Monday, December 21, 2009
The modernization of Duke Energy’s power grid is under way in Ohio. What is the smart grid?
The modernization of Duke Energy’s power grid is under way in Ohio.
What is the smart grid?
A smart grid is a power distribution system that uses digital technology to enable two-way “conversation”
between Duke Energy and our customers, using advanced meters and other high-tech communications
equipment. It’s a new way of working with our customers – helping them to manage energy better, save
money and help the environment.
By giving Duke Energy timely information about what is happening on our system, the smart grid allows
us to quickly detect and resolve problems, prevent and shorten power outages, improve
service reliability and give customers information to better manage their energy use.
How does it work?
It starts by installing communication boxes alongside our transformers. These boxes
may not look high-tech, but they are the “brains” of the whole smart grid system.
They create a virtual energy Internet – collecting data from the smart meters and
other digital equipment on the power lines, and sending it over a wireless network
back to Duke Energy and then back to the customer. We will install more than 10,000
communication boxes in Ohio in 2010.
Smart digital meters give the communication boxes something to talk about – valuable
data about a home or business’s energy use. Since 2008, when the Public Utilities
Commission of Ohio approved our smart grid program, Duke Energy has installed
approximately 60,000 smart electric meters and 40,000 smart gas meters in Ohio
And in 2010, we will install about 80,000 more smart electric meters and 58,000
more smart gas meters.
This map shows where meters are scheduled to be installed starting in 2010.
Duke Energy customers who live in counties / areas not shown on the map
should expect to receive smart meter starting in 2012 and beyond.
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http://www.ambientcorp.com/press_releases/pr_2009_0909_duke_contract.html
ReplyDeleteDuke Energy Selects Ambient Corporation's Technology for
Next Phase of Smart Grid Deployment
Duke Awards Smart Grid Contract to Ambient
Boston, Mass. — September 9, 2009 — Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) today announced a long-term agreement with Duke Energy to provide communication technologies for the utility’s next phase of its smart grid deployment.
“Duke is pleased to expand our relationship with Ambient through the execution of this agreement. Ambient’s two-way communication node advances our vision of building a smart grid intelligent network that supports the integration of numerous devices on the grid,” said Todd Arnold, Duke Energy’s SVP of Smart Grid and Customer Systems.
The contract calls for Ambient to provide its X-series communications node as the central communications technology to transmit data from residential and commercial smart meters, and other applications back to the utility’s network operations center. This communications node allows for the efficient collection, analysis and management of energy demand through collected usage data to promote more reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly operations.
“This contract continues a strong collaboration with Duke Energy from early smart grid development projects begun in 2005,” said John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient Corporation. “We are pleased to work with Duke Energy to provide a key component of its communications platform, helping to achieve its vision for a smart grid network.”
Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, has committed to building smart grid deployments over the next five years throughout its service regions, and recently received regulatory approval for an approximate 700,000 electric smart meter deployment in Ohio. The company also has plans for smart grid initiatives in Indiana, the Carolinas and Kentucky. (See Duke Energy’s http://smartenergynewsroom.com).