March 26, 2008—Xcel Energy announced recently it will put in motion its vision to make Boulder, Colorado, the nation’s first fully integrated Smart Grid City.
The advanced smart grid system, when fully implemented over the next few years, will provide customers with a portfolio of smart grid technologies designed to provide environmental, financial and operational benefits. Xcel Energy, a major US electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states, anticipates funding only a portion of the project and plans to leverage other sources, including government grants, for the remainder of what could be a $100 million effort.
“Smart Grid City is the first step toward building the grid of the future,” said Dick Kelly, Xcel Energy chairman, president and CEO. “In Boulder, we’ll collaborate with others to integrate all aspects of our smart grid vision and evaluate the benefits. The work we’re doing will benefit not only Boulder, but also customers throughout our eight-state service territory.”
As a Smart Grid City , Boulder’s existing metering infrastructure will be transformed to a robust, dynamic electric system communications network, providing real-time, high-speed, two-way communication throughout the distribution grid.
The potential benefits include operational savings, customer-choice energy management, better grid reliability, greater energy efficiency and conservation options, increased use of renewable energy sources, and support for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and intelligent-home appliances.
For more information, see the Smart Grid Consortium Web site,which has graphics and educational materials explaining its Smart Grid vision.
