At GridWeek 2011 in Washington, D.C., the Eastern Nebraska Public Power District Consortium announced on September 13 that it has selected the ABB Group, based in Zurich, to implement a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) stimulus-funded smart grid platform.
The Consortium – created specifically to deploy the smart grid-based distribution system – represents an alliance of two public electric utilities, in Cuming and Stanton Counties. In total, the counties have received $2,271,994 from DOE in grants for a project that will cost about $4.5 million, including the Consortium’s share of the budget.
Cuming County Public Power District, located in West Point, Nebraska, and Stanton County Public Power District, located in Stanton, Nebraska, deliver service to more than 6,700 customers through 20 substations, 68 feeders, and 2,200 miles of transmission and distribution lines.
The Eastern Nebraska area is home to businesses in the livestock, butter, and cellulose insulation sectors. With severe winters and hot summers throughout the region, it is essential to maintain delivery of electricity for customers’ personal, livestock, and business needs.
Together the two utilities have planned a Smart Grid Initiative that includes wireless communications, supervisory control and data acquisition software (SCADA), distribution automation software , intelligent reclosers and controls, automated regulator controls, and irrigation load control devices. The project will enable the Consortium to:
- Automate substations,
- Integrate new distribution automation equipment,
- Provide increased system visibility for customer outages, and
- Reduce operations and maintenance costs.
In addition, existing irrigation load control devices for the Cuming County Public Power District (CCPPD) are being upgraded, enhancing demand response and peak load reduction capabilities. The Stanton County Public Power District also has received a separate stimulus grant to complete the deployment of automated metering infrastructure (AMI) in its district.
The Consortium chose the ABB Group, with the help of Boreas Group LLC, a Denver-based transmission and distribution consultancy. ABB’s scope of supply includes the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and distribution automation system, comprising MicroSCADA software solution to manage the distribution network and IEC 61850-based substations; the COM600 communication gateway for utility distribution substations; the GridSync wireless sensors for distribution optimization; and other advanced distribution technologies and project oversight. ABB is subcontracting on this project with Ontario-based RuggedCom to deploy a new communications and wireless-enabled infrastructure.
Earlier this year, the consortium purchased more than 75 intelligent GridShield reclosers with advanced RER620 controller capabilities from ABB for smart grid applications using wireless communication.
The RER620 is part of the Relion family of protection and control devices, with advanced smart grid features to deliver full functions from the IEC 61850 standard for communication and interoperability between grid devices.
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Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
