Utilities
NRG Energy announced the launch of NRG Residential Solutions, a new retail energy business that will change the way people buy and use energy. NRG Residential Solutions offers consumers unprecedented choice in their energy options by allowing customers to customize their electricity plan based on what is important to them – whether it’s deciding how long to secure their price, how much green power they want, how they prefer to get rewarded, or even if they want to incorporate cutting-edge efficiency tools.
Source: BusinessWire
Alliant Energy Corporation announced agreements today to sell its Minnesota electric and natural gas distribution businesses. The electric distribution business in the state will be sold to Southern Minnesota Energy Cooperative (SMEC), and the natural gas business to Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation, a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group, Inc.
Source: PRNewswire
Craig L. Adams, CEO of PECO Energy, gave an interview to the Philadelphia Inquirer on the company’s future. He discusses the impact of reduced load growth due to energy efficiency and consumer concerns over smart metering.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Customers of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission soon may get smart electric meters that can automatically report outages, be turned off or on by appointment and produce more detailed billing information. The 83,000 advanced electric meters for residential customers will usher in a new concept for PWC: charging higher rates during peak demand, such as hot summer afternoons when air conditioning use is highest.
Source: Fayetteville Observer
Utilities – Regulatory
National Grid electric customers saved more than 424,000 megawatt hours of electricity in 2012 and gas customers saved 14.5 million therms of gas, according to the 2012 Energy Efficiency Annual Reports filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Overall, these energy efficiency investments are expected to produce nearly $1 billion of benefits across the commonwealth, including, but not limited to, energy cost savings, water savings, reduced operating and maintenance expenses and fossil fuel savings.
Source: Mass Live
Avista Utilities projects having adequate generating resources — company-owned or under contract — to meet customers’ energy needs until 2020, according to the 2013 Electric Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filed August 30 with Washington and Idaho state regulators. Energy efficiency reduces load growth by 42 percent over the next 20 years.
Source: Marketwire
North America
Forty-three percent of energy leaders say their investment in energy efficiency next year is projected to be more than it was last year, according to survey results released today by Schneider Electric. The survey includes responses from 369 leaders in energy efficiency from business and government sectors and was intended to provide insight into the future of energy efficiency and challenges organizations face.
Source: MarketWire
International
Capgemini has agreed two three-year contracts with GrDF, worth a total of 23 million euros. The contracts will see Capgemini developing the information system for the new GrDF smart gas meters that will equip 11 million French homes by 2022, the world’s largest gas meter deployment to date.
Source: Capgemini
Analysis from Frost & Sullivan reveals a $3.3 trillion market potential in smart cities by 2025 with multiple opportunities to tap into infrastructure development, technology integration, and energy and security services. “The penetration of smart city market for service providers will depend on how quickly these companies converge and tap into each other’s industry value chains and assume multiple roles in the eco-system,” said Program Manager, Archana Amarnath.
Source: PRNewswire
Pacific island nations are on track to having half of their energy produced by renewable resources in the next five years. The target was set at the Auckland Pacific Energy Summit in March when the implementation of renewable energy projects totaling 635 million NZ dollars (501.06 million U.S. dollars) was agreed.
Source: Xinhua
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