Okla. utility announces $130 million in federal funds for deployment of smart-grid technology

Okla. utility announces $130M in federal funds

OKLAHOMA CITY — An application by Oklahoma Gas and Electric to install new digital electric meters has been approved for $130 million in federal stimulus funds.

The Oklahoma City-based utility announced the award for its “smart-grid” program on Tuesday.

OG&E, a subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp., applied in August for the matching funds to speed up the deployment of its smart-grid technology across its 30,000-square-mile territory in Oklahoma and western Arkansas.

A smart grid requires the installation of digital electric meters at customer locations to replace existing electric meters.

The meters transmit information about electricity use to the utility company via a newly installed wireless communications network.