Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is showcasing the success of its ‘Energy Smart Florida’ initiative at its performance and diagnostic centre to demonstrate the benefits of advanced smart grid networks and bolstering the distribution network in the state.
The Energy Smart Florida project is a joint project with Silver Springs Network, General Electric and the Department of Energy for a smart grid project that reaches 4.5 million homes and businesses across Florida. The state recevied US$200 million for in federal funding for the project, FPL contributed US$375 million.
FPL has adopted a ‘network first’ approach to grid modernisation and investment in the infrastructure to enable energy efficiency and improved service reliability. It has connected 4.5 million customers to the network to give them better control over energy consumption as well as enjoying benefits of a modernised grid infrastructure.
“FPL and Silver Spring began this journey with the common vision that a single, cornerstone network platform would enable a multitude of smart energy services for our customers – and we are thrilled to have completed this initial phase of the programme ahead of schedule and in record time,” said Bryan Olnick, FPL’s Vice President of Customer Service Smart Grid Solutions. “An open, standards-based networking platform was essential to the success of the Energy Smart Florida programme. But this is only the beginning; we now have a foundation for a wide array of future smart grid services delivering increased value to our customers.”