Utilimetrics, the utility technology association, providing support for utilities and information about innovative technologies, announced recently that its members have received more than $1 billion in stimulus funds for infrastructure improvements.

“This funding announcement represents an exciting time in our industry. We have just finished two days of strategic planning and know that Utilimetrics is well poised to support the companies who received grants, as well as to help all who participated in the grant process,” said Utilimetrics chair elect and strategic planning committee chair, Nan Williams of Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, in a release.

“The entire stimulus funding process helped utilities take action to develop new, creative ways to enhance the smart grid and to refine their business plans. We are delighted to see that some of our members received funds. We will be able to leverage lessons learned and best-case practices from them to share with other members,” Williams added.

Utilimetrics has been bringing together diverse stakeholders of electricity, water and gas distribution utilities to promote and share best practices for smart grid/smart metering, communications, utility automation and data management.

Utilimetrics members who were eligible for the smart energy funds include; CenterPoint Energy, Salt River Project, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Honeywell (News - Alert) International, Inc., PPL Electric Utilities Corp., El Paso Electric Co., Sacramento Municipal Utility District, NV Energy, Inc., Indianapolis Power and Light Company, Central Lincoln People's Utility District, Madison Gas & Electric Co., Southern Company Services, Inc., Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC, Hawaii Electric Co., Inc.

Wisconsin Power and Light Company, PECO Energy, Electric Power Board of Chattanooga and Detroit Edison Company.

Joel Hoiland, chief executive officer at Utilimetrics, said his company recognizes the value that the Department of Energy stimulus program that aims to enhance the electrical grid.

“This funding will help enable customers to have a mechanism to become active participants in managing their own energy more efficiently,” Hoiland explained.

The funding has enabled recipients to be ready to deploy 18 million smart meters, tripling the number of American homes with smart meters. In addition, this funding is said to provide for 1 million in-home displays, 200,000 advanced transformers, 175,000 load-management devices, 170,000 smart thermostats and 700 automated substations.

Reportedly, the Obama administration has named 100 utility projects to share the $3.4 billion stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.