Smart Grid Pilot Projects – Preliminary Notice
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (“PG&E”) plans to issue Requests for Information (“RFIs” or “Solicitations”) for three Smart Grid Pilot Projects addressing Line Sensors, Voltage and Reactive Power Optimization, and Fault Detection and Location. The purpose of these RFIs is to identify qualified suppliers, products, and services to support these initiatives.
The issuance of these RFIs will occur at the beginning of November, 2013. The RFI process provides PG&E the opportunity to establish a better understanding of the supplier technologies available, and to identify potential partners for participation in subsequent activities. Participants’ responses will be evaluated to determine each respondent’s overall capabilities, product direction, and vision for providing Smart Grid solutions that meet criteria detailed in the RFIs.
The three PG&E Smart Grid projects addressed in the RFIs are:
· Smart Grid Line Sensors: PG&E will evaluate line sensors for their impact on reducing outage response time, improving outage location accuracy, and providing line loading information at the installed locations. After a testing and evaluation phase, PG&E will pilot recommended line sensors on up to 30 distribution feeders in three PG&E divisions. This pilot may also include evaluation of various communication technologies to support the line sensor operation.
This project supports advancing PG&E’s Smart Grid strategic objectives in its Smart Utility program to: (1) enhance grid outage detection, isolation, and restoration; and (2) enhance grid system monitoring and control. The project is consistent with California Senate Bill (SB) 17 Smart Grid characteristics of improved reliability of the electric system.
· Voltage and Reactive Power (Volt/VAR) Optimization: PG&E will evaluate solutions for managing voltage and reactive power (VAR) optimization algorithms and control systems. After a testing and evaluation phase, PG&E will pilot the recommended solution on up to 12 distribution feeders in three PG&E divisions, managing one or all of the following voltage and reactive power regulating devices on PG&E’s distribution system:
a. Substation load tap changers, bus or feeder voltage regulators;
b. Distribution line regulators; and
c. Distribution line capacitors to achieve electricity demand and energy use reductions, voltage profile improvements and power system loss reductions.
The optimization algorithms and control systems may use voltage measurements from SmartMeters™ and other substation and line equipment with voltage sensing information to adjust the distribution system voltage levels.
This project supports advancing PG&E’s Smart Grid strategic objectives in its Smart Utility program to: (1) enhance grid system monitoring and control; and (2) manage grid system voltage and losses. The project is consistent with SB 17 Smart Grid characteristics of: (a) improved grid efficiency; (b) dynamic optimization of grid operations and resources; and (c) integration of distributed resources.
· Detect & Locate Distribution Line Outages and Faulted Circuit Conditions (Fault Detection and Location): PG&E will evaluate system analysis tools to more precisely locate outages and faulted circuit conditions caused by damaged equipment. The solution will use input from a variety of sensors including: digital protective relays, fault current sensors, SmartMeter™ voltage measurements, and Smart Grid line sensors. After a testing and evaluation phase, PG&E will pilot the recommended solution on up to 15 distribution feeders in two of PG&E divisions.
This project supports advancing PG&E’s Smart Grid strategic objectives in its Smart Utility program to: (1) enhance grid outage detection, isolation, and restoration; and (2) enhance grid system monitoring and control. The project is consistent with SB 17 Smart Grid characteristics of improved reliability of the electric system.
PG&E has not previously tested or employed any portion of these pilots on its distribution or information technology (IT) systems. These pilot projects are not part of the California Energy Systems for the 21st Century Project (CES-21) or the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) programs.
PG&E's Schedule for the Smart Grid Pilot Projects RFIs
The RFI process consists of an issuance phase and an evaluation phase. The issuance phase will commence with the public release of the protocol documents in November 2013. The information provided by Participants will be used in the evaluation phase by PG&E.
In the evaluation phase, PG&E will review all RFI submissions by comparing them with the functional specifications contained in the RFI. By mid-January 2014, companies offering devices, technologies, and services deemed by PG&E, in its sole discretion, to be potential components of these elements, PG&E Smart Grid Pilot Projects’ solution sets may be contacted for further discussions.
Smart Grid Pilot Projects RFI Website Platform: PowerAdvocate
All exchanges of information pertaining to these Smart Grid Pilot Projects RFIs will be hosted on PG&E’s PowerAdvocate website. RFI Participants must be registered at this site to download the Protocol and Project Data Requested information. Begin your registration with PowerAdvocate here.
The PowerAdvocate event names related to these RFIs are as follows:
· RFI #38141 Smart Grid Line Sensor Pilot
· RFI #38142 Smart Grid Voltage and Reactive Power (Volt/VAR) Optimization Pilot
· RFI #38144 Smart Grid Fault Detection and Location Pilot
The only submissions that will be considered in this RFI will be those submitted through the PowerAdvocate website.
For any issues related to access to the Power Advocate RFI site, please contact PowerAdvocate Technical Support at (857) 453-5800 or .
Webinar Conference
PG&E will host informational webinars on November 20, 2013 at the following times (all times Pacific Prevailing Time):
· Line Sensors: 8 a.m.- 10 a.m.
· Volt/VAR: 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
· Fault Detection and Location: 3 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Registration for these webinars occurs at the PowerAdvocate site. You must be registered for the webinars to receive the information regarding the sessions. The deadline for registering is Monday, November 11 by 5:00 p.m.
Participation in the webinars is highly encouraged, but not required to submit responses to the RFIs.
Smart Grid Pilot Projects RFI Protocol and Appendices
The 2013 Smart Grid Pilot Projects RFI Protocol will be made available at the PowerAdvocate Smart Grid Pilot Projects RFI site at the time of the RFIs’ releases. The following documents provide the context for the three Pilot Projects addressed in these RFIs:
· PDFA_SmartGridPilotDeploymentProject_Test
· PGE Advice Letter 4227-E Disposition Letter – Final
Supplier Diversity
It is PG&E’s policy to ensure that diverse firms are provided the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in contract opportunities for products and services required by the company. PG&E’s internal supplier diversity goal for Smart Grid-related work is 40%. RFI responders are encouraged to consider how they might assist PG&E in reaching this diversity goal.
The primary objective is to increase the participation by women, minority, and California-based service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprises, while continuing to purchase on the basis of quality, competitive price, and service. Therefore, as a company which may supply goods and/or services to PG&E, you may be asked, to the fullest extent possible, and consistent with the efficient performance of a contract, to utilize your best efforts to comply with PG&E’s policy in the award of subcontracts in accordance with the requirements of Exhibits 1 and 2 of the General Conditions. These exhibits will be included in the General Conditions provided in the RFIs.
Contact Information
For any issues related to accessing the PowerAdvocate site, downloading documents, or uploading your data packet, please contact PowerAdvocate Technical Support: (857) 453-5800 • .
Once issued, questions pertaining to the RFIs must be submitted through the PowerAdvocate system.
Questions regarding this initiative in general must be directed to .
All communications with PG&E pertaining to this RFI shall be strictly limited to thE contactS listed above. Any other communications with PG&E pertaining to this RFI may result in RESPONDENT’s proposal being disqualified.