Grid congestion occurs when a high demand for electric utilities is met with low transmission capacity, resulting in higher costs for consumers.

The latest major upgrades to the American electrical grid were completed around 10 years ago, and our current transmission system is running out of spare capacity.

In 2021, US grid congestion costs reached $13.3B, and this number is only expected to grow until increased and upgraded transmission capacity is prioritized and built.

Sumter Utilities is at the front line of this new wave of utility work, and you can click below to read the full article.

The American electrical grid is in much need of an upgrade, and the US Department of Agriculture recently recognized this in a large way. The USDA pledged $2.7 billion in loans, specifically for rural electrical cooperatives and utility companies, to continue the expansion and modernization of their electric infrastructure and increase grid security.

According to the article, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, “This funding will help rural cooperatives and utilities invest in changes that make our energy more efficient, more reliable, and more affordable.”

Sumter Utilities is already hard at work performing grid improvements for multiple Georgia co-ops under this loan and is proud to step up to the ever-growing challenge that is grid reliability. 

Click below to read the full article.

Recently, Duke Energy published an article that dives into their construction of an advanced microgrid in Hot Springs, North Carolina. Sumter Utilities works directly in this area, and this new microgrid is sure to have a positive impact on grid reliability in the Hot Springs and surrounding areas! 

The microgrid is comprised of a 4.4-megawatt lithium-based battery storage facility as well as a 2-megawatt (AC) solar facility. This microgrid will deliver efficient and safety-focused grid solutions for the Hot Springs area. It will also provide energy and additional bulk system benefits for all customers.

Click below to read the full article.

Earlier this month, Power Magazine released an article highlighting the efforts being made to upgrade the U.S. power grid. The need is definitely evident, as the article states, “The U.S. needs to expand electricity transmissions systems by 60% by 2030…”

We’ve seen how utilities are hardening their infrastructure with undergrounding, and the method is growing in popularity. While there is tremendous work to be done on the transmission side, there are also millions of miles more of lower voltage lines and transformers, providing a massive challenge to the grid’s resiliency. The article suggests there is more attention deserved on the distribution side.

Click below to read the full article.

In a press release from Battelle Memorial Institute, several utilities across the Southeast region announced plan to establish a six-state hydrogen hub in an effort to share resources and meet targets for carbon reduction.

Companies such as Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, and Southern Company – all customers of Sumter Utilities – plan to purse federal financial support from the department of energy, which recently allocated 8 billion to hydrogen hubs as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

 The clean energy transition has motivated utilities to search for energy resources to help them decarbonize, and hydrogen offers a huge opportunity to help them meet their goals. 

In a news update on October 4, Duke Energy announced an update on their strategy to provide critical energy infrastructure, meeting customer needs while also achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company plans to invest $145 Billion over the next 10 years.

Duke Energy’s plan includes roughly $75 Billion to modernize and harden transmission and distribution infrastructure, and another $40 Billion in energy generation like solar, wind, and battery storage resources. Encompassed in the infrastructure is new technology to improve reliability and resiliency throughout the grid. Sumter Utilities has already been working on for Duke Energy to utilize these new technologies to better prepare for potential outages, and hope to continue partnering together to provide reliability to customers in the Southeast. Click below to read the full article.