PPL Electric Utilities Proposes a Smarter Grid for Harrisburg Area
August 03 2009 - 2:50PM
PR Newswire (US)
Project would add technology to strengthen reliability for its
customers HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PPL
Electric Utilities is proposing a $38 million project that would
pilot the use of "smart" technology to strengthen reliability, save
energy and improve electric service for 60,000 customers in the
Harrisburg area. The project, which has been proposed to the U.S.
Department of Energy, would enable PPL Electric Utilities to move
power more efficiently, react instantaneously to changes on the
delivery system and automatically reroute power around problems
that occur. "Technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since the
electric delivery system was installed," said David G. DeCampli,
president of PPL Electric Utilities. "This project would help
introduce Thomas Edison to the 21st century." He said the project
supports the nation's push for a better, smarter electric grid by
deploying the latest in advanced grid devices, computer systems,
software and high-speed communications. The U.S. Department of
Energy has pledged about $3.3 billion to spur smart grid
development. The company is seeking $19 million in federal funding
for the project. PPL Electric Utilities would partner with Drexel
University and technology leaders GE Energy, Lockheed Martin
Corporation and Alcatel-Lucent if the project is approved for
funding. The improvements would be concentrated in 150 square miles
of the company's delivery system. Hundreds of new electrical
devices would be installed. A new centralized computer system
linked to these devices would track and respond to changes on the
delivery system as they happen. The new technology would allow the
company to operate its power lines at optimal voltages, meaning
customer appliances would use less electricity to do the same
functions. This could save customers in the project area about $1.5
million a year on their electricity bills, DeCampli estimated. The
new system would also quickly detect and isolate problems that
cause outages. For example, if a tree were to damage a section of
line, the system would automatically route power around the problem
until repairs could be made. This would quickly limit the area
affected and get the lights back on for as many customers as
possible. The system would also help direct repair crews to the
source of trouble. "In most cases today, we have to send someone to
the scene to operate equipment and reroute power until a fix is
made," DeCampli said. "The new system would be smart enough to do
this on its own, saving valuable time and allowing crews to focus
on repairs sooner." He said the company has already seen what
advanced technology can do in other areas, such as metering. "We're
a national leader when it comes to advanced metering. We're able to
provide our customers detailed usage information like few utilities
can. We're combining that information with Web tools that help
customers use energy wisely," he said. In addition, the company is
using advanced meters to keep costs down for customers, respond
more quickly to power outages, better plan upgrades to the delivery
system, enable new rate options and detect electricity theft.
"Technology opens the door to new possibilities," DeCampli said.
"And just as technology has transformed other areas of our lives,
from the phones we use to the movies we watch, it has the potential
to reshape the way we think about, use and deliver electricity."
PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL),
provides electric delivery service to 1.4 million customers in 29
counties of eastern and central Pennsylvania and has consistently
ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United
States. More information is available at
http://www.pplelectric.com/. DATASOURCE: PPL Electric Utilities
CONTACT: George Lewis of PPL Electric Utilities, +1-610-774-5997
Web Site: http://www.pplelectric.com/
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