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September 1, 2009
Software Platform Enables Utilities to Manage Transformation to a Smart Grid
| For More Information |
Tim Blodgett
Hometown Connections
303-526-4515
tblodgett@hometownconnections.com
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GridPoint is Smart Grid Pioneer
Through the smart grid software platform from GridPoint, public power utilities can deploy an intelligent network of distributed resources that controls load, stores energy and produces power.
GridPoint's open software platform applies information technology to the electric grid to enable utilities to adopt customized smart grid solutions incrementally, to achieve energy efficiency, load management, renewable integration, storage management and electric vehicle management. The software also enables public power customers to manage energy usage easily and automatically according to personal preferences selected through an online energy management portal.
GridPoint, a leading smart grid software solutions company, is the pioneer of an innovative smart grid platform that empowers utilities to optimize electrical grid management, achieve business objectives, increase grid reliability, promote environmental stewardship and fuel the adoption of renewable energy sources.
As arranged by Hometown Connections, American Public Power Association members may purchase GridPoint software solutions with favorable commercial terms and deliver innovative energy savings programs to public power customers.
"Hometown Connections understands the needs of public power utilities, and we are honored that they have selected GridPoint's software to help create an affordable, scalable path to an optimized grid," said GridPoint CEO Peter L. Corsell. "Additionally, we are excited about Hometown Connections' enthusiasm in providing public power customers with insight and control over their energy usage."
GridPoint's software platform enables utilities to adopt customizable smart grid solutions incrementally to meet short- and long-term needs, providing a comprehensive smart grid roadmap. Utilities can easily begin creating a smart grid by rapidly deploying a Web-based energy efficiency program, without installing hardware in the home, to a large number of customers. At this utility program level, GridPoint's portal enables customers to track a home's overall energy use and compare it to previous consumption periods and even pay their bill online, minimizing inbound customer calls and increasing operating efficiency, while simultaneously improving customer satisfaction ratings.
Additionally, community-level analytics are incorporated to allow consumers to compare their energy usage and conservation efforts with their neighbors'. Customers gain tangible insight into their energy usage and look forward to enrolling in online energy management, demand response and other advanced solutions that provide additional functionality.
With the addition of an energy management device installed in the home, customers gain advanced functionality. They learn the most cost-effective time to run appliances and can create a personal energy profile to manage energy automatically, according to consumption patterns and utility rate schedules.
"We are excited to offer GridPoint's smart grid infrastructure, which will provide economies of scale to public power utilities," said Tim Blodgett, president and CEO of Hometown Connections. "GridPoint's software provides public power with a roadmap to a comprehensive smart grid deployment, reducing the risk and time required to integrate new technologies as they come to market."
The platform delivers smart grid solutions through the integration of distributed energy resources, including plug-in electric vehicles, solar panels, advanced storage technologies, and household devices, such as thermostats, electric water heaters and pool pumps. Based on open standards, the platform aggregates these new energy technologies from multiple manufacturers into a single manageable resource that utilities control via the GridPoint Utility Portal. The portal enables utilities to reduce load, discharge power from advanced storage technologies and charge electric vehicles in real-time or through scheduled events.
GridPoint's platform gives utilities unparalleled circuit-level measurement, management and verification. Predicting, controlling and verifying loads can be segmented by load type (e.g., air conditioners) either by substation, feeder, individual customer or in aggregate, enabling utilities to dispatch and monitor load capacity just like a generation asset.
GridPoint's flexible software platform allows utilities to fine- tune load management programs to meet diverse customer needs and changing supply requirements. For instance, utilities can concurrently choose to turn off water heaters for 15 minutes in a specific region and change temperature in another. Customers can easily opt out of a specific event either through GridPoint's online energy management portal or directly from their thermostat.
With actual consumption data on water heaters, pool pumps and other appliances, utilities can predict peak periods on specific devices and determine the best way to reduce consumption with the least impact on customers. The result is increased flexibility and reduced costs for utilities to operate disparate systems, data and home devices and increased customer satisfaction in utility programs.
GridPoint's business intelligence reports provide immediate feedback on participation levels and curtailment achieved, allowing program managers to continually refine and improve their programs as well as demonstrate return on investment.
In addition to GridPoint's capabilities within AMI environments, the platform provides the capability to integrate an ERT reader. This provides utilities with an easy, cost-effective path to extend smart grid capabilities to residences equipped with AMR meters.
Visit these web sites for more information.
• GridPoint
• Hometown Connections
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