Electric Vehicles
Austin Energy customers with an electric vehicle charger at home can now earn rewards for using less energy during periods of high energy demand, the Texas public power utility said on June 27.
Disaster Response and Mutual Aid
Nebraska Public Power District on June 27 reported that it provided mutual aid to Omaha Public Power District to support power restoration efforts following heavy storms that knocked out power to residents of the state.
Distributed Energy Resources
A 120-megawatt solar farm in Oklahoma that will supply energy to Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority was officially dedicated on June 26 at a ceremony attended by a variety of industry leaders and elected officials, OMPA reported.
Security
A free physical security workshop scheduled for late September in Illinois will offer utilities the opportunity to discuss the current threat landscape, mitigation strategies, and lessons learned.
Customer Service
Utilities can create and send personalized emergency messages through Message Broadcast’s communications platform, Enterprise Omnichannel Notification System. The platform can increase the speed of communication by over 80% and help utilities keep customers informed and safe during emergencies.
Reliability
The Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska in June coordinated a voltage conversion project in the Village of Pender, Neb., with four neighboring utilities working together to assist the village on the project.
Reliability
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on June 27 issued an order accepting the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s proposed modifications to reliability standard EOP-012-2 that addresses extreme cold weather preparedness and operations.
Reliability
University of Texas at Dallas researchers have developed an artificial intelligence model that could help power grids prevent power outages by automatically rerouting electricity in milliseconds.
Distributed Energy Resources
Ampion Renewable Energy has entered into a partnership with the Wendy’s Company under which nearly 100 company-operated restaurants and approximately 40 franchise restaurants in New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts are now enrolled in an Ampion program that bundles renewable energy certificates with community solar projects.
Generation
Total U.S. electricity demand has remained relatively stable at around 4,000 terawatt-hours since 2010, but as electrification accelerates, that’s about to change, consulting group Rystad Energy said on June 24.