Washington—Senator Evan Bayh today announced that Indiana will receive more than $39 million in economic recovery funds to modernize local electrical grids and accelerate Indiana’s transition to a more efficient electric system.

Smart grids are modernized electricity grids that deliver power from suppliers to consumers in a way that saves energy and lowers consumer costs for using electricity during non-peak hours. Bayh announced the funding for Auburn, Carmel and Indianapolis today under The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

Last year, Bayh urged Senate leadership to approve funding for smart grid technology to improve efficiency and reliability for Hoosier consumers and businesses. Bayh said emerging Smart Grid technology will create “green” jobs, such as meter manufacturing workers, engineering technicians, equipment installers, database administrators and data clerks.

“This investment in Indiana’s electric grid will create middle-class energy jobs and give Hoosier consumers a chance to save energy and money on their electricity bills,” Bayh said. “The grants will dramatically improve the reliability of our state’s electric system.”

The Indiana communities awarded federal recovery funds today are:

•    City of Auburn
       $2,075,080
Funding will modernize Auburn’s electrical system, including installing a smart meter network, bolstering cyber-security, and improving responses to power outages.

•    Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator
       Carmel, Indiana
       $17,271,738
Funding will install, test, integrate and monitor 150 measurement units across the Midwest, which will improve the energy dispatching and system reliability of the energy grid.

•    Indianapolis Power and Light Company
       Indianapolis, Indiana
       $20 million
Funding will install more than 28,000 meters, including commercial, industrial and residential customers. It will provide energy use information to customers, and enable two-way communications and control for the grid.

It is estimated that the implementation of Smart Grid technology will save more than $20 billion for businesses and consumers nationwide by 2030. 

Today’s funding announcement represents the largest single Smart Grid modernization investment in American history, totaling $3.4 billion in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds. The funding will be matched by industry contributions for a total public-private investment worth more than $8 billion.

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