Oncor launches smart-grid Initiatives

Date
05/27/2014

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Oncor announced its latest initiatives to pursue the company’s strategic vision of improving the value of the grid to customers through proactive customer service initiatives and investments to minimize the impact of service interruptions to customers. In addition, the company will file for certification to build and operate transmission lines in the Southwest Power Pool.

“This is the first step in a plan for us to significantly change the way customers value the electric grid, or more specifically, how investments in the grid can help them,” Oncor Chairman and CEO Bob Shapard said. “There are so many technologies than can be incorporated – including batteries and micro-grid technologies – that have been largely shunned by many utilities. We are going to be at the forefront of introducing these to customers in their full capability.”

Seven years ago, Oncor shared its vision of improving customer experiences and improving our state through technology and grid investment. Since then, Oncor has become a national leader through investments like Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ), the installation of more than 3.2 million advanced meters, distribution automation and customer service enhancements.

Oncor Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning Don Clevenger said Oncor is now ready to take the next steps to improving customer service and reliability to customers. “As we think about the future of the electric grid, Oncor will be implementing emerging technologies that will change the traditional view of the electric grid, both by customers and the industry,” Clevenger said.

The first phase of this investment program will include:
Battery Back-Up System Installation and Testing - Oncor will install and test battery back-up systems at the community subdivision level at multiple sites. These tests will determine how battery systems can prevent and shorten electric outages for customers.
Micro-Grid Development and Testing - Oncor will begin creating a micro-grid system around one of the company’s large facilities in Lancaster. Conceptually, a micro-grid system combines distributed generation, back-up power and distribution lines to serve a defined area. From testing at this single site, Oncor will gain experience operating a micro-grid with the expectation that it can help significantly reduce outages for customers in other areas in the future.
Possible Expansion - By the end of the month, Oncor will file to request the opportunity to build Transmission lines outside of Texas. All of the ex-ERCOT activities will be kept separate from the ERCOT operations so our legacy customers will not be paying for any of those activities.
Customer Service Improvements - In the past three years, Oncor’s Customer Service has set new standards for customer service. Through the Text Oncor program and social media customer service, we are communicating more often and more effectively with our customers than ever before. Oncor will begin work to expand our customer service initiatives throughout the organization and to make communications more proactive.

“Our customers tell us they understand that there may be outages, but what they want is accurate and timely information about what we are doing for them. We want to develop systems that will keep them informed about what’s happening, instead of simply responding to their requests,” Oncor Chief Customer Officer Mike Guyton said. “With some of the investments we’ve made in the past five years, we have a foundation to build on and make that happen.”

Oncor

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