PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Portland
General Electric (NYSE: POR) announced plans to file a proposal for
a Smart Grid Test Bed that will integrate smart grid technology on
a scale never before attempted in the
United States. Slated to begin next year, the project aims
to accelerate PGE's vision for a clean energy future through
partnering with customers to decarbonize the grid.
PGE is building and testing three smart grids within its service
area that will enable more than 20,000 customers to take advantage
of special demand-response signals and incentives for using
smart-home technologies, giving them greater energy efficiency
opportunities and increased control over their energy use and
carbon footprint. The entire service area will benefit as PGE
integrates even more renewable energy resources into its power
supply without compromising grid safety, security and
reliability.
"PGE is committed to delivering a clean energy future, and we're
leaning in to our long history of industry leadership to get
there," said Maria Pope, PGE
president and CEO. "Together with customers we're making the future
a reality with innovative projects like our Smart Grid Test Bed.
This first-of-its-kind project will leapfrog over other smart grid
efforts, enabling PGE to gain and share learnings that will aid the
entire industry."
"The PGE Smart Grid Test Bed represents a leap forward in the
relationship between customers and their energy providers," said
Jon Wellinghoff, former chairman of
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and CEO of Grid Policy,
Inc. "By providing customers with more control over their energy
consumption and carbon footprint with the latest in control
technology, PGE is on a path to building a model that energy
providers everywhere can learn from and replicate."
PGE will make this a seamless experience for customers by
helping them automate their smart devices, such as thermostats,
water heaters, electric vehicle chargers and batteries, to work in
concert with PGE as it operates the grid. During times when demand
for electricity is especially high in the region, customers will be
able to decide on an event-by-event basis if they want to
participate in reducing their overall energy consumption.
To accomplish this, PGE will leverage advanced communications
capabilities and distribution system upgrades in three Oregon cities: Hillsboro, Portland and Milwaukie. Three feeders and substations in
these cities will also be equipped with other smart grid
technologies such as new remote controls that increase system
reliability and enhanced safety and cyber security.
The test bed will accelerate the development of distributed
resources, which include customer-hosted renewables like rooftop
solar; flexible resources like batteries, thermostats and water
heaters; and electric vehicle charging. The project will rely on
PGE's unique ability to partner with customers. The
two-and-a-half-year project aims to achieve at least 66 percent
participation by eligible customers, an ambitious goal considering
typical uptake of demand-response programs nationally is less than
7 percent.
The project was conceived and is being overseen by energy
regulators in Oregon. To
accelerate the concept, PGE developed the pilot with guidance from
the Rocky Mountain Institute, one of the nation's top
sustainability consultants. The project is being steered by an
advisory committee of local and national subject matter experts
from the public and private sectors.
Quotes from mayors in support of PGE's Smart Grid Test Bed
proposal:
"PGE's leadership in reducing energy consumption aligns
perfectly with our community's sustainability goals. This visionary
project at the Roseway substation serving the South Hillsboro neighborhood will also aid our
Smart City strategy by leveraging innovation and technology for our
daily lives. Residents and businesses can make the most of smart
thermostats, water heaters and appliances, rooftop solar energy
generation, electric vehicles and energy storage." —
Steve Callaway, mayor of
Hillsboro
"Given the recent UN report, the urgency of rolling out
cutting-edge technology that aims for a carbon free near-future is
critical. Milwaukie looks forward
to exploring how this technology not only moves us toward our goal
of being a net zero city by 2040, but creates resiliency in the
face of more and more violent storms. We are thrilled with the
visionary attitude that our partner PGE has embraced." —
Mark Gamba, mayor of Milwaukie
"Partnership and collaboration with Portland General Electric
is a critical part of our efforts to combat climate change and to
make our electricity grid and neighborhoods more resilient, livable
and efficient. The City of
Portland is excited to learn about smart grid implementation
alongside PGE in this important pilot program." — Ted Wheeler, mayor of Portland
For more information, visit
PortlandGeneral.com/SmartTestBed.
About Portland General Electric Company: Portland
General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company
based in Portland, Oregon, serving
approximately 883,000 customers in 51 cities. For more than 125
years, PGE has been delivering safe, affordable and reliable energy
to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1
voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. With approximately
2,900 employees across the state, PGE is committed to helping its
customers and the communities it serves build a clean energy
future. For more information, visit
PortlandGeneral.com/CleanVision.
CONTACT:
Andrea Platt
(503) 464-7980
Andrea.Platt@pgn.com
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SOURCE Portland General Electric