Charlottesville, Va., has been selected as the first city in Virginia to benefit from smart-grid technology that will make the delivery of electricity more efficient and less costly, while improving customer service. Smart-grid capabilities also will promote energy conservation and environmental responsibility.
The $20 million program will begin with the installation of about 46,500 smart meters in the city of Charlottesville and Albermarle County. More than half of the meters have been installed, with completion scheduled by the end of this year.
Pending regulatory approval where required, the highlights ultimately are expected to include the following:
– automatic energy-usage reduction of about 4% or more annually for typical residential customers through more efficient management of energy delivery by Dominion;
– the option of time-based rates that give customers the opportunities to shift electricity use to off-peak times for additional savings;
– a demonstration project to test battery storage systems that could promote renewable electricity generation; and
– increased customer convenience through remote turn-on and turn-off of service and remote meter readings.
SOURCE: Dominion Virginia Power
