As OGE begins implementing its Positive Energy® Smart Grid program in Norman, Okla., the company announced that The Structure Group was selected to continue supporting the implementation of their smart grid roadmap.

OGE plans to install 42,000 new digital meters across Norman in 2010. During the same time, about 3,000 Norman customers will be equipped with new programmable thermostats and energy-use devices to help them track and control their electricity use and costs.

OGE started working with The Structure Group to develop an approach to transform the electric utility to meet the changing demands associated with smart grid. Work with The Structure Group has included collaborating on the business case to support the Positive Energy® Smart Grid program, creating "day in the life" scenarios that detail how smart grid technology could be used most effectively, and developing requests for proposals for other partners to support implementation of the program. By integrating areas such as distribution automation, advanced metering, demand response, cyber security and compliance, OGE foresees the development of an integrated solution that enhances the customer experience while reducing overall operating costs.

The team moves now to the next phases of the program which includes implementation planning, business process reengineering, system deployment /integration and field deployment for Norman.

"Our program will integrate in-home technology, such as communicating programmable thermostats, with advanced technology on our electric distribution system," said Ken Grant, Managing Director for OGE's Smart Grid program. "The Structure Group has been a strong partner as we've developed plans for implementing smart grid technology in Norman, and we look forward to a continued relationship with them."

"The Structure Group brought a comprehensive approach to OGE's smart grid planning and vendor selection efforts which provided a strong platform for OGE's evolution that occurs with transformational projects. OGE is on the forefront of the smart grid development continuum and The Structure Group is excited to assist OGE in implementing this next phase of the smart grid roadmap," said Stacey Wood, Smart Grid Principal for The Structure Group.

OGE, which serves more than 773,000 customers in a service territory spanning 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas, is a subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), which also is the parent company of Enogex LLC, a midstream natural gas pipeline business with principal operations in Oklahoma.

The Structure Group is a leading provider of consulting services and business solutions to utilities and energy market participants in North America and Europe. Structure has assisted more than 70 clients on business transformation projects. Structure offers comprehensive consulting services and deep energy industry expertise through six consulting practices: AMI / MDM / Smart Grid, Energy Management and Control Systems, Energy Trading and Risk Management, Competitive Market Solutions, Utility Enterprise Asset Management, and Regulatory Compliance.