of those systems.
The upgrades will change that, Koehn said.
"It really creates a platform for additional renewable-energy opportunities," he said.
Amy Keegan, a spokeswoman for Environment Colorado, praised the announcement Wednesday because it will help consumers figure out exactly how they use their energy.
"Creating a smart grid allows consumers to make smart decisions and be more involved," she said.
What it means to you
While consumers won’t at first see many changes, company officials say service will be more reliable.
And soon, consumers will be able to get devices installed in their homes that provide access to real-time data. Here’s a look at how officials think that might be useful:
On demand: Xcel customers will be able to see exactly how much energy they’re using and will be able to tell when demand on the power grid is high, and when it’s not. Backers hope that will help consumers use electricity more efficiently.
Is it windy? Xcel CEO Richard Kelly said customers might even be able to use that real-time data to find out when wind-power turbines are turning, so they know they have a better chance of using renewable energy when they do their laundry.
On the money: Customers should also be able to set a monthly electricity budget — and then stick to it using the new data. “If you tell us you don’t want to spend more than a certain amount, we’ll manage that for you,” Kelly said.
Xcel Energy will spend as much as $100 million in the next two years to upgrade its system to make Boulder the nation's first "Smart Grid" city, the company announced Wednesday.
http://www.xcelenergy.com/XLWEB/CDA/..._0_0-0,00.html
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