Abstract

Central Lincoln People’s Utility District (Central Lincoln PUD) is deploying advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and distribution automation assets as part of their Smart Grid Team 2020. The AMI project consists of a system-wide deployment of smart meters to both commercial and residential customers as well as a communications infrastructure to gather the smart meter data. The two-way communication provided by the AMI allows Central Lincoln PUD to deploy direct load control devices and pricing programs, helping to lower peak demand through increased customer awareness. In addition to the AMI, Central Lincoln PUD is also upgrading its electric infrastructure with an improved supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, installation of an outage management system, automated distribution feeder controls, and regulators. The enhancements improve power quality, system reliability, and system efficiency.