Ameren Missouri expands Jefferson City smart grid

Smart Energy Plan project represents latest efforts to make the Capital City's electric grid resilient and reliable

Ameren Missouri announces it is expanding its efforts to support reliability in downtown Jefferson City. Through its Smart Energy Plan, the company is installing new smart technology to support critical government services. The new equipment builds on the success of the Jefferson City Smart Grid project, one of Ameren Missouri's first projects under its Smart Energy Plan.

Crews work to set the new equipment in downtown Jefferson City.

The initial buildout of the Capital City's smart grid in 2019 included the addition of eight smart switchgear in the community's downtown. This latest upgrade will add four more switchgear to the city's electric grid. These devices work together to monitor the system, detect and isolate outages and quickly re-route and restore power.

“The people who live and work in Jefferson City were the first in Missouri to experience the advantages of a smart grid system,” said Jason Haynam, senior manager of Ameren Missouri’s Central Missouri division. “Now, with nearly 2,000 smart devices installed across the state, we’re seeing the power of this innovative technology benefit customers across our service territory.”

Since the beginning of Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan in 2019, smart technology has prevented more than 330,000 customer outages throughout the company's service territory. In addition to Jefferson City's downtown grid, there are now dozens of smart switches on overhead power lines throughout the community.

One of the newly installed switchgear units will support the Jefferson State Office Building, which is undergoing a major renovation. It houses several state agencies, including the Department of Education. Two additional smart devices will support the Truman State Office Building, which houses the Office of Administration and the Missouri Department of Revenue.

“Reliability is so important, especially in the workplace. Millions of Missourians rely on the critical services provided by state agencies, and we rely on Ameren to keep the power on,” said Rep. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City. “It’s a comfort to know this expanded smart grid will help ensure there is minimal disruption to our operations and allow us to meet the needs of those we serve.”

To learn more about Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan and how it supports a resilient and reliable electrical grid, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/plan.