Madison, Wis., Aug. 6, 2009—Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) has applied for a Department of Energy grant to develop customer-driven smart grid programs in Dane County. Using smart grid digital technology will enhance MGE and its customers' ability to save energy, reduce costs and increase reliability.

MGE's proposal contains four major components:

• Install smart meters for many of MGE's largest business customers and 1,000 residential customers to analyze energy consumption patterns and help inform customers on how to conserve energy, reduce emissions and save money. The smart meters also will provide better outage notification.
• Analyze in-home electric vehicle charging patterns and the effects on MGE's power grid and evaluate time-of-use pricing options for electric vehicle customers. MGE would also expand its previously announced program for electric vehicle charging stations.
• Pilot 'self-healing' distribution switches and feeders in an area of MGE's service territory which would include the Dane County airport and MATC Truax campus. The smart distribution technology will restore power more quickly in the event of an outage.
• Develop an array of customer-driven service options that can be deployed as smart grid technology becomes more widely available.

MGE is nationally recognized for its expertise in customer-driven design of products and services. The company is committed to advancing smart grid technologies that improve electric system efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions and give customers more ability to manage their energy bills.

If funded, the company would begin the multiyear, $11 million project in January 2010.

MGE generates and distributes electricity to 137,000 customers in Dane County, Wis., and purchases and distributes natural gas to 141,000 customers in seven south-central and western Wisconsin counties. The company's roots in the Madison area date back more than 150 years.