A smart grid and switches keep the lights on in Tennessee.

In July of last year, we reported on the first real test of EPB Chattanooga’s smart grid investment that occurred when a powerful windstorm roared through the city in Tennessee.

The utility, which serves 170,000 customers, found that it cut its power outages by at least half, according to Jim Glass, manager of smart grid development at EPB Chattanooga.

At the time, Glass said it was difficult to put a monetary figure on the savings. But recent data has done just that. The utility has been installing 1,200 S&C IntelliRupter automated switches on the distribution grid since early 2011. The utility also boasts one of the fastest internet pipelines in the world and a full rollout of smart meters.

Read more at Greentech Media.