A smart grid integrates information and communication technology into electricity generation, delivery, and consumption, making systems cleaner, safer, and more reliable and efficient. The stimulus funds, if secured, would broaden the scope of Con Edison's existing smart grid efforts to modernize the electric grid.
Some items in the funding requests include projects designed to:
• Reduce the carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency;
• Enhance the detection of electric grid disruptions as they happen;
• Increase the number of intelligent systems that can monitor, isolate and correct distribution problems to improve reliability and save money;
• Increase the number of smart building technologies that can show customers their energy usage by appliance;
• Enhance smart meter infrastructure technology and add more than 40,000 smart meters system wide; and
• Accommodate renewable energy resources, such as solar energy, into the electric distribution system.
The DOE plans to distribute $3.9 billion in Recovery Act funds for smart grid projects through two funding opportunities. The first provides $3.3 billion for deploying and implementing smart grid technologies across the country. The second provides $615 million for smart grid pilot projects.
Con Edison filings are for the first opportunity — the deployment and implementation of smart grid technology. The company has already filed applications with the DOE for federal stimulus funding for solar, wind, and steam system projects. The company's filing later this month would provide funding for smart grid pilot projects.
Con Edison also announced that it is already investing $6 million in a Queens smart grid pilot program that incorporates similar projects on a smaller scale.