Digital Metering and Smart Grids in Your Community

Smart Meters enable two-way communication between the meter and the central system; unlike home energy monitors, smart meters can gather data for remote reporting. With the inception of electricity deregulation and market-driven pricing, utilities have been looking for a means to match consumption with generation. Smart meters provide a way of measuring site-specific information, allowing utility companies to introduce different prices for consumption based on the time of day and the season.

Supply and Demand Integration

Data Management a critical element for smart meter systems is information technology at the utility that integrates networks with utility applications such as billing and customer service.

Historic Development of the Electric Grid the first alternating current power grid system was installed in 1886 as a centralized unidirectional system of electric power transmission and distribution. During the 20^th century, local grids were interconnected for economy and reliability; power stations were strategically located close to fossil fuel sources, railroad, highways or ports. The 21^st century is characterized by smart grid deployments, electronic communication technology, the application of alternative renewable energy sources and a de-emphasis on large, centralized power stations.

Digital Metering and Smart Grids are full ecosystems with multiple technologies characterized by: usage by time, outages in real-time, remote disconnection, detection of electricity fraud, automated billing and contract management, demand side management, distributed generation management.

Advanced Metering and Grids Infrastructures the evolution of the network is instrumental for the wide diffusion and high penetration of renewable energy sources and the implementation of energy saving measures, hence to the reduction of CO2 gas emissions.

Smart Grids Enable and Presume Active Consumer Participation

ESCo is an energy and water service/savings company that provides design, implementation and financing of energy/water saving projects, retrofitting, conservation, infrastructure outsourcing, power generation and supply, as well as risk management.

Smart Metering Benefits

Client Management flexible and tariffs, bad credit management and consumption patterns data.

Cost Efficiency and Loss Reductions no field teams for meter reading and disconnections.

Value Added Services bidirectional metering, remote curtailment, automation and smart appliances.

Smart Metering: 65% Energy Efficiency Improvements 25% more Micro Generation

Financing Energy Efficiency Projects in Small Towns and Rural Communities

Energy Efficiency Projects face several financial impediments, including:

Information financial institutions often lack a full understanding of energy efficiency technologies which are almost always investments with long repayment terms;

Commercial Lenders are risk averse to this type of credit exposure while investment funds have a greater appetite for risk but focus on large volume transactions, hence

Energy Efficiency projects that would benefit small towns and rural communities require specific and unique knowledge, expertise and funding sources.

Solutions

Energy Audits provide the necessary information on current consumption patterns and establish baselines for future demand and consumption with IT-based monitoring and controlling systems whose software gathers and elaborates data coming from smart meters.

ESCos are energy and water service/savings companies that provide design, implementation and financing of energy/water saving projects via retrofits, conservation, infrastructure outsourcing, power generation and supply, as well as risk management as they share in the risk borne by the project beneficiary as the funding source buys energy savings receivables resulting from the project.

Project Tasks include: identification and evaluation of energy-saving opportunities; developing engineering designs and specifications; project management from design to installation to monitoring; energy supply at the best costs; funding; staff training and ongoing maintenance services; guarantees that savings cover project costs; understanding and applying of energy standards, laws and incentives.

Energy Performance Contracts contain risk allocation, cash flow segregation, financial instruments and controls with the appropriate management information systems.

Economies of Scale and larger volume finance transactions are achieved by linking with similar size and type projects in other small towns and rural communities.