Bangor Hydro Electric Company applies for federal smart grid stimulus funds

19 August 2009

Maine, US-based electric utility, Bangor Hydro Electric Company submitted an application for federal stimulus funding from the US Department of Energy to bring smart grid advancements to its electricity customers. Bangor Hydro is requesting $4.3m in grant funding for its proposed $8.8m smart grid project.

If awarded funds, Bangor Hydro will be implementing rate trials and those who participate in these trial projects will be able to view their electricity usage through a web portal or select in-home display equipment and manage costs by lowering electricity consumption during peak pricing time periods. If approved, Bangor Hydro’s project is expected to be completed over the next three years.

‘Smart grid investment is increasing at a rapid pace in the United States, due in large part to recent US Economic Stimulus Funds,’ said Kim Wadleigh, vice president of distribution operations, information, and support services at Bangor Hydro. ‘These funds will make it possible for Bangor Hydro to accelerate its plans to equip customers with the tools and information to make better-informed decisions about their electricity consumption and how to better manage their total energy bills.’

According to Gradon Haehnel, manager of rates, customers who participate in the supply rate trial will see higher prices during peak time periods and lower prices during off-peak time periods. ‘We believe that our customers will shift their electricity usage to off-peak time periods to take advantage of lower cost supply prices, and conserve more electricity when they have detailed information about how their individual electric appliances or circuits are actually using electricity. There is a lot at stake here with significant opportunities for savings,’ said Haehnel.

Haehnel said that in Maine approximately 80 per cent of homes heat with oil. As a result, Maine has the highest carbon dioxide emissions per capita in the US. Because Maine’s electricity supply portfolio is heavily weighted with renewable power, electric heating technologies combined with proper home weatherisation will play an important role in reducing carbon emissions.

Bangor Hydro-Electric Company is an electric utility which serves a population of 192,000 in Eastern and East coastal Maine.

Copyright © 2009 NewNet

Tags: funding, hydroelectric, renewable energy, smart grid technology

This story was published on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 at 12:03 pm and is filed under North America, funds, water. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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