Green Mountain Power Named a National Leader for Grid Transformation

• Among Top 10 Utilities in United States on Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) 2023 Leaderboard
• GMP Recognized for Resilient, Cost-Effective and Equitable Clean Energy System 
• Energy storage (battery) programs key to grid transformation, boosting resiliency while driving down costs for customers 

COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power (GMP) is among the top utilities in the country for grid transformation work, earning a spot on the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) 2023 Utility Transformation Leaderboard in recognition of its progress toward a modern, carbon-free electricity sector. GMP supplies Vermont with power that is 100% carbon free and 78% renewable on an annual basis and is committed to having a 100% renewable energy supply by 2030. The work focused on strengthening the grid is key for encouraging more local renewable generation and energy storage to help communities stay connected even when severe weather hits. GMP’s grid transformation work drives down costs for all customers while boosting resiliency for Vermonters. 

“Vermont is leading the way with a resilient and clean energy system. This recognition inspires us to keep moving faster, to strengthen the grid and local energy resources in partnership with our customers, so more can benefit from these innovative technologies,” said Mari McClure, GMP’s president and CEO.  

SEPA launched the Utility Transformation Challenge in 2019 as the first comprehensive assessment of U.S. electric utilities’ progress towards a carbon-free electricity system. The 2023 Utility Transformation Profile provides an updated view of progress and how to accelerate the transition to carbon-free energy. GMP has been honored on the national Leaderboard multiple times and joins utilities such as Portland General Electric and Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) on this year’s Top 10.

“We applaud Green Mountain Power for progressing its clean energy transition and paving the way for those just beginning the journey,” said SEPA president & CEO Sheri Givens. “Transforming our indispensable and vital electricity system to a modern, equitable, carbon-free one will require SEPA, our members, and numerous stakeholders across the industry to collaborate and share solutions to tackle the myriad challenges ahead.”

Central to GMP’s innovation work is its pioneering energy storage programs. GMP’s growing network of stored energy with batteries helps customers stay connected if the grid is damaged, and it also reduces costs – saving all customers about $3 million per year for the last few years. GMP’s microgrid in Panton, Vermont can disconnect from the greater grid during outages and keep the downtown section of the community powered up. This partnership is the building block for GMP’s Resiliency Zone initiative to build more community resiliency hubs across Vermont. In all, GMP has about 30MW of installed energy storage in utility scale batteries and residential batteries in customers’ homes and GMP is on track to double that,  further boosting resiliency while driving down costs for customers. 

The 2023 Utility Transformation Profile report and executive summary are available at: https://sepapower.org/utility-transformation-challenge/

More details about GMP’s customer programs that reduce costs and carbon while boosting grid resilience are available on its website:

• Residential customer rebates and programs https://greenmountainpower.com/rebates-programs/
• Business customer financial incentives https://greenmountainpower.com/rebates-programs/business-innovation/

About Green Mountain Power

Green Mountain Power serves more than 270,000 residential and business customers in Vermont with electricity that’s 100% carbon free and 78% renewable, and GMP is partnering with customers to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is providing solutions to cut carbon and is delivering electricity that is clean, affordable, and always on. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. In 2022, GMP was named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies. Fast Company named GMP one of the top five Most Innovative Companies in North America in 2022. GMP also earned a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World list in the energy sector four years in a row, and in 2023 and 2021 the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) honored GMP as a nationwide leader in energy transformation. 

Vermont is leading the way with a resilient and clean energy system. This recognition inspires us to keep moving faster, to strengthen the grid and local energy resources in partnership with our customers.

Mari McClure, GMP’s president and CEO

We applaud Green Mountain Power for progressing its clean energy transition and paving the way for those just beginning the journey.

SEPA president & CEO Sheri Givens