Lakeland Electric gets 'smart' grid grant

LAKELAND - Energy officials call the nation's current power grid system outdated. Washington is pushing for an overhaul and giving out $3.4 billion to make it happen.

Lakeland Electric will get $20 million to help modernize its entire grid, serving 120,000 customers.

"It allows the consumer, the customers, [to] control their own electric usage and decide whether 'hey, do I want to pay a higher rate during the day or a lower rate at night?'" Lakeland Electric Spokesman Kevin Cook said.

The U.S. Department of Energy chose projects that promote a "smart" power grid and projects to make the power transmission system more efficient. In Lakeland, this will mean electric meters in every home and business.

"I can control my washing and dryer to come on at 3 a.m., when rates are at their lowest and what that does, is it helps spread that energy load around," Cook said.

Tampa Electric Spokesman Rick Morera said TECO's "Energy Planner" program is similar.

"The thermostat controls your heating and air conditioning, your water heater and your pool pump. With that program, we also provide you with different prices of electricity during the day," he explained.

Morera said customers on the program have saved a month's worth of electricity in one year. The utility's customers can also support renewable energy by blocking of it for an extra $5 a month incrementally.

"We have more than 2,700 customers participating in that on a monthly basis. Basically, it's the equivalent of taking 80 cars off the road for a year," Morera said.

That energy in part comes from various solar panels placed around the area like the ones at Middleton High School. President Obama made his "smart" grid pitch at a solar power facility in Arcadia serving Florida Power & Light customers.

Tampa Electric has a bid in to do something similar. TECO has a contract to buy solar power from a solar power facility that would be built in Pasco County.

First, the Florida Public Services Commission has to give its approval. Members discussed it on Tuesday, but have not made a decision. The contract would supply solar power to 3,400 TECO customers.

Progress Energy was awarded $200 million in grant money. It will evenly split the funds between its customers in the Carolinas and Florida.