| This week's sponsor is ABB. |  | Webinar: The IT/OT Integration Imperative
April 23, 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT
Traditionally, IT and OT systems worked as separate entities; however, the smart grid requires a convergence of both. Join FierceEnergy and a panel of experts as they examine the effects on utilities that do not take steps to converge/integration their IT/OT systems. Register Today. |
Today's Top Stories
1. Investors challenging water utilities
2. TX electric grid facing water pressure
3. CEC research confirms clean energy advances in California
4. PNM promoting low-cost, low-risk energy resource
5. New Jersey town pushes residential solar Editor's Corner: San Diego Gas and Electric smart meter surprises and consequences Also Noted: Spotlight On... Duke Energy Ohio settles rate cases
Federal cybersecurity workforce study highlights age, training needs and much more... On the Hot Seat: SDG&E's Ted Reguly talks customer concerns and other "trivial" issues Glendale Power and Water sets gold standard for AMI
With nearly two-thirds of DOE AMI grant projects complete as of Dec 31, 2012, utilities who adopted a wait-and-see attitude are anxiously awaiting the business cases that will get them off the dime one way or another. While most are looking for the bottom-line ROI associated with smart grid investment (and rightly so, as any future technology expenditures will be closely monitored by governing bodies and consumers alike), few, if any, are anticipating the human capital needed to pull it off successfully. Feature News From Across the Energy Industry:
1. WPD prepares grid infrastructure for low-carbon economy
2. Cost of complacency driving smart grid progress
3. Utilities stand out as pillars of sustainability
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San Diego Gas and Electric smart meter surprises and consequences
Earlier this year, the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) unveiled several smart grid success stories as part of its 2013 State of the Consumer Report. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) was one of four utilities selected to appear in the report. It's no wonder why: Out of 2.3 million meter installations, SDG&E received complaints from only about 1,200 -- or just 0.16 percent of them. In an exclusive interview between FierceEnergy and SDG&E's Director of Customer Programs and Projects Ted Reguly, surprising details emerged about the utility's smart meter initiative -- as well as social gamification, social media outreach, connected home efforts, and the next steps for customers and smart grid -- that were not part of the SGCC report. To find out about how SDG&E, from day one, made customers center stage as part of the utility's smart meter rollout; how SDG&E is using community bloggers as part of its social media strategy; the consequences of admitting the utility's own mistakes to its customers; and the many trivial customer issues the utility is dealing with, read the Hot Seat interview. -- Barb Read more about: Smart Grid, San Diego Gas & Electric
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Today's Top News 1. Investors challenging water utilities
Investors who finance the U.S. water infrastructure are posing clear challenges to U.S. water utilities. These investors -- who purchase bonds that pay for pipelines, treatment plants and other key infrastructure -- want better information on how water utilities are managing risks like aging infrastructure, climate change, tighter water supplies and uncertain water demand. In a letter to the National Federation of Municipal Analysts (NFMA), a dozen investors managing $40 billion in assets requested that water utilities be subject to stronger disclosure requirements on issues like water supply scenario planning, climate change impacts, and pricing strategies. "Without better disclosure, investors are blindly placing bets on which utilities are positioned to manage these growing risks," said Sharlene Leurig, a water financing expert at Ceres, who helped prepare the letter sent to the NFMA Disclosure Board. "The operating environment of water providers is changing, and investors need to be sure utilities whose debt they are holding are adapting. If utilities are not adapting, they may end up not having the money to repay their debts." The letter follows a new Ceres report which outlines failing infrastructure, growing water availability pressures, declining revenues, falling per-capita water use, and other risks that water utilities are facing. For more:
- read the letter
- download the report Related Articles:
Water industry consolidation
GAO: Rural water programs need better state-level coordination
Water infrastructure planning requires holistic approach
Water utilities have doubts about the future Read more about: Infrastructure, water infrastructure
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| This week's sponsor is Equifax. |  | Webinar: The Equifax Big Picture Outlook on the US Economy
Monday, April 15th, 2pm ET / 11am PT
Attend this webinar, and you'll gain a clearer understanding of current and future economic indicators along with a high-level analysis of the big issues facing markets today. Register today! |
2. TX electric grid facing water pressure
According to an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) report, the Texas grid faces pressure from a shrinking water supply, growing population and rising summer temperatures. The ongoing drought puts Texas' power plants at risk, threatening rolling blackouts but solutions like demand response, energy-efficiency programs and increasing renewable energy sources, all consume almost no water and can be built faster than gas and coal plants, according to EDF. For example, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) will launch the Weather-Sensitive Emergency Response Service pilot this summer. The pilot expands ERCOT's options to reduce electric use through demand response and provides new incentives for customer participation. Several bills that could alleviate such grid pressure are currently being considered by the 83rd Texas Legislature, including bills that allow all customers to participate in electric markets, provide innovative clean energy financing mechanisms, and offer fair compensation for customers who provide power back to the grid by generating excess electricity from renewables or conserving energy using demand response initiatives. For more:
- see the report Related Article:
ERCOT pilot provides new incentives for DR Read more about: Environmental Defense Fund, Demand Response
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3. CEC research confirms clean energy advances in California
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has just released the results of its Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program highlighting the state's advances in clean energy designed to improve the reliability of the state's electricity supply, boost energy efficiency of buildings and appliances, and increase renewable sources of power. In 2012, PIER invested $28 million across 30 research projects with matching funds of $19.6 million from private and federal entities, such as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Between 1999 and 2008, PIER invested $27.6 million in 17 efficiency projects that led to building and appliance code changes projected to save California $10 billion in energy costs by 2025. Customer savings from PIER's advancements in data center cooling, demand response, and building energy measurement technologies are estimated to be in the millions of dollars each year by 2020, according to the research. Research addressing the variability of solar energy generation demonstrated forecasting technologies that predict solar plant production for as much as two days ahead, which the California Independent System Operator will use in its planning process for solar PV generation. Advanced batteries showed the potential for grid-level energy storage and managing intermittent renewable energy sources. Synchrophasors were deemed to be able to save California an estimated $210 million to $360 million annually by 2020 by improving system reliability and reducing the risk of outages. For more:
- see the report Related Article:
California ahead of the clean energy curve...again Read more about: Clean Energy
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4. PNM promoting low-cost, low-risk energy resource
Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) is announcing a significant increase in customer savings from its 2012 energy-efficiency programs. According to PNM, its business and residential customers saved 79 million kWh per year from energy-efficiency programs implemented in 2012, representing a 38 percent increase over 2011. Further, the efficiency measures installed in 2012 will save customers $36 million on utility bills over the lifetime of the measures, taking into consideration the cost of the measures, PNM's program costs, and a performance incentive to which the utility is entitled. In light of these results, PNM is on track to meet 2014 energy savings requirements established by the New Mexico legislature as part of the Efficient Use of Energy Act of 2005. PNM programs implemented during 2008-2012 are saving 271 million kWh per year and will provide customers $186 million in net economic benefits, according to PNM's annual reports. "PNM has demonstrated that helping customers save energy is the lowest cost, cleanest and least risk energy resource available to the utility," said Tammy Fiebelkorn, a representative of Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) New Mexico. Currently, a new program -- the Energy Efficiency and Load Management Program Plan -- is under review by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. For more:
- see this article Related Articles:
New Mexico considering voluntary energy reduction program
Energy-efficient services market a good place to be
Energy efficiency to move ahead without federal mandates
Public Service Electric and Gas tops multi-family efficiency programs Read more about: Energy Efficiency, New Mexico
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5. New Jersey town pushes residential solar
A new ordinance has ironed out options for residents of Monroe Township, New Jersey to install wind and solar systems on their property. The ordinance passed 6-1, and gives the 40,000 resident town clear guidelines on the size and location of renewable energy installations. It's another move toward expanding renewable energy access in a state that is already among the top in the United States. In 2012, the state increased its total solar generation capacity by 33 percent, according to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research. The ordinance is designed to make sure that residential solar and wind systems are appropriately sized and small enough to avoid making a profit, according to a report by The South Jersey Times. New Jersey permits solar net metering, but customers cannot "sell" power back into the grid once they have zeroed out their monthly bill. The dissenting councilman, Frank Caligiuri, told the Times that the ordinance went against state regulations and that the size restrictions would exclude people who wanted personal PV systems. For more:
-see this article
-see NJ's net metering policy Related Articles:
NJ drives 1/3 of US solar, adds 33% to state grid
California gaining PV market share
Read more about: renewable energy
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Also Noted SPOTLIGHT ON... Duke Energy Ohio settles rate cases Duke Energy Ohio has reached an agreement in its electric and natural gas distribution rate cases. According to the settlement, the net annualized increase for electric service would be a $49 million revenue adjustment; natural gas service would have no revenue adjustment. Article Quick news from around the web: >The FCC has released a final rule detailing U.S.-Mexico spectrum sharing. Article
>A Federal cybersecurity workforce study highlights age and training needs. Article
>Are CIOs as strategic as they think they are? See these tips. Article
>Georgia Power is celebrating the success of the first phase of its Advanced Solar Initiative. Article
>Microgrids are becoming a more and more attractive alternative to the power grid. Article
>Federal judges have ruled that utility poles don't threaten clean water. Article
SDG&E's Ted Reguly talks customer concerns and other "trivial" issues
The Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) recently selected San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) as one of four utilities to appear as a smart grid success case study in its 2013 State of the Consumer Report. I recently discussed in more detail the specifics of the utility's approach with SDG&E's Director of Customer Programs and Projects Ted Reguly.  | | Ted Reguly | FierceEnergy: Specifically, what types of programs have you implemented to engage and educate consumers about smart meters? What do you attribute to the success of these programs? Ted Reguly: It started day one with the design of the meter installation process. We engaged customers by having customer co-design teams, where we explained to customers what we were trying to do, and they helped design the process and market materials. That set an excellent foundation for the program "Customers First." Along with general media outreach, SDG&E built awareness about planned smart meter installations at each of three 30-day intervals leading up to installation. Every step in the process was tested with the customer and the end result in mind. Starting at 90 days ahead, SDG&E's Stakeholder Education Group members connected with community leaders wherever possible in face-to-face meetings. At 60 days ahead, group members organized and spoke at community gatherings about how smart meters could help them better understand the cost of the energy they use. And 30 days ahead, customers received a letter with a timeframe in which they could expect a smart meter to be installed at their residence. A few days before, an outbound dialing team notified customers of the 'window' during which the installer would be on site. Customers had the option of specifying their own 'window.' This way, they could be sure that, for example, their computers were backed up and turned off and any life-support systems could continue to run smoothly. Read the entire Hot Seat online at FierceEnergy. Read more about: Smart Grid
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