CenterPoint Energy and IBM Announce Deployment of Intelligent Grid Technology

CenterPoint Energy and IBM Announce Deployment of Intelligent Grid Technology

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s electric transmission and distribution subsidiary, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, will follow a Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) pilot program completed in 2005 with a limited deployment of Intelligent Grid technology, which will focus on enhancing the efficiency and reliability of CenterPoint Energy’s utility operations. IBM has been selected as the technology and implementation partner for the project.

The limited deployment of Intelligent Grid technology will involve CenterPoint Energy installing, testing and monitoring automated meter reading (AMR) of electric and natural gas meters, remote connection and disconnection of electric service, and automated outage detection and restoration. BPL technology will be used for the data communications network.

“An Intelligent Grid would provide us with on-demand data and information that would enhance service to our customers and improve electric power line grid planning, operations and maintenance,” said Don Cortez, Vice President of Distribution Support for CenterPoint Energy’s electric operations. “This would contribute to fewer and shorter outages, better customer service, improved operating costs and security, and higher productivity.”

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