Co-op fares well with energy policy standards

With the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the federal government pushed electric utilities to be forward thinking and deploy more advanced technology to make the electric grid smarter and to help consumers conserve energy. Following passage of EISA, utilities began considering a number of forward thinking ideas in their near- and long-term planning.

Adams Electric has complied with the standards set down by EISA, and its predecessor the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). In early August 2009, the cooperative held a public hearing on the latest set of standards. The board considered recommendations from a report issued by the consulting firm Power Systems Engineering, Inc.

The consulting firm's report pointed out that Adams Electric is already doing all of the things recommended for consideration with the exception of the real time pricing of energy which is not yet available through its energy supplier, Allegheny Electric Cooperative, based in Harrisburg, Pa.

In brief, here is how Adams Electric fared in considering what the federal regulations are asking:

Consider advanced controls in all new equipment purchases. Adams Electric has been doing that for 10 years or more.
Consider deploying Substation Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). Adams Electric did that 10 years ago.
Consider deploying automated meter reading (AMR) that has two-way capability. Adams Electric just completed that project. Less than one third of America's meters have AMR and of those, less than 20 percent of those have two-way capability that allow hourly interval data collection. Adams Electric is on the leading edge of AMR deployment in the United States as are electric cooperatives as a group.
Consider redesigning rates so that they do not encourage consumption. Two years ago declining block rates were eliminated in place of flat rates.
Consider providing energy audits and other energy solutions. Adams Electric has offered energy audits for the past 30 years and has added online energy audits and audit services for commercial/industrial accounts.
Consider providing time-differentiated (time-of-day and interruptible) rates. Adams Electric has been doing that for almost 20 years.
Consider providing real time pricing. Adams Electric does not yet receive that type of rate signal from its energy supplier.

For more information, or to share your thoughts on the new EISA standards, please contact Scott Wehler, vice president of engineering, at scottw@adamsec.coop.