Enbala Connects American Water to PJM Smart Grid

American Water and Enbala Power Networks are two of the first companies to take advantage of new rules that allow industrial loads in the PJM Interconnection region to connect to the smart grid.

American Water is the first company with loads connected to Enbala’s smart grid network and responding in real-time to the needs of the grid. Enbala, meanwhile, has been authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to participate in wholesale electricity markets as a Category 1 seller, and has market-based rates authority for the sale of electric energy, capacity and ancillary services on a commercial basis.

By connecting industrial loads to the smart grid, Enbala will deliver demand-side load regulation service to PJM, which is the largest integrated electricity market in the world, covering all or part of 13 states and the District of Columbia.

A FERC ruling from last month permits ENBALA to participate in not only PJM, but also the the New York Independent System Operator, ISO New England, California Independent System Operator and Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator.

Another rule change that has helped Enbala was a PJM modification that makes it possible to drops the minimum amount of demand-side grid balancing from an individual load, from 500 kW to 100 kW, which the company says encourages demand-side loads to participate in the grid.

American Water will expand its involvement by connecting a growing number of assets to the Ebala Power Network, the companies say.