Xcel Energy says it has installed around 14,000 smart meters, along with more than 100 miles of supporting cable lines, in Boulder, Colorado.  The city is well on its way to becoming the world’s first “smart grid” city.

America's electricity grid is built upon outdated technology.  Technology is available today that can bring the power grid into the modern age where it can be monitored and managed at any point in time.  The smart grid will not only deliver power to consumers as needed, depending on demand; it also gathers power from end users that produce their own-homes and businesses that generate solar, wind or geothermal power themselves-when they have more than they need.

Xcel has a strong environmental track record – it is America’s leading provider of wind power.  The utility has headed the $100 million SmartGridCity project.  By the end of the year homeowners will be able to monitor and manage their energy consumption.  Boulder’s smart grid will also integrate electric plug-in vehicles and smart appliances.  

In the long run Xcel will have a better handle on when and where power is needed and won’t have to build more generating capacity.  The smart grid will also maximise usage of renewable power when it is available and much fewer carbon emissions will be released into the atmosphere as a result.

"This really is the only truly smart-grid city in the country," said Roy Palmer, Xcel's project executive for the program in an interview with the Associated Press. "All the components have never been brought together at one time."

The infrastructure is scheduled to be in place by June.  By then 45,000 smart meters will be installed that are capable of transmitting communications to and fro on the new “energy Internet.”  Some homes will be participating in a test that completely does away with metering devices by providing all energy usage information solely over the Internet.

Cities around the world will be monitoring the progress of the Boulder project.  "A lot of people around the world are looking at Boulder," said Brendan Herron, vice president of Current Group, a partner of Xcel’s that provides high-speed communications.  Herron added that interest has been generated as far away as China.

Behavioural scientists at the University of Colorado are working with Xcel to determine how willing consumers are to become more active in their energy usage.  "There's a lot technology involved in what Xcel's doing," said the university’s chancellor, Bud Peterson. "But if we're not able to change people's behaviour, then all the technology in the world isn't going to help."

Boulder was chosen by Xcel over seven other cities that expressed willingness to participate.  The location, size, environmentally-aware population, and wired infrastructure factored into Xcel’s decision.

The project has been in the works for nearly five years.  Xcel is paying for 15 percent of the $100 million price tag and the rest is being funded by partners in the effort.

"A lot of people are talking" about smart grids, said Peter Corsell, CEO of GridPoint Inc.  GridPoint provides supporting software for smart grids and is another partner in the Boulder project. "Xcel was the first utility to come out with a clearly defined, complete plan, integrated end to end."

Xcel Energy
414 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1993
http://www.xcelenergy.com

Current Technologies
Gewerbepark
5506 Mägenwil
Switzerland
http://www.currenttechnologies.ch

GridPoint, Inc.
2801 Clarendon Blvd.
Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22201
http://www.gridpoint.com
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