South Mississippi Electric Power Association
Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Associated Smart Grid Investments for Rural Mississippi
Abstract
South Mississippi Electric Power Association (SMEPA), a generation and transmission cooperative, deployed an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system to benefit not only SMEPA but also five of its member distribution cooperatives: Coast Electric Power Association (Coast), Magnolia Electric Power Association (Magnolia), Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association (Pearl River), Southern Pine Electric Power Association (Southern Pine), and Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association (Southwest). The AMI system has enabled two-way communication between SMEPA and its member cooperatives' substation meters and between the member cooperatives and their customers' meters. Additionally, three of the member cooperatives (Magnolia, Southwest, and Pearl River) implemented supervisory control and data acquisition systems.Contact Information
Roger Smith
Director Wholesale Services
SMEPA
rsmith@smepa.coop
David Blackledge
Manager Wholesale Services Programs
SMEPA
dblackledge@smepa.coop
At-A-Glance
Recipient:
South Mississippi Electric Power Association
HQ State:
Mississippi
NERC Region:
SERC
Total Budget: $59,794,448
Federal Share: $29,804,550
Funding Program:
- Investment Grant Program
Project Type:
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure
- Customer Systems
- Pricing
Equipment:
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) / Smart Meters
- Backhaul Communications
- Distribution Automation
- Meter Communications Network
- Meter Data Management System
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Communications Network
Targeted Benefits:
- Reduced Meter Reading Costs
- Improved Electric Service Reliability and Power Quality
- Reduced Costs from Distribution Line Losses and Theft
- Reduced Operating and Maintenance Costs
- Reduced Truck Fleet Fuel Usage
- Reduced Greenhouse Gas and Criteria Pollutant Emissions