GE Energy's Smart Grid Software Solutions Will Help Enhance Power Reliability and Improve Asset Management
ATLANTA--23 September 2008-- Texas utility Austin Energy is embarking on the first phase of its smart grid deployment, which is also one of the first in the nation. This phase-one deployment will help Austin Energy to better manage its assets using GE Energy's smart grid software solutions. The software will improve Austin Energy's ability to prevent outages and quickly restore power if outages do occur.
GE Energy's smart grid software solutions will help enhance power reliability and increase energy productivity. These solutions also will help manage alternative renewable power sources, like solar, maximize the utilization and life of assets and pinpoint areas of concern on the grid---similar to online mapping tools that pinpoint traffic congestion on roads and highways.
"Unlike many utilities that lead their smart grid initiatives with smart meters, Austin Energy is leading with innovative software solutions that make products, like smart meters, even more impactful," said Bob Gilligan, vice president of GE Energy's transmission and distribution business. "While the smart meter is one of the most tangible smart grid components, the capabilities of the smart meter are enhanced greatly by the addition of other smart grid technologies."
Elements of the Smart Grid
The efficiency gains achieved by upgrading to a smarter grid from a conventional one would be like switching from a typewriter to a word-processor. The smart grid is, in fact, a banner for many products, including hardware, like smart meters and capacitors, and software, like geospatial information systems and demand response technologies. The smart grid is not "one" product, but rather, a solution suite of products and software technologies improving the grid's overall performance.
To enhance power reliability and improve asset management, Austin Energy has most recently integrated GE Energy's distribution management system technology into its existing outage management system. These applications will work in combination with the geospatial information system---essentially, a GPS for the grid---to help notify the utility when a portion of the grid goes down (or is in danger of doing so), thus maximizing power reliability.
Overall, the benefits of the smart grid components being implemented by Austin Energy include:
Austin Energy is the ninth largest public power utility in the United States, serving 388,000 customers and a population of more than 900,000 within the city of Austin, Travis County and a small portion of Williamson County. It powers the capital city of Texas through a diverse generation mix, with a portfolio that includes nuclear, coal, natural gas and renewable energy sources. Austin Energy has created the top performing renewable energy program in the nation, owns the nation's first and largest green building programs, and is home to one of the nation's most comprehensive residential and commercial energy efficiency programs.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.
Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
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Gina DeRossi
Soteryx Corporation
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Margaret Chapman