Building a reliable, efficient, next-generation power system in rural America
Smart Grid
We bring smart grid and communications together to help you make informed decisions and implement efficient, cost-effective solutions through technology planning, demand response, distributed generation, advanced metering and more.
Technology Planning
Investing in replacement technologies for grid infrastructure requires careful planning. Decisions made when replacing systems such as AMI, LMR, or SCADA will impact your options for future technology and your ability to meet changing energy demands.
AMI and Grid Communications
NRTC has deployed nearly 3.5 million AMI endpoints, using a variety of technologies and solutions. We continuously assess the marketplace to make sure we’re offering the best metering solutions. Our team of experts can help you analyze your current situation and determine the approach that best meets both your current needs and long-term strategic plan.
Solar, Storage and Wind
Cooperative utilities are responsible for meeting a continually growing demand for energy. Managing costs has become challenging with load growth, peak demand periods, aging power plants and intermittent production of renewable energy.
Microgrids and Resiliency
Fully integrated distributed energy solutions to help businesses, asset managers and utility operators control their costs and minimize their environmental impact. Expert engineers design every energy system in-house — from autonomous microgrids to emergency backup power to end-to-end energy efficiency improvements.
Insights
Suwannee Valley Begins AMI Project
NRTC and Itron representatives gathered last week in the offices of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, Live Oak, FL, to kick off a major advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project. The multi-year deployment will eventually link about 28,500 electric meters, including more than 27,000 rural residences.
Resources
The Latest News in Smart Grid
Nuclear-Powered Data Centers Could Lead to Competition for Rural Electrics
Some rural electric providers expect headaches supplying electricity for internet data centers. But many data center owners are planning to build their own electric generation on-site, bypassing the utility. In addition, they hope to attract new manufacturers and other potential rural key accounts to share electric facilities in the same industrial enclave. Most early independent generators likely will run on natural gas, but some investors already have begun small on-site nuclear reactor projects.
Rolling! Voices of Rural Telecom: Justin Jahnz
Rolling! Voices of Rural Telecom is a new video series highlighting Members from across the country. This episode features Justin Jahnz, President/CEO of East Central Energy (ECE).
Systematic DER Planning Unlocks Answers to Peak Growth Problems
NRTC speakers led two sessions focused on distributed energy resources (DER) during NRECA’s TechAdvantage conference last week. One session discussed how to take a holistic approach to DER analysis to cover specific problems. The session, led by NRTC’s Josh Pepple and Jacob Bailey (above), focused on NRTC’s recent work with Cuivre River Electric Cooperative in Missouri. In the second session, NRTC’s Milt Geiger joined with representatives from DER partner PowerSecure to look at how microgrids are helping utilities serve certain key accounts.