Duke Energy has reached a settlement agreement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and key consumer groups on a proposal to begin modernizing its electric grid to create an intelligent power delivery system.
The initiative — called “smart grid” — would employ advanced digital technology to save energy, improve the reliability of the power delivery system, improve customer service and reduce the impact on the environment.
The settlement was reached between Duke Energy, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, the Duke Energy Indiana Industrial Group, Nucor Steel, and the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana Inc.
“The existing power grid is an engineering marvel, but its design is more than a century old. It’s an analog-based system designed to deliver power with little communication between the utility, the power grid, the meters and our customers,” said Jim Stanley, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “Smart grid, with its digital, two-way communication capabilities, will transform how we operate our system — improving customer service, power reliability, and the efficiency of our transmission and distribution system.”
Benefits of a smarter energy grid include:
n The ability to provide customers with more detailed information regarding their electricity usage and more information for managing their bills. Today, customers receive only their total usage for the month. With smart grid, customers will be able to know their usage daily. As smarter appliances become available, combined with home energy management systems, customers will be able to control their level of comfort, convenience, cost and environmental footprint.
n The digital gateway necessary to eventually offer customers a variety of sophisticated cost-saving energy efficiency programs. For example, customers could eventually monitor and manage their real-time energy usage online.
n A state-of-the-art communications system along thousands of miles of power lines in Indiana to help detect and prevent power line trouble before outages or other electricity delivery problems develop. Today, most utilities don’t know that a customer is out of power until the customer reports the trouble.
n New smart meters that allow two-way electronic communication between the utility and the meters, greatly reducing the expense of on-site meter reading, providing more detailed usage information, enabling service to be reconnected or transferred remotely.
n Advanced technology to further monitor and automate Duke Energy’s power delivery system, which will increase overall reliability.
If the settlement is approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Duke Energy will work to begin installing smarter energy meters and related equipment within six months.
The settlement provides for periodic program evaluation by all the parties and gradually ramping up meter installations. Duke Energy’s goal is to install more than 800,000 smart meters throughout its 69-county service area over approximately five to six years.
In addition, the settlement agreement provides for a renewable “distributed generation” pilot, in which photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and solar thermal water heaters will be installed at a specified number of homes and small businesses. Further, the company will pilot advanced pricing options for customers, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and residential home energy management systems. The residential home energy management system pilot would allow participating customers to manage their energy usage through an Internet portal.
“The energy future demands an intelligent power grid to handle distributed generation, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and provide our customers with more energy efficient options and control,” said Todd Arnold, Duke Energy senior vice president of smart grid and customer systems. “When combined with our smart grid rollout already under way in Ohio, Duke Energy continues its leadership position in the transition to a smarter power grid.”
Arnold also said the company will soon apply for economic stimulus funds provided through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help offset the costs associated with deployment of the smart grid system. Over the approximately five- to six-year deployment schedule, the company is expected to invest approximately $445 million.
Business
Duke Energy reaches deal on proposal to modernize grid
- Business
-
-
Vectren receives best-in-class safety award
At its annual Operations Conference in San Francisco, Calif., the American Gas Association recognized Vectren as one of only 18 energy delivery companies in the U.S. that achieved outstanding records for employee safety in 2011.
-
Program to retrain 99,000 unemployed veterans
Unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 can now apply for new benefits to cover education costs for up to one year through a joint U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Labor program that focuses on retraining 99,000 veterans for high-demand jobs.
-
Sycamore Terrace reaches 98 percent occupancy
Sycamore Terrace Apartments, a Watermark Residential multifamily community in Terre Haute, has achieved 98 percent occupancy.
-
EYE ON THE PIE: What if the poor can’t get to their jobs, the sick to doctors?
What do you care if the Hammond buses stop running?
-
Retirement party
A surprise retirement party for Daniel Wunderlich, chemistry teacher at Terre Haute South Vigo. is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. June 9 at the South cafeteria.
-
BRIEFLY: May 27, 2012
A number of state parks across Indiana have immediate seasonal needs that they are struggling to fill.
-
SOCIAL SECURITY: Serving wounded warriors, survivors of fallen
It’s an American tradition to pay tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces each Memorial Day — especially honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.
- RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: May 21, 2012
-
EYE ON THE PIE: Use to be close tie between output, employment
Crusty Crawford joined our lunch table with a pronouncement. “We’ve always assumed a close tie between output and employment,” he said. No one responded.
-
Employer opinions sought on students
A joint venture between Ready Indiana and the Indiana Department of Education is seeking employer input that will impact how Hoosier high school students are equipped for the workforce.
-
Carlisle prison marks 20th anniversary
2012 marks the 20th year of service for the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, going on line with its first offenders Dec. 10, 1992.
-
SOCIAL SECURITY: Why young workers should care about Social Security
Summer will be here before we know it.
-
BUSINESS CENTS: Does your staff understand pricing?
Many companies feel as though their staff will follow instructions and implement price strategies as instructed.
-
Valley Child Development Center receives grant
Valley Child Development Center has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Terre Haute Day Nursery Foundation through the Wabash Valley Community Foundation.
-
Exec offers advice on becoming startup entrepreneur
Sam Clemens, chief product officer of Cambridge, Mass., startup company Insight Squared, gave Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students insight on how to develop a startup business.
-
Newsmakers: May 20, 2012
Leland Phipps, family practice physician at Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center, has been re-elected to membership with the American Academy of Family Physicians.
-
Alumna to serve as VP for Rose-Hulman Ventures
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology alumna Elizabeth M. Hagerman is returning to her alma mater to serve as vice president for Rose-Hulman Ventures, the institute’s successful innovation space that has spawned careers and entrepreneurial enterprises throughout Indiana.
-
Summer Sidewalk Sale set
Marshall Main Street’s Downtown Summer Sidewalk Sale is planned from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 9.
-
Oil drops to lowest level in 6 months
The price of oil dropped to a six-month low Tuesday on concern that economic uncertainty in Europe could hurt demand for crude.
-
Adidas initiative: ISU students develop business improvement process at facility
As Indiana State University students cruised Interstate 70 on Friday afternoons from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, they were looking forward to reaching their destination.
-
BUSINESS BRIEFLY: May 13, 2012
An evening of networking and education for Clark, Crawford and Edgar counties regarding branding, marketing and tourism development opportunities is planned for 6:30 p.m. May 21 at the Heath Museum on the square in downtown Robinson.
-
Wendy’s partners with Riley Hospital
For just $2, customers at participating Wendy’s restaurants in the Evansville/Terre Haute area can get free Jr. Frosty desserts through Dec. 31 while supporting Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.
-
Marshall Chamber to stage annual golf outing
The Marshall (Ill.) Chamber of Commerce invites golfers to its annual golf outing scheduled for June 8 at the Marshall Golf Course.
-
ON THE MOVE: May 13, 2012
McKenze Rogers has joined Williams Randall as an account supervisor.
-
Seminar teaches seniors to fight fraud
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 25 million Americans are victims of consumer fraud each year.
-
EYE ON THE PIE: Economic tools for consumers, workers, business owners, officials
My friend is a carpenter. He has two heavy boxes of tools and several other containers with stuff.
-
SOCIAL SECURITY: Potential Medicare savings for mom
Given the current economic climate, buying a nice gift for Mother’s Day may be more difficult than in years past.
-
‘Best Places to Work’ honored at banquet
Companies raising the bar with their workplace practices were recognized on May 3 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
-
NEWSMAKERS: May 13, 2012
Susi Willis, CPA and partner in Larsson Woodyard & Henson, LLP, was recently presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Indiana CPA Society at its annual CPA Celebration at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.
-
Indiana Rail Road wins Family-Friendly Award
The Indiana Rail Road Co. has won the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce’s “Family-Friendly Business Award” for 2012 based on the company’s highly successful employee wellness program.
- More Business Headlines
-
Vectren receives best-in-class safety award
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Astronauts Enter World's 1st Private Supply Ship
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Today in History
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Shell Readies Arctic Drill Ship
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st
Beer Here!: An Historic Exhibit
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Wild weather for Memorial Day weekend
Inspiration for the class of 2012
Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing
Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3"
80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump
JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini
Sliders on the Grill
Cruise ship crunch
Backstage With Beyonce
Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad
Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest
Jenny McCarthy's New Man
Tyler's Classic Coleslaw
Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
Hurricanes and Heat Waves Across America
Kristen Stewart Is Red Hot
Shark Attacks Australian Fishing Boat
Bradley out for playoffs
Kayaker Survives Trip Over Washington Waterfall
