Tacoma Power has asked the Department of Energy for approximately $32 million to enhance and accelerate the development of its smart grid system. If awarded the funds, which would cover half of the project cost, the utility would install two-way meters at 135,000 homes and businesses — building on a 17,000 meter project already in place.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) designated $3.9 billion for smart grid projects across the country. Tacoma’s project meets one of the major goals of the act — job creation — and would create approximately 250 local jobs when building its system.

The smart grid system would give customers real-time energy use information, enabling them to use energy more efficiently, which could reduce their power bills. The system also would help improve reliability by providing the utility with more accurate information.

The Department of Energy has said it will announce in September which organizations will move to the next review phase.