Progress Energy To Develop Smart Grid In Florida And Carolina’s
Progress Energy has applied for $200 million in infrastructure funds from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop an electric smart grid in Florida and the Carolina’s. The grant money would be shared equally between the two states and and allow customers to see their real-time energy usage.
A smart grid is a modernized digital transmission and distribution system that will deliver detailed information to customers. It also allows utility companies to monitor and adjust their energy consumption. And, it will also help in minimizing the interruptions that commonly occur during storms or other outages.
To further enhance their delivery of energy, Progress Energy has already began investing in smart grid technology throughout their network of around 11,000 miles of transmission lines and about 100,000 miles of distribution lines that cover a 54,000 square mile area of Florida and the Carolina’s.
In pursuit of the grant, they have partnered with Telvent and IBM. Telvent will be providing the smart grid that will feature real-time gathering of data and detailed reports. IBM will be supplying the optimization software and the services for coordination and prioritization of the advanced load shaping and efficiency