ALBANY – The federal stimulus package is going to providefunds for New York utilities – including Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation and Orange and Rockland Utilities – but the money would only pay for half of the cost of the $1 billion program.

Smart grid utility projects proposed by the utility companies may qualify for stimulus funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The term smart grid refers to the application of various digital technologies to, among other things, modernize and automate transmission and distribution assets to anticipate and respond to system disturbances, enable greater use of variable energy sources, including renewable energy, and provide the capability for customers to control their energy consumption effectively.

Since the $500 million federal stimulus funds available from the DOE will only cover up to 50 percent of the total costs of the proposed smart grid projects, the utilities have filed requests with the state Public Service Commission to recover from the ratepayers the other $500 million for the portion of the costs not covered by the DOE grant.

The utilities seeking ratepayer recovery of the remaining costs of smart grid investments include: Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.; Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.; New York State Electric and Gas Corporation; Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation; Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation; and National Grid.