Grid Net and Oracle Join Forces to Deliver New Integrated Smart Grid Solutions for Utilities

Grid Net, a global leading provider of real-time, all-IP Smart Grid and Smart Home software platforms for any device and any broadband technology, announced it will work together with Oracle to deliver advanced distribution management systems and meter data management technology to support utilities’ Smart Grid deployments aimed to improve grid reliability and enable smarter energy choices.

Today’s emerging Smart Grid deployments will generate a vast amount of energy usage data and require near real-time, reliable, and secure communications for utilities to efficiently distribute energy and interact with a rapidly growing number of distributed devices. As a Gold level member of the Oracle Partner Network, Grid Net will work closely with Oracle to help deliver complete, open, and integrated Smart Grid solutions to the utilities industry.

Together, these solutions can help utilities efficiently, securely distribute power, improve network reliability and reduce outage durations. The combined solution will operate on a common data model and integrate easily with Oracle Utilities Meter Data Management and Oracle Utilities Customer Care and Billing providing utilities with a wealth of information that will help them improve network performance and customer satisfaction.

For the full press release, click here.

George Arnold Confirmed to Keynote at Smart Energy Summit 2011

Dr. George W. Arnold, National Coordinator for Smart Grid Interoperability, National Institute of Standards and Technology is confirmed to keynote at the 2nd annual Smart Energy Summit in Austin, Texas this January.

George Arnold served as the Deputy Director of Technology Services in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) within the US Department of Commerce until he was asked to take the lead on NISTs overall effort on smart grid. He joined NIST in September 2006 after a 33 year career in industry.

Dr. Arnold previously served as a Vice-President at Bell Laboratories where he directed the company's global standards efforts and management of intellectual property. Prior to this role, Dr. Arnold had a wide range of technical and managerial assignments at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, and AT&T in research and development, product management, quality management and process re-engineering.

Dr. Arnold also served as Chairman of the Board of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a private, non-profit organization that coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system.

In addition to his NIST responsibilities, Dr. Arnold continues to be active in external standards organizations. He currently serves as Vice-President-Policy for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and President of the IEEE Standards Association.

Dr. Arnold received a Doctor of Engineering Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Columbia University in 1978. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE.

Energy Efficiency Agreement Signed by US and Russia

Following the commitment by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev at the June 24th U.S.-Russia Summit to promote energy efficiency and green technology, the U.S. International Development (USAID) and the Russian Energy Agency (REA) signed a Protocol of Intent to deepen collaboration on energy efficiency, "smart grid" technology, and clean energy.

The agreement will foster partnerships with U.S. and Russian utilities, regulators and others to share information and best practices. Potential activities will reduce energy loss in electricity systems and decrease levels of carbon emissions to help mitigate climate change.

USAID looks forward to continuing and furthering cooperation with partners in Europe and Eurasia to promote energy efficiency and combat climate change.

Central Maine Power Proceeds with Trilliant for Smart Grid Communications Network

Trilliant Incorporated, a leader in delivering Smart Grid solutions that enhance energy efficiency, utility operations and renewable resource integration, announced that it has completed agreements with Central Maine Power (CMP) to provide a complete Smart Grid communications network and advanced meter infrastructure solution. The company will install smart meters for all of its 620,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customer accounts beginning later this summer.

The Smart Grid deployment will use Trilliant’s SecureMesh™ communications network to provide a comprehensive high-bandwidth private Wide Area Network (WAN) and Neighborhood Area Network (NAN) that interconnects meters and other Smart Grid-enabled devices to enable consumer energy management.

Trilliant partnered with leading companies to bring a best-in-class solution to the Maine project. General Electric (GE) and Landis+Gyr are providing electric meters and IBM is providing Tivoli Netcool software integrated with UnitySuite applications for robust and scalable service management of Iberdrola’s Smart Grid communications infrastructure.

CMP was awarded $96M under the Smart Grid Investment Grant program of the U.S. Department of Energy authorized under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Matching funding from the corporation will bring the total investment to nearly $200M.

Texas A&M Researchers Seek Product Information From Smart Grid Vendors

Smart grid technology and software companies are encouraged to submit information about their products for inclusion in a Smart Grid Resource Guide being developed by researchers with the Smart Grid Research Consortium at Texas A&M University.

The consortium, which includes 12 municipal utilities from across the United States, is focused on developing business models that incorporate smart grid technology. The new guide, according to consortium leader Dr. Jerry Jackson, will feature reviews of the latest smart grid technology and software.

Electric smart grids provide integrated communication, automation and control of entire electrical systems, from generating plants to the operation of electric equipment inside homes, commercial buildings and industrial plants.

Texas A&M's Smart Grid Research Consortium study is the first to provide utility-specific cost/benefit models that can be applied to evaluate the business case for individual smart grid technologies and utility smart grid strategies.

Additional details on the Texas A&M University Smart Grid Research Consortium are available at http://smartgridresearchconsortium.org/

Smart Energy Summit 2011, Conference Topics and Call for Papers Announced

Parks Associates announced the dates and preliminary list of topics for the second-annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, an executive conference dedicated to the consumer and business sides of residential energy management. The Smart Energy Summit is accepting submissions to speak at the event, which will take place January 24-26, 2011, in Austin, Texas.

Smart Energy Summit focuses on the emerging in-home energy management technology market, with market research from Parks Associates' landmark Residential Energy Management service, which features surveys and analysis of consumer attitudes toward current energy solutions.

Conference Topics:
• Status and market potential of Home Area Networks, Smart Grids, and in-home energy management solutions
• Requirements for successful, customer-facing utility platforms and services
• Strategies to engage consumers
• Utility-based solutions versus "independent" energy management solutions
• Impact of government stimulus and green initiatives
• Technical and business requirements for success
• Business strategies for utilities, manufacturers, installers, and service providers
• Perspectives from Retail Electric Providers (REPs)
• State of residential microgeneration of electricity
• Electric vehicles, batteries, and charging stations
• Smart appliances

Andres Carvallo, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer, Grid Net, will present the opening keynote. Early sponsors include Gigle Networks and HomeGrid Forum. Supporters of the event include AltEnergyMag.com, CABA, Display Plus, Energy and Utility, ESNA, Global Smart Energy, Home Toys, POWERGRID International, Public Utilities Fortnightly, RFP Magazine, SIP Forum, SmartGridCareers.com, Smart Grid Today, and U-SNAP Alliance.

For more information or to submit to speak, visit www.smartenergysummit2011.com.

Smart Energy Summit 2011 accepting Call For Papers

The Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer is now accepting speaker submissions for the January 24-26, 2011 event in Austin, Texas. Smart Energy Summit is the premier conference studying the market for residential energy management enabled by Smart Grid technologies.

Click here for the online Speaker Submission form.

2011 Event Topics include:

-- Current status of Home Area Network (HAN) trials, Smart Meter and Smart Grid deployments, and/or in-home energy management products and services
-- Key requirements for successful, customer-facing utility platforms for residential energy management
-- Consumer interest and market potential regarding energy management solutions
-- Engaging the consumer: Strategies and tactics to communicate benefits successfully
-- Utility-based solutions versus "Independent" in-home energy management solutions (i.e., not involving utility management or control)
-- Impact of government stimulus and green initiatives
-- Technical and business requirements for succeeding in residential energy management
-- Business strategies for utilities, manufacturers, installers, and service providers
-- State of microgeneration of electricity in the residential market
-- Electric vehicles, batteries and charging stations
-- Smart appliances: what we can expect and when

The deadline for all submissions is November 15, 2010.

For more information, visit www.smartenergysummit2011.com.

OG&E Announces Oklahoma Regulatory Approval of Smart Grid

OG&E announced that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has approved the company's deployment of smart grid technology systemwide, authorizing OG&E to invest up to $366 million during the next three years, $127 million of which will be paid from federal stimulus funding.

The Commission order clears the way for OG&E to install advanced metering infrastructure and distribution automation equipment that will improve the efficiency and reliability of the electric system, reducing operating costs and ultimately lowering customer costs. Smart grid also will offer customers access to information that can help them manage their energy consumption and save money.

Smart grid deployment will add $1.57 to the average residential customer's monthly electric bill for the next 42 months. The company projects that the operational cost savings and customer benefits made possible by the smart grid technology will greatly exceed the cost of deployment.
Under a 2009 Commission order, OG&E has completed the installation of more than 42,000 smart meters in Norman, Okla., and is deploying distribution automation equipment there for enhanced reliability and efficiency. Smart grid installation crews are now moving into Moore and south Oklahoma City, and the Commission order announced today will allow for systemwide deployment by the end of 2012.

The U.S. Department of Energy selected OG&E's application last year for funding to help cover a portion of the cost of the company's smart grid program. The grant can be used for deployment of smart grid technology across OG&E's 30,000-square mile territory in Oklahoma and western Arkansas.

OG&E serves more than 779,000 customers in a service territory spanning 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. OGE Energy also is the parent company of Enogex LLC, a midstream natural gas pipeline business with principal operations in Oklahoma.

For more information, click here.