-- Managing the SGIG process - including pre-award negotiations on the terms and conditions and meeting specific project and process, benefit attainment and reporting requirements -- Managing the regulatory process - including building the business case, effectively communicating with regulators and stakeholders, and rate design for recovery and compliance -- Setting up a project management office (PMO) - planning, scheduling, and controlling project activities to meet project objectives including performance / quality of the work done, cost and time objectives while controlling / maintaining the scope of the project at the correct level -- Specifying the smart grid architecture - including telecommunications planning and design, standards compliance and verification, certification and testing of devices, security planning, transmission automation, and substation and distribution automation specification -- Systems planning and integration - including back office system design, architecture development and testing, planning, and implementation support -- Implementation and harvesting benefits - including field operations planning and resourcing RFPs, staff augmentation, and employee training -- Vendor management - including developing requirements and procurement activities to guide supplier selection, evaluation, quality assurance and control, system and equipment testing and certification, and change control. -- Consumer to grid connection - including customer outreach and education, customer subscription and enrollment, service pricing and tariff design, program offering design, measurement and verification of energy efficiency programs and program benefits"The DOE grant adds another layer to the risk management process -- from negotiations to reporting and evaluation requirements," said Sullivan. "Negotiating the right terms and conditions of the grant and getting the right project management operations in place are key to successful implementation. And the worthy smart grid projects not in line for a grant will need to focus on identifying what can be afforded, making the business case and going back to the regulator with a compelling argument to regulators to stay in the smart grid game." KEMA has been working extensively with the nation's leaders in grid modernization for over three decades -- from substation and distribution automation, smart meters and advanced metering infrastructure, to smart grid and intelligent network and communications architecture planning, design and integration. KEMA supported multiple clients in successful SGIG award applications, including application coordination, project definition and planning, budget analysis, outcomes estimation, and federal government liaison. About KEMA Founded in 1927, KEMA is a global provider of business and technical consulting, operational support, measurement and inspection, testing and certification for the energy and utility industry. KEMA employs more than 1,400 professionals globally and with offices in 13 countries. KEMA's US subsidiary, KEMA, Inc., is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts and serves energy clients throughout the Americas and Caribbean.
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