"In the spring, we will be installing 57,323 new (electrical) meters in the place of old meters," said Councilman Robert Fieseler, who supported appointing the Chicago consultant and the original budget. "There needs to be an effort to tell residents …"The total budget approved for the three-phase public education aspect of the initiative amounts to $390,000, according to council documents, about $70,000 less than the budget originally proposed. Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the project will be later considered individually by the council. Smart Grid aims to provide increased reliability and technology to Naperville residents, allowing them to track their utility use online at any time and cut down when necessary. The improvements may also generate savings on consumers' electric bills, city documents state.
"Over the next 15 years, there is a potential to save Naperville electric customers more than $30 million in today's dollars," council documents state. "This initiative serves as a model for upgrading and automating the city's electric distribution system to meet consumer needs, achieve dramatic improvements in reliability and lower operations and maintenance costs."
