KIUC Linemen All Geared Up - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

Recovery Act (ARRA) for smart grid demonstration
projects. DOE awarded the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association’s Cooperative Research
Network half of the project’s total cost of $67 million
to test and develop technologies that operate
together to make the grid more efficient and
reliable. The cost of KIUC’s project is $11 million, of
which $5.5 million is being provided by ARRA.
Yamane began his presentation by explaining
that as part of the program, KIUC is investing in
new smart meters to improve the efficiency,
reliability and affordability of KIUC’s electric
system. (See page 10.)
He also addressed outage restoration and
notification, demand response, home area
networking and provided a brief overview of some
questions received from members.
“People want to know when they can expect
installation,” Yamane said. “KIUC anticipates
installation for the demonstration project to begin
in 2012, and the plan is to install new meters on
all accounts. The cooperative is embarking on a
systemwide program that will change 100 percent
of existing residential and commercial meters.”
While the plan is to install the new meters on all
accounts, KIUC management and the board are
discussing an opt­out program for members
strenuously opposed to installation. If that option
is approved, members who choose not to receive
a new smart meter will be assessed a cost for that
decision.
KIUC Board Chairman
Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian makes
a presentation to members
at the Kapa‘a Middle School
Quarterly Update meeting
on August 11.
OCTOBER 2011 41