Xcel Energy's SmartGrid City Update

Xcel Energy's SmartGrid City Update

Ken described Xcel's goals for the project, including the key decision not to choose a "technology winner". They have intentionally left the project open to different types of technology such as Broadband Over Powerline (BPL) and wireless data transfer. With SmartGrid Xcel is creating various beta tests in an ongoing testing and validation setting that allows for the best technologies to be discovered for different customer needs. Overall SmartGrid is about providing more information and options for individual energy use such that customized, and ideally more efficient, decisions about power use will be made.

Regarding Boulder's selection for SmartGrid, Ken described the various customer types, from single family to various businesses and multi-unit dwellings, as well as the relatively high education, current use of the internet and willingness to try new technology as top reasons. In addition, Xcel's system is already designed via substations to isolate Boulder for more specific testing. Major partners such as Accenture and GridPoint also saw Boulder as a great choice to test their components of the system amongst different users.

While Boulder is eager to try this new energy use information system, Xcel is caught between wanting to be flexible and provide evolving technology while meeting the requirements of various regulatory agencies. "When we went into this, we decided we wanted to learn from the customers the kinds of pricing choices, technology and other options they liked, before we detailed to the Public Utilities Commission what changes we would request for our operations," he said. But this is a challenge if Xcel wants to try something previously not allowed. "Just part of the challenge of not having all the answers," said Ken.