Winning the Client a $15.8 Million Grant

Case Study

Smart Grid Investment

strategic planning and execution of obtaining a government award

The 5-Second Story:

Snohomish PUD turned to Axelerate for strategic planning of their smart grid, winning a federal grant from the US Department of Energy.

The Business Challenge

Snohomish County PUD—a $525 million public utility district based in Everett, WA—provides electricity, water and associated services to its customers in an environmentally responsible way. The second largest publicly owned utility in the Pacific Northwest and the 12th largest in the nation in terms of customers served, its primary goal is to increase economic value, financial stability, operational safety and security for its ratepayers.

When the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program was launched as part of the Recovery Act, Snohomish PUD knew they would be a strong contender for a grant. But while they had the brainpower to develop a smart grid implementation model, their ideas needed focusing. They needed someone who could understand their smart grid vision, and then capture it in a winning grant proposal.

The Solution

Axelerate’s executive consultants worked closely with the district, developing a smart grid investment strategy and management plan. Auditing Snohomish PUD’s smart grid strengths and opportunities, our team defined clear and attainable project objectives to reduce consumption, increase energy efficiency, provide an adaptable system for customers’ needs, and prepare an infrastructure for green energy.

The proposal document for the grant was then developed based on our consultants’ smart grid insights and investment strategy. After reviewing the proposal, the US Department of Energy awarded our client a $15.8 million grant, one of only two throughout Washington State.

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