By Kari Williamson

The Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project is a UE$178 million programme funded by the US Department of Energy to test and measure new technologies, such as distributed automation (DA) and conservation voltage reduction (CVR), as well as analytical tools for the smart grid.

New ways for customers to measure and impact their own energy consumption will also be measured.

KEMA’s educational tools and resources will be used to change customer usage and acceptance of smart grid capabilities. KEMA will also provide smart grid consulting expertise and oversee the installation.

NorthWestern Energy will test DA and CVR, as well as energy savings associated with demand response (DR) and load control.