PowerGrid Communications and GridPoint Announce Collaboration for Smart Grid Solutions at UTC Expo 2007
BOIDE, ID & WASHINGTON, DC - May 7, 2007 - PowerGrid Communications Inc., a leading integrator and operator of Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) networks and smart grid applications, and GridPoint, Inc., a leading clean tech company whose smart grid platform benefits electric utilities, consumers and the environment, announced today that they will collaborate at the UTC Telecom 2007 Conference and Expo this week in Austin, Texas, in demonstrating an innovative package of smart grid services that enable consumers and utilities to meet the challenge of rising energy costs, the need for power demand management and the growing call for lower carbon emissions.
BPL networks add high-speed communications capabilities to existing electric power grids, and provide a broadband connection anywhere on the grid and to every electric outlet. Through this network, utilities will be able to monitor the electric grid to rapidly detect faults and outages or equipment problems, read meters, monitor and control electric usage, deliver important services to the serviced communities and to increase the overall reliability and value of its service to customers.
The UTC Expo 2007 Austin Showcase built by PowerGrid and Austin Energy will demonstrate one of the largest groupings to date of BPL network applications and services. Through the GridEye™ portal, PowerGrid will provide grid and network management for the BPL network and for clean tech, Smart Grid services. One of the key services is centered on the GridPoint SmartGrid Platform™, which offers utilities direct control of an intelligent network that integrates energy storage technologies, load measurement and control devices, and renewable energy sources at the edge of the grid. Utilities can deploy stored power during peak periods, reduce customers' peak loads, optimize existing baseload generation assets and relieve stress on transmission and distribution (T&D) lines.
PowerGrid integrated the GridPoint SmartGrid Platform with a solar electric system provided by Meridian Energy Systems to deliver a complete renewable energy storage and load management system. This integrated system provides an uninterruptible demand management system centered on clean energy sources. GridPoint's platform integrated on the BPL network enables a utility to integrate its customers' renewable energy sources in a utility-controlled manner. This capability represents a major step forward for the commercial success of solar and wind energy sources by serving as an intelligent gateway between these sources and the electric grid. Utilities can also offer their customers instant backup power and energy conservation services via a customer-controlled Web portal.
About PowerGrid Communications
PowerGrid Communications has emerged as one of the premier developers of Broadband over Powerline networks. Drawing together the most skilled and experienced management team in the industry, PowerGrid delivers smart grid solutions that enable a utility to increase reliability, efficiency and decrease carbon emissions in an era of scarce energy resources; and can deliver valuable broadband services to every electric outlet for communities and consumers. PowerGrid provides a full spectrum of integration, operations and marketing services including BPL network design, buildout, operations and financing; smart grid applications and consumer broadband services including Voice Over IP (VOIP), Internet Access (ISP), Video On Demand (VID), security monitoring and video surveillance. PowerGrid is based in Boise, Idaho and New York City. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.powergridcomm.com
About GridPoint
GridPoint, Inc., a leading clean tech company, is the pioneer of an innovative smart grid platform to benefit electric utilities, consumers and the environment. GridPoint SmartGrid Platform™ offers an intelligent network that integrates energy storage technologies, load measurement and control devices, and renewable energy sources at the edge of the grid, under utility control. The platform enables utilities to efficiently balance supply and demand by deploying stored power during peak periods, reducing customers' non-essential loads, optimizing existing base-load generation assets and relieving stress on transmission and distribution (T&D) lines. For consumers, GridPoint's platform provides protection from power outages, increases energy efficiency and integrates renewable energy, paving the way for the commercial success of solar and wind energy sources.
On the Net: www.gridpoint.com
Contact Information
Suzanne Lauer
703.862.3137 or
slauer@gridpoint.com
Media Contact
Suzanne Lauer
(703) 862-3137 or
slauer@gridpoint.com