Snohomish PUD and Dept. of Energy Launch Smart Grid Effort

Snohomish County Public Utility District and the Department of Energy have signed an agreement for an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant authorizing $15.8 million for a smart grid project by the Washington utility.

The smart grid upgrade will create a stronger, more efficient and reliable electrical system for the utility that will better integrate renewable energy into the electrical grid. It will help fund a new 163-mile state-of-the-art fiber system and bring about 75 green jobs to Western Washington.

The PUD’s project consists of three key components: enhanced digital communications, substation automation and distribution automation. The utility will finish the first phase of fiber installation this spring, with about 50 miles of fiber installed and the automation of several substations. It will allow for future smart grid technologies, such as smart meters, which will help the PUD and its customers manage power consumption and plan energy use.

"We are pleased to reach an agreement with the DOE for smart grid funding,” said Chris Heimgartner, PUD Assistant General Manager of Distribution and Engineering Services.

“We look forward to working with the DOE to implement these projects to improve our electrical grid for our customers. The smart grid will create new green jobs, boost the local economy and lay the groundwork for the utility to better manage energy use while reducing carbon emissions.”

Once installed, the smart grid also will enhance safety, increase system reliability and reduce system energy losses. The smart grid infrastructure will allow the PUD to more easily integrate renewable energy sources into its system, including tidal, geothermal, solar, low impact hydro, biomass and wind.

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