The utility Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) has chosen Silver Spring Networks to provide its smart grid platform and related software and services in support of its recently approved smart grid initiative.
Silver Spring will act as the prime contractor for networking technology, smart meters, gas modules and related solutions for the project, which is supported by a $200 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Silver Spring will deliver its Internet-protocol based Smart Energy Platform, as well as advanced metering including smart meters from GE (NYSE: GE) and L&G, gas modules, fully managed Utility IQ back office environments and deployment services.
Silver Spring already has numerous deployments with major utilities in the US and abroad, including Florida Power & Light, Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE: PCG), Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), Jemena Electricity Networks Limited and United Energy Distribution, among others.
BGE is a subsidiary of Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG). The company’s smart grid initiative almost failed to get off the ground when Maryland regulators rejected the utilities initial plan earlier this summer. Regulators and utilities across the country watched as the parties worked to resolve issues concerning the recoupment of costs from ratepayers. The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a revised plan at the end of August, just in time for BGE to meet DOE deadlines for funding.
BGE estimates the smart grid initiative will deliver more than $2.5 billion worth of customer savings.