M2M Communications Smart Grid Project

M2M Communications, located in Boise, Idaho, will receive $2.1 million in funding to develop a smarter energy grid. The U.S. Department of Energy selected M2M Communications as one of 100 companies to receive federal stimulus funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The M2M Agricultural Load Control Program in California’s Central Valley project includes the deployment of a voluntary demand response program and customer devices for agricultural customers. The program operates in the service territories of Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison. M2M is installing direct load control devices for irrigation and food processing facilities, along with enhanced communications infrastructure and energy Web portals. M2M also provides analytics and software for bidding into the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) demand response market. The project aims to reduce peak electricity demand and overall energy usage during the growing season. The project implements two-way communications and automated demand response applications to: (1) allow customers to view and manage their energy consumption at their convenience through the customer Web portal, and (2) allow M2M to manage, measure, aggregate, and verify targeted demand reduction.

Equipment

• Customer System Communications Network
• Up to 3,000 Direct Load Control Devices
• Customer Web Portal Access for up to 3,000 Customers

Targeted Benefits

• Reduced Electricity Costs for Customers
• Reduced Costs from Equipment Failures, Distribution Line Losses, and Theft
• Optimized Generator Operation
• Deferred Investment in Generation Capacity Expansion
• Reduced Ancillary Service Cost
• Reduced Greenhouse Gas and Criteria Pollutant Emissions