| This week's sponsor is Elster. |  | | consumer satisfaction - improved asset management - increased energy efficiency - www.elster.com |
Today's Top Stories
1. SEPA names CEO of the Year
2. Honeywell leads first-of-its-kind biosolids facility
3. SMUD takes new track to customer engagement
4. Louisiana to investigate Isaac outages
5. TX eyeing capacity market Also Noted: Spotlight On... A first in ocean power
Energy corridor; old technology is new again and much more... Successful smart grid optimization
Many utilities are investigating different ways to derive the most benefit from the deployment of smart grid technology. Smart grid optimization allows a utility to maximize the benefits they receive from their electrical system. Some of these benefits include increased grid stability and system security, reduced outage response times, a better ability to forecast energy demand, and reduced energy rates for their customers. Feature
California continues renewable energy push
California is one of the largest states in the U.S., and a huge consumer of electricity. Perhaps that's also why it's frequently among the nation's most aggressive pursuers of renewable and efficient energy policy, especially when it comes to solar power. State lawmakers are looking to add to that reputation and recently sent three pieces of renewable-energy-inspired legislation to the desk of Governor Jerry Brown. The bills all touch on solar energy policy and, if signed into law, would extend existing policies designed to encourage wide-scale adoption of solar energy technology. Feature
Utilities go retail
Energy is an important pillar of the connected home market, and big box retailers are capitalizing on emerging trends to converge upon the energy market. The proliferation of smart appliances, smart meters, and devices such as smart thermostats as part of the connected home will be further driven by growth in smartphone and tablet applications that allow users to more easily monitor, manage and control these technologies while away. Feature News From Across the Energy Industry:
1. The impact of broadband
2. Trilliant smart grid to help Texas co-op beat the heat
3. USDA beats smart grid financing goal
| This week's sponsor is University TechWatch. |  | University Clean Tech Directory and Database
More than 400 technologies and startups - mined, vetted and indexed from 200+ U.S. universities - plus continuous database updates
Use discount code "FIERCE2012" for $100 off
See www.universitycleantech.com |
Today's Top News 1. SEPA names CEO of the Year
The Solar Electric Power Association has named CPS Energy President and CEO Doyle Beneby its 2012 Utility CEO of the Year. Beneby was chosen in part for his leadership in integrating solar power into the utility's energy portfolio. In a recent agreement that CPS calls "the first of its kind," Beneby signed a contract between CPS Energy and OCI Solar Power for OCI to supply 400 MW of solar to the utility. The result will be a local solar manufacturing facility, headquarters for both OCI Solar Power and its anchor consortium partner Nexolon. Under Beneby's two-year leadership with CPS Energy, the utility brokered partnerships with seven clean tech companies as part of CPS's New Energy Economy initiative, which led to more than 1,000 local jobs, millions in educational investments, clean energy development, cutting-edge demand management technology, and research and development. For more:
- see this article
- visit this website Related Articles:
SEPA awards TEP for utility innovation
SEPA names Top 10 utilities in solar rankings
Only 20 utilities out of 240 make SEPA's cut Read more about: Doyle Beneby CPS Energy, Solar electric Power Association
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| This week's sponsor is Clasma Events. |  | | Since 2007-globally recognized as the must-attend event dedicated to the modernization of Smart Grid. |
2. Honeywell leads first-of-its-kind biosolids facility
Honeywell will embark upon a $35 million renewable energy project for the City of Wilmington, Del., featuring what the company is calling a "first-of-its-kind facility that converts two sources of biogas into power and heat" for the city's wastewater treatment plant. The project features construction of a Renewable Energy Biosolids Facility to capture naturally occurring biogas, supplying a renewable resource to generate up to 4 MW of electricity or 90 percent of the plant's power. Honeywell has also led solar installations and energy-efficient building improvements for the city, as part of an initiative to decrease energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Combined, the upgrades will help the city reduce its carbon footprint by around 35 percent and meet nearly 50 percent of its electricity needs with renewable energy. For more:
- see this article Read more about: Honeywell
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3. SMUD takes new track to customer engagement
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has chosen Aclara to deploy its consumer engagement software platform. The solution marks a new approach for SMUD – one that encourages a more interactive dialogue between customers and the utility, with tailored content and personalized feedback delivered through multiple engagement channels. This software solution will increase the energy literacy, engagement, and related behavioral changes that help customers understand and manage energy usage and costs. The consumer engagement platform will help SMUD centralize and standardize the energy information and tools available to residential and commercial customers. "In addition, the Aclara platform will provide information that can be utilized across web, mobile devices, and paper engagement channels, thus providing our customers with technology that allows them to monitor and manage their energy usage if they choose," said Frankie McDermott, SMUD Customer Services Director. For more:
- see this article Related Articles:
Aclara, Green Button get energy use data to millions
Want to save energy? Improve customer understanding of smart grid Read more about: Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Aclara customer engagement software platform
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4. Louisiana to investigate Isaac outages
The Louisiana Public Service Commission this week announced it will open an investigation into power outages caused by Hurricane Isaac, which ravaged the region in late August and left nearly one million customers without electricity. Entergy Louisiana, Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana -- all local subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation -- were the three largest utilities impacted by the storm and accounted for 695,000 outages, according to the PSC. According to an AP report, the Commission unanimously passed the proposed investigation, which is designed to make sure customers are receiving the most reliable service possible from their utility providers. "Certainly, Isaac presented unique challenges, and we are ready to examine those challenges with the Commission, and work together to apply lessons learned for future storm planning, preparation and response," said Bill Mohl, President and CEO of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. While it's not uncommon for public service commissions to investigate utility performance after large storms, the PSC decision is a reminder to utilities to be on top of their game when it comes to responses to damages and outages. The investigation will begin next month. For more:
-see this article Related Articles:
Utilities feel the wrath of hurricane season
JCP&L is ready for hurricane season
Read more about: Louisiana Public Service Commission
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5. TX eyeing capacity market
In almost all instances, electric rates in Texas are lower than electric rates available to customers in states that rely on capacity markets for resource adequacy, according to research from EnergyChoiceMatters.com. This price analysis compared Texas all-in electric rates provided by the Energy Information Administration with rates in states with restructured electric markets that rely on a centralized capacity market. The results showed that residential, commercial, and industrial customers forced to buy capacity through a capacity market pay more for electricity. Why then is Texas is considering a capacity market among several proposals on the table? A capacity market is being evaluated in response to narrow reserve margins and as a way to provide incentive for investments in new power plants, as well as to increase reliability. Government regulators would mandate how much capacity to buy for the future ensure reliability and assign costs to each individual customer based on the customer's demand on the grid. Prices for capacity would be determined by an administrative construct designed to mimic a competitive auction, but whose prices would be heavily influenced by the design choices made by state government officials. Under this structure, prices may be higher for consumers. But you get what you pay for and the added stress on the pocketbook will help provide what customers are always seeking – to have their lights on when they want to. For more:
- see the report Read more about: energychoicematters.com
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Also Noted SPOTLIGHT ON... A first in ocean power Electricity is being delivered to Bangor Hydro Electric Company's power grid by Ocean Renewable Power Company's Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project. This marks the first ocean energy project including offshore wind, wave and tidal, to power an electric utility grid in the United States. Article Quick news from around the Web >Energy's dangerous relationship with water. Article
>Hurricane Isaac drives excitement over natural gas. Article
>The impact of the energy corridor on the oil business. Article
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