More Smart Grid Stimulus Applications: Progress Energy, NV Energy, Tacoma Power

Just because the deadline for applying for Department of Energy smart grid stimulus funds has passed doesn't mean utilities seeking the funds can't announce they've done so after the fact.

That's the case for at least three more utilities – Progress Energy, NV Energy and Tacoma Power – that said this week that they would seek a collective $370 million to help deploy smart meters and other smart grid technologies.

Added to the rough tally of some $2.85 billion in applications made public before last week's Aug. 6 deadline (see Smart Grid Stimulus Applications at $2.85B and Counting), as well as a $42.5 million request from Pacific Gas & Electric, a $362 million request from Southern Co. and a $50 million request from a consortium of western utilities, and the pool of applications seems well on its way to exceeding the $3.4 billion DOE has set aside for its Smart Grid Investment Grant Program.

This week, Raleigh, N.C.-based Progress Energy said it would seek $200 million to support its $320 million in planned smart grid investments at its Progress Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Florida utilities. IBM and Telvent are working with the utility on the projects.

Reno, Nev.-based NV Energy, which serves northern Nevada and parts of northeastern California, said it would seek $138 million to support its plan to install about 1.45 million smart electric and gas meters from 2010 to 2012.

And Tacoma, Wash.-based municipal utility Tacoma Power said it would seek $32 million to speed the deployment of smart meters at about 135,000 homes. Tacoma Power already has about 17,000 smart meters in place, connected via utility-owned broadband by Lexington, Mass.-based MuNet, which is a supplier of meter integration technology for a host of municipal utilities.