Smart grid money for Georgia

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – The federal government has given a handful of Georgia companies stimulus money as part of a nationwide effort aimed at lowering power bills and upgrading electrical grids.

WABE's Charles Edwards reports

President Obama included what are called Smart Grid grants in his stimulus package.
About 16 million dollars went to Cobb Electric Membership Cooperative. Georgia Congressman David Scott says the money will help pay for 190 thousand smart power meters for consumers.

SCOTT: "Which will enable them to use electricity not at peak times or high demand times but at times when you have the relatively lowest cost."

If you get electricity through Cobb EMC, the smart meters are supposed to tell you when it might be cheaper to use electricity.

Private companies will cover the rest of the cost to pay for the meters. It's unclear when the devices will be installed.

Smart Grid funding is also going to Southern Company and businesses located in
Tucker, Atlanta and near the Tennessee border.

Charles Edwards, WABE News.