Xcel Energy has selected SmartSynch (Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.) to provide smart metering, energy management, demand response and carbon monitoring solutions to commercial and industrial (C&I) customers in the utility's SmartGridCity initiative in Boulder, Colorado, U.S. SmartGridCity enables two-way communication between customers and Xcel Energy, and features a portfolio of Smart Grid technologies designed to provide a host of environmental, financial and operational benefits.

The SmartSynch solution will be deployed on the University of Colorado campus, municipal buildings and select C&I buildings throughout the city. The C&I solutions, provided by SmartSynch via the AT&T Wireless network, will enable Xcel Energy to partner with its C&I customers in new ways by:

• Mapping their energy-usage trends to optimize consumption

• Providing demand-response programs offering incentives for business owners who curtail their facility's energy use during times of peak demand

• Helping them capture tax incentives by reducing their carbon footprint

• Supporting large-scale intermittent renewable generation initiatives

• Facilitating real-time notifications of power outages to Xcel Energy dispatch teams to ensure on-site power quality.

“Through [SmartSynch's] participation, we can now extend the full benefits of SmartGridCity beyond residential parameters, and give our larger customers the opportunity to manage their energy consumption, reduce CO₂ emissions and take advantage of pricing benefits,” said Michael Carlson, CIO of Xcel Energy.

SmartSynch will join Xcel Energy's Smart Grid Consortium, which brings together technologists, engineering firms, business leaders and IT experts to provide guidance, as well as the products and services needed to bring Xcel Energy's Smart Grid vision to life.