Press Release
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Con Edison Launches Smart Grid Pilot Program in Queens
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Smart grids integrate information and communication technology into electricity generation, delivery, and consumption, making systems cleaner, safer, more reliable and efficient. Con Edison's 18-month demonstration project combines cutting edge technology with existing innovations that allow, for example, the utility to test and evaluate the company's response to customer use and power interruptions. "New York City will be a model showing how smart grid technologies can work together in dense urban areas," said Kevin Burke, Chairman and CEO of Con Edison. "Smart grids will change the way we manage the grid, and can change the way customers manage their energy usage. Our vision is to identify grid innovations that can be reliable and cost effective, and provide increased flexibility for customers in the ways they make energy choices." One of the innovations involves a distributed generation project with the City University of New York to study how solar energy can be integrated into the New York City electric grid. The solar energy will be obtained from a 100kW photovoltaic system on the roof of LaGuardia Community College. "With this 'smart grid' agreement, CUNY is partnering with Con Edison to create a roadmap for New York and an example for the nation as we move toward energy independence," said Chancellor Matthew Goldstein. "The University's faculty and researchers will continue to work closely with Con Edison to identify new solar and renewable energy opportunities." Con Edison's comprehensive, urban city smart grid pilot will take place within the company's Long Island City network, an 8.3 square-mile-area, which has a customer density mixture representative of other areas in the company's system. The network entirely or partly includes the neighborhoods of Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside. The location of the smart grid pilot also gives Con Edison greater flexibility by housing necessary equipment on its own property. Approximately 1,500 customers will receive smart meters, the main component of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Other AMI features include automatic outage notification, remote meter reading, remote reconnection and the ability to communicate energy usage information via other smart building technology to web portals or in-home displays. The web portals and in-home displays can show energy usage by appliance and nearly 300 eligible customers will test this technology. The demonstration program also tests the integration of:
-- intelligent underground systems that can monitor, isolate and correct
distribution problems to improve reliability;
The research and development project is the company's first step in an effort to expand smart grid technology throughout New York City and Westchester County. Con Edison will continue working with the state Public Service Commission, other stakeholders, and industry groups to grow and expand smart grid technology across the system. By the end of this month, Con Edison will file proposals with the U.S. Department of Energy for stimulus funds to help finance approximately $375 million in smart grid projects. Stimulus grants, if secured, will broaden the scope of the company's smart grid efforts. Some of these projects include the addition of more than 40,000 smart meters, more intelligent underground and overhead systems, and a sophisticated command and control network that will serve as the "brain" of an enhanced Con Edison smart grid. Also, the utility has worked closely with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the non-profit organization that recently delivered a smart grid interoperability roadmap report to the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, which will oversee development and implementation of national advanced grid standards. "We are working with Con Edison on the Queens smart grid project to demonstrate the concept of interoperability that will be critical for widespread deployment of smart grid," said Arshad Mansoor, vice president of Power Delivery and Utilization at EPRI. "This is another example of Con Edison working with our community to make an innovative national energy movement a reality here in our backyard," said Gayle Baron, president of the Long Island City Business Development Corporation. "We're pleased the Long Island City area has been chosen to be one of a small number of communities around the nation to be included in a comprehensive smart grid project." "Queens looks forward to hosting new technologies that will serve as the foundation for a New York City smart grid," said Al Pennisi, president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. "We will work closely with Con Edison to stay abreast of innovations that will have a positive impact on our business community, helping them to manage their energy costs or pursue green alternatives." Con Edison's smart grid pilot project was developed after five years of research and development. Smart grid technology is part of the company's EnergyNY plan (www.coned.com/energyNY), a blueprint that balances energy-efficiency initiatives with infrastructure investments to meet the region's increasing need for energy. Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED), one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $34 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison's Web site at www.coned.com.
Contact: SOURCE: Con Edison Co. of NY, Inc. |
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