An article is the current PM Network, A Closer Look: Excel Energy, Boulder, Colorado, USA, describes the smart grid revolution and its deployment in Boulder. While there are many interesting aspects of the project. At $100 million, the project ambitious goals make tremendous strides in the integration of distribution and electrical management systems.
What's missing from this article - mainly because PM Network is one of those upbeat, feel good, type of magazines - is that the project is has a few problems...
Xcel originally anticipated that capital costs for the project, called SmartGridCity, would be around $15.3 million when the city was chosen as the site of the project in early 2008. But in May 2009, Xcel revised the number to $27.9 million — and now says a more accurate number is probably $42.1 million. The number excludes the cost of running and maintaining the grid.
So much for project management examples. As a resident of Boulder, slightly outside the city limits in Niwot, this is not new news. A rate increase was passed by the PUC to cover the $11million over run. While the Smart Grid is certainly needed. We usually have to call Excel when the pole transformers get hit by lighting during our frequent thunder storms, o tell them the lights are out. No sensors to detect the pole mounted transform has failed, which I drive by everyday on the way to the office, having been struck. Same for Comcast's above ground cable which also gets knocked out during our frequent thunder storms.
We have a policy at our firm - never name a project or show a picture in the literature of a launch vehicle before that vehicle as flown successfully - it may blow up in the lunch pad.
This may be a a suggestion PM Network may want to consider.
