Metering.com - The Metering International information and news site

Central Maine Power’s AMI to be audited

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:42:51 +0200

Augusta, ME, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 19, 2013 - The Maine Public Utilities Commission has voted to audit Central Maine Power’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) program, citing concerns about the increased costs and reduced benefits of the program.

The order, which was voted last week, seeks to evaluate the reasonableness and prudency of CMP’s projections of the costs and savings on which approval of the AMI project in January 2010 were premised, its management of the AMI project, and implementation of supply side programs.

Aging infrastructure tops water utility concerns in U.S.

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:18:18 +0200

Overland Park, KS, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 19, 2013 - Aging water and sewer infrastructure continues to be the top concern for the water industry in the United States, followed by the management of capital and operational costs, according to Black & Veatch’s second annual industry survey.

However, surprisingly, non-revenue water, i.e. water loss – despite averaging over 20 percent across the nation – came in only 10th place, behind the ageing workforce and water availability and/or conservation.

Partnership between LichtBlick and Görlitz for decentralized energy communication solutions

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:11:49 +0200

Hamburg and Koblenz, Germany --- (METERING.COM) --- June 19, 2013 - A partnership has been entered into between independent German utility LichtBlick and Görlitz AG to develop standardized hardware and software solutions to control decentralized ‘SchwarmStrom’ (SwarmElectricity) plants.

These solutions are intended to provide the interfaces between the on-site installation and the software from LichtBlick.

PowerMatching City project enters next phase

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:13:25 +0200

Groningen, The Netherlands --- (METERING.COM) --- June 18, 2013 - The PowerMatching City project enters its second phase with the initiation of a pilot in Groningen and Hoogkerk in the northern Netherlands in which consumers will test innovative, smart energy services related to sustainable energy choices and cost savings.

Smart substation project launched in France

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:56:15 +0200

Paris, France --- (METERING.COM) --- June 18, 2013 - The French transmission system operator RTE has launched a smart substation pilot project involving the use of cutting edge digital and optical technologies to optimize the capacities of substations and ensure they are better able to deal with the mass expansion of renewable energies.

The project, believed to be the only one of its kind in the world, will provide the on-board smart capabilities built into the substation infrastructure to provide the interactivity needed to compensate for the intermittent nature of renewable generation.

UK-India smart grid research partnerships announced

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:39:09 +0200

Swindon, U.K. and New Delhi, India --- (METERING.COM) --- June 18, 2013 - Five new joint U.K.-India research projects have been announced in the areas of smart energy grids and energy storage.

The projects are being supported with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through the Manufacturing and RCUK Energy Program themes, with matched resources from India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST).

NRECA to establish two new regional utilities in Haiti

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:11:45 +0200

Arlington, VA, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 14, 2013 - The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has been awarded two contracts in the past month to establish two new regional utilities in Haiti.

Under a $24 million contract from USAID, NRECA International Ltd. will undertake a three-year electricity distribution pilot project to consolidate an electric distribution system in Caracol with a power generation system to create a regional utility serving the greater Caracol area, including Limonade, Terrier Rouge and Trou de Nord. Once operational, the utility will serve at least 5,000 members in this rural community about 20 miles east of Cap Haitien, on Haiti’s north coast.

Challenges and opportunities for plug-in electric vehicles in U.S.

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:07:19 +0200

Washington, DC, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 14, 2013 - Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have experienced significant growth recently, with sales in the first five months of this year surpassing the total sales in 2012, and their large scale introduction into the light duty fleet in the U.S. can be expected to substantially reduce local oil consumption, according to a new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Origin Energy to provide free in-home displays

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:48:29 +0200

Sydney, Australia --- (METERING.COM) --- June 14, 2013 - Sydney based Origin Energy is to supply a free in-home display to customers in Victoria with a smart meter who sign up to the company’s Smart DailySaver rate plan.

In addition customers will get up to 10 percent discount on their electricity usage charges for 12 months.

California PUC proposes 1.3 GW energy storage target for 2020

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:57:07 +0200

San Francisco, CA, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 13, 2013 - The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has proposed a 1.325 GW energy storage procurement target for 2020 for the state’s three investor owned utilities.

For Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric the proposed 2020 targets are 580 MW each, starting with 90 MW each in 2014. They then ramp up – to allow for learning – by approximately a third each successive two years to 120 MW in 2016, 160 MW in 2018 and 210 MW in 2020.

PRIME base node certification program available

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:42:07 +0200

Brussels, Belgium --- (METERING.COM) --- June 13, 2013 - The PRIME Alliance has announced the availability of a comprehensive PRIME base node certification program, as well as the successful obtainment of the first certification by PRIME meter and meter data concentrator supplier ZIV.

Base node software functionality, which makes up the core PRIME “head end” capability within a meter data concentrator, is critical to enabling interoperability with various meter manufacturers. The PRIME Alliance, building off the comprehensive meter certification program that has been in place for several years, will now provide a comprehensive suite of test cases, certification software toolkits, and the definition of the standardized interfaces between the toolkit and the tested devices.

Maine PUC launches green power program

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:18:20 +0200

Augusta, ME, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 13, 2013 - The Maine Public Utilities Commission, in partnership with renewable energy provider 3Degrees, recently launched a statewide green power offering to customers of Central Maine Power, Bangor Hydro Electric Company and Maine Public Service Company.

Maine Green Power is available to both residential and business customers and ensures that the electricity they use is matched by electricity generated by solar, hydro, wind, biomass or other renewable energy projects located in Maine.

$10mn to develop New York state smart grid

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:17:30 +0200

Albany, NY, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 12, 2013 - New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo has made available $10 million to promote new smart grid technologies that will help re-engineer the New York state electric grid.

The funding available is part of the state’s Energy Highway Blueprint, which called for innovative projects to help reduce peak demand strains on the electric system and reduce associated costs, integrate intermittent power sources, such as wind and solar, strengthen the security of the system, and improve overall reliability.

Britons want smart meters and to compare energy consumption

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:07:18 +0200

London, U.K. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 12, 2013 - Britons are looking forward to smart meters and want to share and compare their energy consumption with neighbors, a new survey from the Energy Saving Trust suggests.

In the survey, which covered more than 2,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales, almost three-quarters said they would welcome smart meters into their homes, finding the concept of this technology “appealing”. Further, almost half indicated they want to compare their energy consumption to that of other similar homes locally once the technology becomes available.

Lifetime cost of electric vehicle ownership comparable with conventional vehicles, EPRI finds

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:51:54 +0200

Palo Alto, CA, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- June 12, 2013 - Consumers who purchase a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) will find that the costs to own the vehicle are competitive with conventional and hybrid vehicles, according to an analysis conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).