Dayton Power & Light Co. (DP&L), a subsidiary of the AES Corp., has filed a nearly unanimous stipulation to invest US$249 million in capital projects over the next four years, providing direct customer benefits through modernizing the electric grid and building a smarter energy future for customers. This four-year plan is a significant initial step to modernize the electric grid to provide personalized, seamless service that will enhance reliability, efficiency, and customer value.
The stipulation includes plans to implement Phase 1 of the DP&L's Smart Grid Plan with a commitment to file Phase 2 within three years. The proposed stipulation is supported by a broad coalition of customers, the City of Dayton, environmental groups, competitive suppliers, and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) staff. With this stipulation, which resolves a number of other matters, the DP&L has a clear path to begin executing the company's plans to modernize its electric grid, providing all customer with benefits such as fewer outages and enhanced communication.
"We appreciate the opportunities to work with all interested parties to reach a balanced and fair settlement agreement to continue our progress toward creating a smarter energy future for our customers," said Lisa Krueger, president of the U.S. strategic business unit for the AES Corp., the parent company of the DP&L. "This marks an exciting step in our digital transformation to provide our customers with personalized, innovative, and seamless energy services."
The stipulation allows the DP&L to invest in new technology, equipment, and systems to better serve its customers, such as:
- Upgrading to an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), or "smart meters", to improve overall customer experience through better system reliability, performance, and communication.
- Installation of technology to allow "self-healing" of portions of the grid which isolates problems and automatically re-routes power without service interruption to customers.
- Implementation of rebate programs for electric vehicle (EV) supply equipment and smart thermostats.
- The DP&L will prioritize installing equipment in the west and northwest areas of the City of Dayton, which were the hardest-hit locations by the 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes.
The DP&L maintains the lowest residential rates of the investor-owned utilities in Ohio. If the stipulation is approved by the PUCO, the average residential customer in the DP&L service territory, using 1000 kWh on the DP&L's Standard Service Offer, can expect a monthly bill adjustment of US$0.94.
