Stimulus Watch

Stimulus Bill Information

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Stimulus Bill, is gaining momentum and will provide significant funding for critical projects across the utility landscape. These projects will promote sustainable growth and the efficiency required to ensure future energy needs.

Aclara™ is providing this page to help customers find out more about what the Stimulus Bill means to them and how to participate in the program. We aren’t promoting this page as comprehensive, but we feel that the potential benefit of this bill to utilities warrants us trying to help those who wish to participate.

Projects based on Aclara technologies will qualify for funding under the current smart-grid provisions of the bill. The specific projects that qualify include RF- and PLC-based advanced metering infrastructure, demand-response systems, home-area networks, grid-management applications, and customer-presentment and meter-data-management software. Qualifying solutions include TWACS® technology, the STAR® Network electric product, the TWACS DRU (Demand Response Unit), the Aclara IHD (In-Home Display), and the TWACS CST (Capacitor Switching Transponder) as well as Aclara Software™ ENERGYprism® and Energy Vision® applications.

Visit this page often for information from a variety of regulatory and industry sources on the guidelines for application and distribution of stimulus funds. Aclara is here to help you clarify the volumes of data and turn it into the knowledge to succeed. We have the technology, the information, and the innovation to meet your utilities needs for today and tomorrow.

October 27, 2009

DOE Selects 100 Projects to Receive $3.4 Billion in Smart Grid Investment Grants

One-hundred private companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and other partners received the Smart Grid Investment Grant awards today.

October 27, 2009

DOE Cancels Phase II of the SGIG Grant Program

The DOE has allocated the entire $3.4 Billion SGIG program funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Therefore, Phase II of the FOA is cancelled; no additional applications will be reviewed, considered, or funded.

September 21, 2009

DOE’s Amendment to the Funding Opportunity for SGIG

Update from the U.S. Department of Energy: "The Department of Energy has received a significant number of high quality applications, and our review continues. The dollar value of these applications far exceeds the funding available under the Funding Opportunity Announcement. As a result, Phase III is canceled. The Letter of Intent due date for Phase II has been changed from October 23, 2009 to November 30, 2009. The Application due date for Phase II has also changed -- from November 4, 2009 to December 15, 2009. Please note that given these new developments, the Department may decide to cancel Phase II, following final selection decisions made on applications currently under review."

June 25, 2009

Final Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Smart Grid Demonstrations Grant (SGDG)

With $615 million in funding, the SGDG purpose is to verify smart grid technology viability, quantify smart grid costs and benefits, and validate new smart grid business models, at a scale that can be readily adapted and replicated around the country.

June 25, 2009

Final Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG)

With $3.3 billion in funding, the SGIG’s stated purpose is to accelerate the modernization of the U.S. electric transmission and distribution systems, and to promote investments in smart grid technologies, tools, and techniques “which increase flexibility, functionality, interoperability, cyber-security, situational awareness and operational efficiency.”

June 22, 2009

OMB and Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to deploy a nationwide data collection system

Administration announces planned Web page where recipients of stimulus funds can upload data on how they’re spending the money.

May 18, 2009

DOE Updates Funding Amounts for Stimulus-Related Smart Grid Awards

Click here for updates on significant steps in smart-grid development and a chart containing the Smart Grid’s interoperability standards framework.

April 20, 2009

Funding Announced for Smart Grid Initiatives

This document describes the Smart Grid Demonstrations Funding Opportunity for regionally unique smart grid demonstration projects and the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program for smart-grid technology deployments.

March 18, 2009

Grant Eligibility Information

This document describes the steps you must take to be eligible for stimulus funding. The four-step application process is listed to register with the Central Contractor Registry and Gov.com websites.