Electric co-ops band together for smart grid funding

March 23, 2023 Editor

60 electric co-ops smart grid funding — Image courtesy 123rf

An Association representing 69 electric co-ops in the USA has applied for bipartisan funding to deploy smart grid technologies, including advanced analytics, distributed automation and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) among others.

NRECA Research, the R&D arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) applied for the smart grid development funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act for the Association’s 69 electric co-ops across 26 states.

If approved, the co-ops will use the funds to complete high-priority grid modernisation projects and increase the reliability and resilience of their electric power systems.

Specific co-op projects in the consortium application cover a range of technologies, including advanced analytics, distribution automation, unmanned aerial systems and second-generation AMI.

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NRECA Research’s consortium bid enables smaller co-ops to work together and submit a competitive application for infrastructure funds. According to the Association, it’s also the most effective way to ensure the funding benefits rural disadvantaged communities.

NRECA’s Research arm organised consortia to foster collaboration between co-ops and submit the competitive infrastructure funding applications. These consortia are organised around five topics:

Electric vehicles
Microgrids
Cyber and physical security
Natural hazards mitigation
Smart grids and data

“Electric cooperatives are hubs of innovation and are always exploring new ways to meet their consumers’ evolving energy needs,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “This is an important opportunity for co-ops to partner with DOE to accelerate the adoption of new technologies to improve the resilience and affordable operation of the nation’s electric grid.”