Smart Grid
DOE Seeks Energy Efficiency Gains
“An educated consumer is our best customer,” a slogan well-known to clothing buyers, won’t be appearing in utility bill stuffers anytime soon.
A new initiative seeks to turn consumers’ electricity usage data into a tool for hiking energy efficiency. (Photo By: Kameleon007)
But the Department of Energy is embracing the thought in a new campaign aimed at boosting consumers’ energy efficiency and potentially reducing energy costs.
Under the effort, announced Nov. 8, local communities can partner with utilities and third-party technology innovators on programs that make electricity consumption data readily available to consumers.
Smart grid technologies are generating “unprecedented amounts” of usage data that could potentially allow more control over electricity choices, noted Energy Secretary Steven Chu. But to turn it into usable information, consumers need to more effectively understand their electricity use.
That’s where the Smart Grid Data Access funding opportunity comes in. The program will make up to $8 million available to utilities and others to create programs that empower consumers to better manage electricity use through improved access to their electricity consumption data.
In the first phase, applicants will provide detailed plans that outline their process for establishing the required data access policies for consumers and authorized third parties.
Ten to 12 projects will be selected and funded at $500,000 each, with a 50 percent matching requirement.
In Phase II, DOE will select one recipient to receive approximately $2 million for the wide-scale adoption of Phase I work.
NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network is “keenly interested” in the funding program, said John Hewa, vice president for research, engineering and technical services. “This DOE opportunity is in line with CRN involvement in smart grid demonstration efforts and resonates with cooperative principles.”
“Local cooperatives do an outstanding job of communicating with members,” Hewa pointed out. “This is an opportunity to further the existing relationships between cooperative systems and their members through an even higher level of energy empowerment and education.”
Although virtually anyone can apply, “utility involvement is essential because projects must include consumer participation in the demonstrations,” said Mary Ann Ralls, NRECA senior regulatory counsel.
“Applicants must also provide information respecting consumer data privacy and security policies,” she added.
The deadline for applications is March 1, 2012.