Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Taps West Monroe SMART(TM) for Department of Energy Reporting

CHICAGO, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- West Monroe Partners, a management consulting firm, today announced that Rappahannock Electric Cooperative has selected its West Monroe SMART™ reporting tool to facilitate mandatory Department of Energy (DOE) reporting as part of the company's $16 million Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG).  West Monroe Partners also will help Rappahannock Electric Cooperative establish a project management office (PMO) to oversee implementation of their smart grid initiative, which is partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

West Monroe SMART™ is a full-featured, customizable reporting tool that produces the information utilities need to manage and refine smart grid implementations.  West Monroe SMART™ facilitates compliance with the DOE and the ARRA requirements for grant reporting and monitoring by collecting and tracking data from a utility's operational and back office systems.

"To meet the DOE's reporting requirements, we explored many different methods of data collection and reporting, including using full-time resources to manage data in spreadsheets.  We chose West Monroe SMART™ because it acts as a repository of data, allows us to automate the collection process, and clearly tracks our data and reports ensuring compliance with DOE regulations while providing a solid audit trail," stated Todd Jordan, director of market development for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. "West Monroe SMART™ facilitates an intuitive method for reporting that meets our compliance needs."

The Cooperative's smart grid initiative will substantially increase the information available to the utility's members, equipping them to make sound decisions regarding energy usage and help the utility manage its network more efficiently.  Ultimately this will lead to cost savings, increased service offerings, and a more reliable energy grid for Rappahannock's members.

"We are pleased that Rappahannock Electric Cooperative has selected West Monroe Partners and our West Monroe SMART™ solution to manage its smart grid initiative, including DOE reporting," said Tom Hulsebosch, director of West Monroe's Energy & Utilities practice.  "We are looking forward to leveraging our tools, years of experience with federal grant compliance, and smart grid expertise to help Rappahannock deliver energy savings, cost savings, and a more reliable grid to its members."

Rappahannock initially engaged West Monroe Partners to establish a project management office (PMO) to oversee efficient implementation of its smart grid initiative.  During this process, the utility recognized a need for a comprehensive data management and gathering tool that meets DOE reporting requirements.

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative is a Virginia-based, member-owned energy cooperative that provides electric services to parts of 16 counties and more than 103,000 meters.  Serving a variety of residential, commercial and industrial customers, Rappahannock continues to enhance the lives of their customers through reliable energy delivery, dependable products and loyal support for the communities it serves.

About West Monroe Partners' Energy & Utilities Practice

West Monroe Partners' Energy & Utilities practice is comprised of a diverse team of industry professionals and experienced consultants. Applying deep industry knowledge to deliver holistic solutions to the specific needs of public, private, and cooperative utilities, our professionals serve as trusted partners for many utility clients. With strong credentials in utility operation, telecommunications, security assessment and design, program management offices, systems integration, and measurement systems, West Monroe Partners is the full-service consultancy of choice for many utilities in North America.  For additional information about our Energy & Utilities Practice visit: http://www.westmonroepartners.com/Industries/Energy-and-Utilities.aspx

SOURCE West Monroe Partners