Energy.gov

 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Overview

OE RECOVERY ACT

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) - which President Obama signed into law on February 17th, 2009 - is an unprecedented action to stimulate the economy. It includes measures to modernize our nation’s energy and communication infrastructure and enhance energy independence. As President Obama stated, “The investment we’re making today will create a newer, smarter electric grid that will allow for broader use of alternative energy.”

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS AT WORK

• M2M Communications has developed a two-way, web-to-wireless controller for irrigation pumps for an agricultural demand response program in California, part of an irrigation load control system that includes sensors, smart meters, and other monitoring equipment.
• Vermont utilities are participating in the statewide program eEnergy Vermont to install smart meters, SCADA systems, distribution automation equipment, and more.
• Orange and Rockland Utilities is adding hardware and communications to create a small smart grid system to optimize the economic performance of the distribution circuits for 10,000 customers in New Jersey.
• Pennsylvania's PPL Electric Utilities Corporation is installing a distribution management system with automation devices and supporting communication systems in a pilot program in the Harrisburg area.
• Workforce training programs are transforming the electric grid by preparing the next generation of workers in the utility and electrical industries.
• The Tri-State Electric Membership Cooperative has installed 15,000 smart meters and supporting infrastructure to improve services, reduce energy costs, and empower customers to better manage electricity usage.
• In Illinois, the City of Naperville's smart grid modernization efforts are encouraging consumers to take on a bigger role in managing power consumption through the use of smart meters.
• In New York City, Con Edison is upgrading its distribution system to reduce the frequency and duration of outages and improve power quality.
• The Electric Power Board in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is making its distribution system more robust to provide continued reliable electric service and respond more effectively to severe weather events.
• The North American Synchrophasor Initiative (NASPI) is working to prevent another major blackout in North America by installing synchrophasors that will provide real-time situational awareness of electric grid conditions
• The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is studying the impact of smart grid technologies that will reach more than 700,000 consumers in 12 states.
• In the heart of “Tornado Alley,” Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company is pursuing demand response strategies to lower peak demand and improve efficiencies on the distribution system.
• The Western Electricity Coordinating Council is modernizing the transmission system in the Western Interconnection to increase reliability and system performance, and enable greater use of renewables such as solar, hydro, and wind.
• In rural Arkansas Woodruff Electric Cooperative has installed 14,450 smart meters and supporting communication infrastructure.
   

WHAT'S NEW IN RECOVERY

July 2012: PROGRESS REPORT
The Smart Grid Investment Grant Progress Report provides a summary of the SGIG program’s progress, initial accomplishments, and next steps.

October 12, 2011: NOTICE
Federal Register Notice (PDF Version) on the DOE’s invitation for public comment on its request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend for three years the Information Collection Request Title: OE Recovery Act Financial Assistance Grants, OMB Control No. 1910–5149 that DOE is developing for submission to OMB pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments due on or before November 7, 2011. OMB Form 83-I (PDF 70 KB). ICR Supporting Statement (PDF 85 KB). SGIG Reporting Guidance (PDF 99 KB).

• Notice of OMB Action (January 10, 2012): OMB has approved DOE's request to extend information collection for three years.

August 10, 2011: NOTICE
Federal Register Notice (PDF Version ) on the DOE’s invitation for public comment on its intent to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend for four years the Information Collection Request Title: OE Recovery Act Financial Assistance Grants, OMB Control No. 1910–5149 that DOE is developing for submission to OMB pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments due on or before October 11, 2011. 

• Comments to date (October 17, 2011)
  • City of Fort Collins Comment on Information Collection Extension - September 27, 2011
  • Town of Danvers Comment on Information Collection Extension - October 11, 2011

July 26, 2011: BLOG
Smart Meters Helping Oklahoma Consumers Save Hundreds During Summer Heat Smart meters -- just one of the advanced technologies being used to modernize the grid -- are helping Oklahoma businesses and home owners beat high electricity bills not only during these summer months, but year-round.

July 26, 2011: PRESS RELEASE
CenterPoint Energy has released survey results from a 500 participant smart meter In-Home Display pilot program showing that 71 percent of customers changed their electricity consumption behavior as a result of the energy use data they accessed on their in-home displays. The results were released while U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel B. Poneman visited Houston to see how smart meters and intelligent grid technology - partially funded with a $200 million Smart Grid Investment Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy - are enabling consumers to better monitor and manage their electric use and helping modernize the electric infrastructure.

July 1, 2011: DOCUMENTS
Energy Assurance Planning Bulletin, Vol. 2 Issue 3. This quarter's issue highlights upcoming DOE/OE Regional Exercises, Recipient Action Items, and Success Stories. 
Previous Issues 

June 10, 2011: PRESS RELEASE
The Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) announced that its stakeholders have agreed on the final set of “resource expansion futures” to be studied as part of the electric system transmission planning effort funded by DOE.

March 4, 2011: BLOG
Million Meter Milestone
On February 23, 2011, SGIG program manager Don Macdonald was in Houston, Texas where SGIG recipient CenterPoint Energy celebrated the installation of its one millionth smart meter at its Energy InSight Center. Don recounted the experience for the DOE Energy Blog

February 14, 2011: BLOG
Two New Studies Show How Energy Consumers Respond to Smart Grid Technology
Two new studies performed by Oklahoma Gas & Electric and the Pecan Street Project in Austin, Texas show how energy consumers respond to smart grid technologies.

February 2011: UPDATE
DOE has issued a memo and revised its FAQ on the applicability of the Davis Bacon Act to the Smart Grid Investment Grant Projects.
    Read the Memo
    Read the FAQ

Smart Grid News Archive

USEFUL LINKS

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Full text)

OE Recovery Act - Funding Opportunities

SMART GRID

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) - Authoring language for Smart Grid
SMARTGRID.GOV - Smart Grid Information on Federal Government activities, and "data hub" for recipients
Smart Grid Clearinghouse - OE Sponsored site with information on SG and projects nationwide
Faces of Recovery, May 2010 - Profile of the City of Tallahassee Smart Grid Project

REPORTING
Energy.gov/Recovery - Summaries, guidance, and financials
FederalReporting.Gov - Federal reporting site for recipients
SIPRIS - SGIG project management and recipient reporting
DATA HUB - SGIG and SGDP metrics and benefits reporting

PARTNERS
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNL)