SDG&E tops 2010 UtiliQ rankings

katerowland1.JPG [2]

For the second straight year, Sempra Energy's San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) [3] has taken top honors as the most intelligent utility in the United States, according to the annual ranking undertaken by Intelligent Utility magazine and IDC Energy Insights, [4] released today.

Austin Energy, too, ruled the No. 2 spot for the second year in a row.

The UtiliQ ranking was developed last year by Intelligent Utility [5] magazine founding editor-in-chief H. Christine Richards and IDC Energy Insights [6] vice president Rick Nicholson. Based on detailed analysis in a number of pertinent areas, the ranking was initially developed in response to a number of issues and challenges in the rapidly evolving electric utility industry. Speaking plainly, we wanted to separate the smart grid hype from reality.

Energy Central [7] defines an intelligent utility as a company that applies information to energy, maximizing its reliability, maximizing its reliability, affordability and sustainability from generation to end users. Becoming a more intelligent utility requires more than just technology investments; it requires a real investment in people and processes, too.

We also wanted to provide a way for utilities to benchmark their intelligence and measure progress against their stated goals and successes. It was our intent, both when we established the UtiliQ rankings last year and now, to acknowledge and celebrate the immense accomplishments of electric utilities throughout the United States as they evolve, through hard work, financial and customer commitment, and intense focus, along the path to true, 21st century utility intelligence. It was a logical extension of our hands-on, daily involvement in the stories of today's electricity industry.

I was pleased to carry on the work this year with Jill Feblowitz, IDC Energy Insights practice director, business technology. For more information on the methodology and metrics we used to determine the list of the Top 25, I encourage you to read our full article, and see the full list, in the July/August issue of Intelligent Utility magazine [4], available for reading on line today.

I shared the news of SDG&E's repeat win with them last Friday. Jessie J. Knight, Jr., SDG&E's chief executive officer, was quick to respond. "San Diego Gas & Electric's selection as Intelligent Utility magazine's top company for the second consecutive year reflects our employees' continuing commitment to provide customers with reliable energy and increased choices by using the most productive work practices and tools available," he said.

"This recognition is especially gratifying because our employees are facing an increasingly complex energy environment that includes the support of distributed generation, electric vehicles and greater quantities of renewable energy on the grid," Knight added.

While the UtiliQ's top spot remained unchallenged, there was some intense jockeying within the other 24 spots. Jill and I believe that this occurred for a couple of reasons. First, we had the benefit of more comprehensive sources of data available to us this year over last year. This meant we were able to get a better handle on renewable generation, as well as energy efficiency, demand response and load management programs. As well, IDC Energy Insights research (in particular an intelligent grid study the company conducted last fall) helped to round out our knowledge.

It's also clear to us that some utilities rose in the ranks based on being awarded American Recover and Reinvestment Act funding. We also noticed that many companies that received these funding awards are planning on contributing more than the 50/50 match to their project's bottom line.

Here are a few more notable tidbits from this year's rankings:

• The UtiliQ's Top 10 are, in order: San Diego Gas & Electric; Austin Energy; PG&E Corporation; FPL Group, Inc. (now NextEra); NV Energy, Inc.; Salt River Project; Pepco Holdings, Inc.; Edison International; American Electric Power Company, Inc.; and IDACORP, Inc.
• NV Energy rose 50 spots in the rankings from last year's 55th position, to reach the No. 5 spot this year.
• Cleco Corporation hit the Top 25 list this year for the first time, moving up from last year's 74th position to secure the No. 25 spot.

The top three utilities in this year's list will be honored at the Knowledge2010 Intelligent Utility Summit, Nov. 8-10, in Scottsdale, Arizona. [8]

 I look forward to your comments and your e-mails either here in the forum, or via e-mail at krowland@energycentral.com [9]. Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/katerowland2 [10]