(Cedar Rapids)– Alliant Energy, a subsidiary of Interstate Power and Light Company, is applying for two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants through the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Smart Grid” Investment Program.
The largest of the two applications is in the amount of 45 million dollars. Alliant Energy officials say the grant would be used to bring the first components of “smart grid” technology to Alliant Energy’s customers in Iowa and Minnesota a year earlier than originally planned. It would be the first phase of plans to automate the utility company’s meter reading operations through what’s known as “advanced metering infrastructure”, or AMI.
In addition to automated meter reading, officials say AMI would also help crews respond to outages more effectively.
Alliant Energy officials say the installation of AMI-enabled metering devices could begin in 2010 if the grant is approved.
The Department of Energy expects to begin awarding grants in the fourth quarter of 2009.
