Customer to grid connection – transformation beyond technology
It’s not enough to install smart grid and advanced distribution automation technologies. Consumers also need to understand how smart grid technologies work for them — from energy bill savings, to electricity service reliability, to sustainable energy choices. A leading practice in successful project management? Robust stakeholder management—especially in projects involving process redesign.
Glendale Water & Power and KEMA team up in the March 2010 issue of POWERGRID International to provide a glimpse into the City of Glendale’s aggressive implementation of and Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Meter Data Management System (AMI / MDMS) infrastructure, with smart meter installations beginning this year.
One of just 33 public power utilities selected for a U.S. Department of Energy Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) award, Glendale Water & Power (GWP) is moving forward with its AMI / MDMS infrastructure as the first step in its Smart Grid roadmap. GWP will be replacing all of its electric meters, which serve 84,500 customers, with Smart Meters enabled with two-way communications, and automating its 33,400 water meters to communicate over a secure wireless network.
Beyond the technology, GWP pursued best practice in stakeholder management—developing a stakeholder management team as part of the project management office (PMO). This team carefully defined who the internal and external stakeholders are and then developed a plan to address their needs in the right way at the right time during the life of the project. The stakeholder management plan includes internal and external communications using every possible medium with an emphasis on creation of two way interaction.
For more insight
This post is excerpted from an article co by-lined by Martin Powers, GWP and Terry McDonald, KEMA. Glendale Water & Power Transforms the Consumer-to-Grid Connection was published the March 2010 issue of POWERGRID International.
KEMA is assisting the City of Glendale, California with its implementation of an advanced metering infrastructure and meter data management system (AMI / MDMS).
Consumers were previously treated in a homogeneous, today with the introduction of new technologies each consumer will have different features.
For the success of Utilities in developing this new scenario, they must have the ability to understand the different distribution topologies and further understand the consumption profile of each class of consumer
Demand Response involves encouraging customers to cut back or shift their electrical use or demand in response to grid emergencies or high market prices for electricity.
Today there are three different types of Demand Response services :
The first is where customers receive compensation for electing to standby to reduce a portion of their electric demand in a grid emergency. These are called “capacity resources” and are typically activated a few times a year for up to 6 hours at a time.
The second type involves sending customers price signals to encourage them to reduce demand during peak hours. The higher the hourly prices, the greater financial incentive a customer has for reducing their electric load. Customers can participate at their discretion for as little as one hour at a time. These are called “energy markets.”
The last involves very short grid-initiated curtailment events with very short notification. These are typically 10 to 30 minute reductions with 10 minutes notice. These are called “ancillary services” and help the grid operator smooth out short-term imbalances of electrical supply.
Different Utilities or Regions, Substations, Feeders and Consumers should be treated differently, the faster the Utilities understand this, will have fewer problems with their consumers.
NOTE :
In a project that I developed, where Demand Response and DSM were priorities in the first three months consumers had two different bills.
The first bill was the same as he always received, second bill came with the record of consumption in three different times and with special rates in these three different times.
The consumers in these first three months paid the electric bill of less value, in these three months he could test different way and times of energy use.
So after these three months, consumers had developed new ways to use energy in accordance with their daily lives.
This is the best way to educate and engage the consumer in this new concept – Smart Grid – it is a pity that this is not being implemented.
It is a much more friendly to educate the consumer and also the staff of the Utilities involved.