by jbs062230 a5 — July 2, 2010—Honeywell recently announced it is implementing a smart metering network for the City of Duncan, Oklahoma, that will allow the municipality to automatically collect electricity and water usage data from residents and local businesses. Honeywell expects to install the smart meter network and complete the upgrades by the end of 2010.
The smart grid deployment is part of a broader energy-efficiency and public-safety program funded by a 15-year, $14.2-million energy savings performance contract and backed in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The program will help the city improve meter accuracy, reduce its energy and operating costs, and enhance public safety services.
Through the program, the city is expected to decrease electricity consumption by 2.2 million kilowatt-hours per year and to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1,600 metric tons. The city will pay for the entire program through the energy and operational savings, and improved revenue generation the smart meter system and infrastructure upgrades produce. Honeywell guarantees approximately $1.7 million in savings per year as part of the performance contract.
To create the smart metering network, Honeywell will replace existing utility meters across the city with more than 9,000 electric meters and 12,000 water meters from Elster Integrated Solutions, connected via a Tropos wireless mesh network that builds on the city’s existing broadband service.
The electric meters feature two-way communication capabilities that will provide the city greater visibility into, and control of, the electrical grid, such as pinpointing specific buildings affected by a power outage. The new meters will further reduce costs by detecting water leaks or other problems almost immediately, and will eliminate the need for meter readers to visit properties every month. The system also provides a platform for future energy management strategies like demand response.
In addition to the utility improvements, Honeywell will implement energy conservation measures at several city facilities and public areas. This includes:
- Upgrading heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) equipment and building controls at the court building, main fire building, main library, police station and City Hall.
Installing energy-efficient induction fixtures on all street lights, and installing light-emitting diode (LED) traffic signals for improved safety.
- Adding variable frequency drives at the city’s waste water treatment facility to reduce energy consumption and costs.
