SmartGrid Charlottesville

SmartGrid Projects and Information

Charlottesville is the first city in Virginia and one of the first in the nation where homes and businesses were equipped with "smart meters." These smart meters make the delivery of electricity more efficient and less costly and lay the groundwork for a "smart grid."

On June 16, 2009, Dominion Virginia Power executives joined Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and local officials to announce the company is launching an approximately $20 million program - SmartGrid Charlottesville - to install about 46,500 "smart meters" in the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

What projects are unique to Charlottesville?

A demonstration project providing periodic reports that show customers how their energy usage compares with other customers.
Tests of battery storage systems that could promote renewable electricity generation such as solar.
A solar panel demonstration project.
Increased customer convenience through remote turn on and turn off of service, and remote meter readings.
A demonstration program for light-emitting diode (LED) street lights.