This is great information for everyone. American Electric Power explains the pieces of a distribution system in language we all understand.
Special thanks to American Electric Power (http://www.aep.com).
You can reach Dawson Public Power District at (308) 324-2386, http://www.dawsonpower.com; or on Facebook, keyword search dawsonpower
Showing posts with label rural electricity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rural electricity. Show all posts
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, August 10, 2009
Dawson PPD Consumers & Smart Grid
For the past few months, Dawson Public Power District has been working with Nebraska Public Power District and 14 other utility systems in Nebraska to put together a joint grant application for stimulus funds designed to assist us (financially) in building a regional smart grid structure. The entire process has been an impressive endeavor in teamwork.
I’ll be honest… I struggled with the additional costs a smart grid system will impose on our consumers. However, as I’m working through the definition and expectation of smart grid services, I’m beginning to realize the benefits far outweigh the costs.
Reason #1 Whether we (as a utility or a consumer) approve of the smart grid concept or not, it is the way all utilities will be operating in the very near future. Under President Obama’s vision for our energy system, it will be imperative that a smart grid be in place that will allow each consumer to have better control and understanding of their electricity use.
Reason #2 If a cap and trade system is passed by the Senate, even with significant modifications, consumers will need to be able to control usage in order to reduce their electricity costs. Consumers will not be interested in controlling their usage unless it is a simple, easy to understand process.
Reason #3 System reliability will improved based on our ability to detect problem areas before they become outage areas.
Reason #4 Line loss can decrease significantly. Line loss is the amount of electricity “lost” through the system based on resistance on the line (or other line interferences). Interference can be detected through a smart grid system. Reduction of line loss can save thousands of dollars each month.
Reason #5 The bigger picture means our generator (NPPD) can more effectively monitor statewide loads. It allows them to better manage their generating options.
Reason #6 A smart grid system will modernize our electric grid to improve economic and national security. (DOE-GRID 2030)
The request for stimulus funding was $63 million dollars total. Of that, about $9 million was for Dawson PPD. The Department of Energy (DOE) could fund up to 50% of our total request. For those utilities who know that smart grid services will be required in the near future, this is our way of possibly saving 50% of the cost by having the funds granted by DOE. Funding announcements will be made in mid to late October.
Thursday’s blog (What’s In It For Me) will tell our customers how a smart grid could directly affect them.
Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District
I’ll be honest… I struggled with the additional costs a smart grid system will impose on our consumers. However, as I’m working through the definition and expectation of smart grid services, I’m beginning to realize the benefits far outweigh the costs.
Reason #1 Whether we (as a utility or a consumer) approve of the smart grid concept or not, it is the way all utilities will be operating in the very near future. Under President Obama’s vision for our energy system, it will be imperative that a smart grid be in place that will allow each consumer to have better control and understanding of their electricity use.
Reason #2 If a cap and trade system is passed by the Senate, even with significant modifications, consumers will need to be able to control usage in order to reduce their electricity costs. Consumers will not be interested in controlling their usage unless it is a simple, easy to understand process.
Reason #3 System reliability will improved based on our ability to detect problem areas before they become outage areas.
Reason #4 Line loss can decrease significantly. Line loss is the amount of electricity “lost” through the system based on resistance on the line (or other line interferences). Interference can be detected through a smart grid system. Reduction of line loss can save thousands of dollars each month.
Reason #5 The bigger picture means our generator (NPPD) can more effectively monitor statewide loads. It allows them to better manage their generating options.
Reason #6 A smart grid system will modernize our electric grid to improve economic and national security. (DOE-GRID 2030)
The request for stimulus funding was $63 million dollars total. Of that, about $9 million was for Dawson PPD. The Department of Energy (DOE) could fund up to 50% of our total request. For those utilities who know that smart grid services will be required in the near future, this is our way of possibly saving 50% of the cost by having the funds granted by DOE. Funding announcements will be made in mid to late October.
Thursday’s blog (What’s In It For Me) will tell our customers how a smart grid could directly affect them.
Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
If you build it, they will come....but who will pay?
In April, Ron Asche, Nebraska Public Power District’s CEO, addressed the Loup Power District Board of Directors and said transmission planning is a real and challenging concern. He said he believes if national renewable goals are to be met; a national energy transmission plan will have to be designed and implemented. “Finally, how is this going to be financed, and who will be ultimately responsible for the debt incurred in the development of this system,” Asche asked. “Will Nebraska ratepayers be asked to guarantee the debt, or will capital be available to private developers? (Columbus Telegram; Columbus, NE, April 23, 2009)
Transmission proponents are focusing on wind, though, because (currently) environmentally friendly projects sit better with the public. Nobody would say, ‘We want to build a transmission line for coal.” It's much better to talk about it being for wind. Supporters of wind power said the need for transmission capacity is real. How do we deal with the growing LOCAL opposition to building transmission lines?
In early March, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced a bill that would give the federal government authority to grant permits for new electric transmission lines, trumping states’ jurisdiction on the matter. The stimulus package allotted $11 billion dollars for transmission builds but regional grid operators say that at least $80 billion in new transmission infrastructure spending would be needed to get 20 percent of the eastern U.S.’s electricity from wind by 2024. (source: http://www.jcspstudy.org/)
Since electricity cannot be stored in large quantity, the transmission system must work 24 hours a day in tandem with the generation system to meet the needs of the growing demand for electricity. As with other components of utility infrastructure, siting and building transmission lines are very difficult.
Adding large transmission lines also requires state regulatory approval, which involves significant permitting, research and modeling data, environmental information, cost comparisons, analyses of various options, discussions of scenarios and criteria used in evaluation, and other information.
Everybody wants electricity, but nobody wants the transmission line in their back yard. Listen to NPRs “Building Power Lines Creates A Web Of Problems.”
Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District
Transmission proponents are focusing on wind, though, because (currently) environmentally friendly projects sit better with the public. Nobody would say, ‘We want to build a transmission line for coal.” It's much better to talk about it being for wind. Supporters of wind power said the need for transmission capacity is real. How do we deal with the growing LOCAL opposition to building transmission lines?
In early March, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced a bill that would give the federal government authority to grant permits for new electric transmission lines, trumping states’ jurisdiction on the matter. The stimulus package allotted $11 billion dollars for transmission builds but regional grid operators say that at least $80 billion in new transmission infrastructure spending would be needed to get 20 percent of the eastern U.S.’s electricity from wind by 2024. (source: http://www.jcspstudy.org/)
Since electricity cannot be stored in large quantity, the transmission system must work 24 hours a day in tandem with the generation system to meet the needs of the growing demand for electricity. As with other components of utility infrastructure, siting and building transmission lines are very difficult.
Adding large transmission lines also requires state regulatory approval, which involves significant permitting, research and modeling data, environmental information, cost comparisons, analyses of various options, discussions of scenarios and criteria used in evaluation, and other information.
Everybody wants electricity, but nobody wants the transmission line in their back yard. Listen to NPRs “Building Power Lines Creates A Web Of Problems.”
Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District
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