Columbus, OH - At an event today at Battelle headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that two million smart grid meters have been installed across the country, helping to reduce energy costs for families and businesses. As a result of funding from the Recovery Act, smart grid technology is speeding the modernization of the nation's electrical grid, helping to reduce the amount of time needed to respond to energy disruptions and enable consumers to monitor their energy consumption and costs. So far, more than 180,000 smart meters have been installed in Ohio.

"As a result of an unprecedented investment from the Recovery Act, smart meters are being installed in Ohio and across the country to create a more reliable, modern electrical grid and give consumers the ability to monitor and control their energy use," said Secretary Chu. "Smart Grid technologies will give consumers choice and promote energy savings, increase energy efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy resources."

An analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates that the implementation of smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent annually by 2030. That would mean a savings of $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers around the country each year, and more than $700 million for Ohio alone -- or $61 in annual utility savings for every man, woman and child in Ohio.

Battelle is collaborating with American Electric Power (AEP) on the Ohio gridSMART demonstration project to upgrade the electric grid in northeast central Ohio. At Battelle, Secretary Chu toured the smart grid technology suite and saw firsthand how Battelle energy technology experts are translating basic and applied energy R&D into innovative commercial solutions, products, and services for the nation's electric grid. These efforts will improve grid reliability, increase grid efficiency, lower consumer energy consumption and costs, reduce peak demand, and significantly reduce carbon emissions.