Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Smart Grid Project (Maryland)

Potomac Electric Power Company, located in Washington, District of Columbia, will receive $104.8 million in funding to develop a smarter energy grid. The U.S. Department of Energy selected PEPCO as one of 100 companies to receive federal stimulus funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Potomac Electric Power Company—Maryland (Pepco) Smart Grid project includes distribution automation, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), and a demand response program that involves direct load control and time-based rate programs. The AMI installation is designed to provide customers and Pepco with detailed electricity usage information, which, when combined with demand response programs, can help customers reduce their electricity usage and manage their electricity costs. The distribution automation deployment includes automated distribution circuit switches and transformer monitors that can improve the reliability of the distribution system while decreasing the cost of operations and maintenance.

Equipment

• 550,000 Smart Meters
• AMI Communication Systems
• Meter Communications Network
• Backhaul Communications
• Meter Data Management System
• Customer Web Portal
• Programmable Communicating Thermostats
• 168,000 Direct Load Control Devices
• Distribution Automation Equipment for 67 out of 685 Circuits
• Distribution Automation Communications Network
• SCADA Communications Network
• Automated Distribution Circuit Switches
• Circuit Monitors/Indicators

Targeted Benefits

• Improved Electric Service Reliability and Power Quality
• Reduced Costs from Equipment Failures and Theft
• Reduced Greenhouse Gas and Criteria Pollutant Emissions
• Reduced Meter Reading Costs
• Reduced Operating and Maintenance Costs
• Reduced Truck Fleet Fuel Usage