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Tuesday, Dec. 20
Noon-1:00 p.m. CST

Getting your customers to use less electricity and gas doesn’t have to mean giving up revenue. Answering Concerns about Sinking Utility Revenue will show how innovative utilities can turn energy services into new revenue streams.  

Discover ideas for building customer satisfaction and generating utility revenue through energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Hear from Curt Atkins, Energy Service Manager for Waverly (IA) Light and Power and Dan York, Utilities Program Director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), who will discuss evolving energy revenue models.

Answering Concerns about Sinking Utility Revenue is part of the Clean Energy Ambassadors webinar series held from noon to 1 p.m. Central Time on the third Tuesday of each month.  Because they are focused on needs of consumer-owned utilities, the discussion can be specific, candid, and informal. Register online, or contact Stevie Moe at 406-969-1040.

Utilities, local governments and communities are eligible to apply for $8 million in funding to create programs that empower consumers to better manage their electricity use through greater access to their own electricity consumption data.

The Department of Energy is providing the funding as part of the administration’s goals to promote a clean energy future. “Providing consumers with easy access to their own consumption data is another important step in helping Americans make more informed decisions about their electricity consumption and become more energy-efficient,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “As a result, we will see more innovation by entrepreneurs and other third-party providers as they develop valuable applications and services for the consumer.” 

New smart grid technologies are generating unprecedented amounts of electricity use data that could give homes and businesses more control over their electricity choices.  However, consumers need convenient and user-friendly tools and software products that help them readily understand the data, and realize the full capabilities of the smart grid. 

The “Smart Grid Data Access” Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) addresses the major steps communities need to take to better leverage their smart grid assets on behalf of consumers: creating policies that give consumers and authorized third-parties (such as app developers) access to customer data; and demonstrating the value of these apps and services across communities.

See the FOA at Grants.gov and FedConnect.net for additional information, including cost-sharing requirements for government-industry cooperation. The deadline for submitting applications is March 2, 2012.

Free webinar
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST

The Department of Energy’s Tribal Energy Program and Western Area Power Administration are presenting Overview of US Department of Energy Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), a free webinar, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. Mountain time. 

Speaker Jon Worthington of Western will provide a description of PMAs and cover their service territories, power resources, role in delivering Federal power to customers and methods of determining power rates.  A discussion on preference customer qualifications is also part of the agenda.

This is the second webinar in a series for Native American tribes scheduled to run through July 2012. Presentations from the Aug. 17 webinar, Challenges and Opportunities with Tribal Renewable Energy Development, are available from the Public Renewables Partnership. Future topics include transmission policy, vision of tomorrow’s transmission grid, what you need to know about Federal Energy Regulatory Commission compliance, and overview of requesting transmission service.

This series highlights key technical, policy and market issues that tribes need to understand to successfully respond to utility requests for proposals for renewable energy generation. Participants will increase their knowledge about the competitive power markets and other issues surrounding renewable resource development.

Tribe members who are interested in responding to utility-offered renewable RFPs, or who would like to learn more about the competitive power market, and utility professionals interested in working with tribes on renewable energy development should register today for Overview of US Department of Energy Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs).  After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.