PLAINFIELD-Details are still being negotiated for Duke Energy's application for stimulus funding for smart grid technology upgrades proposed to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, said Duke Energy Indiana spokesman Lew Middleton.

The company's application for a $200 million grant was accepted by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, but the total amount and use of the $3.4 billion in stimulus funding announced earlier this week by President Barack Obama remains to be negotiated, he explained.

Middleton said the project still awaits an IURC ruling, although intervenors in the project have signed off on the proposal.

Earlier this year Duke proposed modernization of its power delivery system including installation of more than 800,000 new digital "smart meters" for homes and businesses in the 69 counties served by the utility.

The five-year initiative is about a $450 million investment for the company, said Middleton Thursday. He said if the full $200,000 is awarded, the Indiana project would probably get about half of that amount.

The work would use digital and other advanced technology to save energy, boost system reliability and improve customer service.

The program would reduce voltage levels along its power delivery system with no customer service impact, saving enough energy to power 40,000 homes for a year.

The new "smart meters" would allow two-way electronic communication between the utility and the meters, greatly reducing the frequency and expense of on-site meter reading, Duke Indiana President Jim Stanley said earlier this year.

Eventually, with more future enhancements the meters could allow customers to monitor their real-time energy usage via online access to their electricity accounts.

The grid technology could also eventually remotely activate power connections instead of sending out a technician, and detect power line problems.