Media Release
Wednesday, May 25, 2010
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Customers Invited to Learn More about the Future of Naperville’s Electric Utility
NAPERVILLE, Ill.— The City of Naperville will host a public open house to provide residents, businesses and other stakeholders with an opportunity to learn about and comment on the future of Naperville’s electric utility through the Smart Grid Initiative. The open house will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 4 in Meeting Rooms A, B and C of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.
Information will be presented in an open house format. During the open house, attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the city’s electric utility, Naperville’s involvement in the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) and what the Smart Grid Initiative entails. Attendees can also learn how smart meters work, what the benefits of the Smart Grid Initiative are, how the project is being funded and an implementation timeline.
Attendees are encouraged to provide comment and ask questions related to the Smart Grid Initiative during the open house. City staff will be available to answer questions one-on-one. No formal presentation will be made allowing participants a better opportunity to share their thoughts one-on-one with city staff. Following the open house, all comments, questions and staff responses will be compiled and posted to the city’s website at www.naperville.il.us/smartgrid.aspx. To receive notification when this document is posted, sign up to receive the Smart Grid e-Newsletter at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx. A pre-event survey is now available at www.naperville.il.us/smartgrid.aspx.
As one of the city’s largest assets, Naperville’s electric utility infrastructure is valued at $356 million. The municipally owned electric utility is locally operated, maintained and managed by the city’s Department of Public Utilities-Electric (DPU-E). Advantages of public ownership include greater reliability and efficiency, more timely and responsive customer service and utility rates among the lowest in the metropolitan region.
The Naperville Smart Grid Initiative will provide the city and its utility customers with increased reliability and technology that empowers customers to control energy use. This smart grid will potentially result in significant savings on customers’ monthly electric utility bills. Over the next fifteen years, there is a potential to save Naperville electric customers more than $30 million in today’s dollars. The city is proud to be the only municipality in the State of Illinois selected for a Smart Grid Investment Grant by the U.S. Department of Energy and was selected from more than 500 applicants.
All interested parties are encouraged to attend the public open house. For more information on the Smart Grid Initiative, visit www.naperville.il.us/smartgrid.aspx. Interested parties can also sign up to receive the latest news on the Smart Grid Initiative delivered straight to their e-mail inboxes at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.
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About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 145,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several city boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned living history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.naperville.il.us.
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