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Xcel's "smart grid" won't make the honor roll

Posted August 30th, 2010 by Charles Langley

UCAN News

Denver's Smart Grid fails to make the grade

"A poster child for how not to do smart grid deployment."

There is a saying that you can always spot the pioneers because they're the ones with the arrows in their backs, and these days, Xcel's venture into smart grid deployment has resulted in a utility bristling with arrows.

In the August 29 Denver Post, Reporter Drew Fitzgerald documents how Xcel energy planned to be the first and the best in smart electric grid deployment. Not only is the grid behind schedule, but the project has cost the utility $45 million  -- when the original budget was more like $15 million.  This price will be paid by the ratepayers.

According to UCAN's Executive Director, Michael Shames, the Xcel initiative is "being used as a poster child of how not to do smart-grid deployment."

UCAN has taken steps to curb SDG&E's ability to make the same sort of mistakes in the future. 

Unlike the Xcel project, SDG&E's program must clear a series of budget benchmarks or cost "gates" before proceeding. In addition, SDG&E's implementation is being monitored by CPUC and UCAN through a technical advisory panel, a key concession that was demanded by UCAN in order to keep schedules, customer service, and budgets under control.

Xcel says costly SmartGridCity pilot project in Boulder won't be repeated or expanded

Read more: Xcel says costly SmartGridCity pilot project in Boulder won't be repeated or expanded - The Denver Post

 

Filed Under
Tags: Colorado smart grid - Denver - Denver smart drid - electric grid - electric transmission - electricity - Energy - Excel - michael shames - SDG&E - smart grid - smart meter - the grid - Xcel -

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