Tallahassee Preps Nation's First Smart Grid That Fuses Electricity, Gas and Water Utilities

Of all the smart electricity grids rolling out locally across the country, Tallahassee's forthcoming advanced metering system might be the smartest.

This fall, the city's public utility will launch a smart grid that encompasses electric, natural gas and water services -- the first of its kind in the country to combine all three utilities in one network. On a backbone of 220,000 smart meters, a communications infrastructure, data collection software and smart devices, the system will enable the city and customers to save money and manage their power use like never before.

The technology, for instance, will allow customers to control thermostats remotely, choose their ideal electricity price rates and compare energy use data. They can sign up for a monetary cap for their accounts or receive a text or e-mail alert when their usage level approaches a preset limit. They can also do activities like laundry at off-peak hours to get cheaper rates. The city's utilities staff will be able to remotely pinpoint electricity outages and water leaks for quicker repairs.

Last fall, the U.S. Department of Energy selected Tallahassee as one of 100 entities nationwide to receive a piece of the $4 billion set aside for smart grid projects in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, touted as the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history. Grantees have to match at least 50 percent of the funds, but the government believes the money will help modernize the nation's energy grid, support renewable energy sources, stimulate the economy and create jobs, according to Jen Stutsman, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Source: http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/751021
But Tallahassee is a standout star. The city received and matched the $8.8 million in federal funds to bolster a smart-grid energy management system, consisting of a comprehensive demand response program that includes smart thermostats and in-home displays.