As a way to increase energy cost cutting options and increase reliability of service, Xcel Energy began deploying new smart meters across its service area in North and South Dakota this week, kicking off a multiyear endeavor.
“We’re excited to take this next step in building a smarter, more resilient and efficient energy grid and making it easier than ever for customers to understand and manage their energy use,” Ryan Long, president of Xcel Energy—Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, said. “Smart meters are the starting point for this advanced grid, boosting reliability and providing new tools and technology to help customers lower costs.”
First up for the new devices was Fargo and West Fargo, N.D., as well as Sioux Falls, S.D. However, 100,000 customers in North Dakota and another 100,000 in South Dakota stand to gain these new devices through 2025. With their deployment, the company stated that customers will gain more power to manage their energy use, while Xcel will be able to restore power more quickly after outages, thanks to the smart meters’ near real-time energy use data.