SAN DIEGO, Aug. 28, 2006 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is installing its first wave of “smart” electric meters in field tests that will continue for several months. The high-tech meters enable two-way communication between SDG&E and a customer’s home or business.
The new meters are expected to provide SDG&E customers with numerous benefits, including improved customer service, more real-time information on energy use, and faster identification of system outages during events like July’s heat wave. Customers should be able to make more informed energy decisions and have greater control over their energy use and costs as a result, according to Anne Shen Smith, senior vice president of customer services for SDG&E. Ultimately, the advanced meters should reduce the likelihood of electricity shortages.
“We are always looking for ways to apply state-of-the-art technologies to improve services to customers. The smart meters are the next major step. Once in place, they will also pave the way for other enhancements to our operations,” said Smith. “The tests are essential to help us determine which technology is the best at meeting our customers’ needs.”
As part of its field tests, SDG&E plans to install approximately 350 electric meters and 150 gas modules from different vendors in three test areas: Fallbrook, downtown San Diego and Rose Canyon. The tests are expected to highlight the viability of the technologies.
SDG&E is planning to replace all of 1.3 million of its electric meters, and also is proposing to tie its 825,000 gas meters into the system. If approved by state regulators, meter installation could begin in mid-2008 and be completed by 2010.
San Diego Gas & Electric is a full-service energy utility that currently serves 3.4 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 825,000 natural gas meters. The utility’s service area spans 4,100 square miles and serves customers in more than 125 communities from Southern Orange County to the Mexican border. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.sdge.com.
=== Listen to
Previous interview with Eddie Van Herik on BPL trial !!!
San Diego Gas & Electric
AMBIENT ENTERS CALIFORNIA MARKET
SDG&E Selects Ambient to Assess BPL Technology
Boston, MA, July 21, 2005 - Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG), a leader in
Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) solutions, today announced the BPL Trial
Agreement it has entered into with San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), a unit
of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), that will evaluate BPL-enabled consumer and utility
based applications.
Ambient will work with SDG&E staff to develop an understanding of the required
knowledge and skills to implement, design and install a fully operational BPL-enabled
Ambient network on the SDG&E grid. Ambient’s Network Management System (NMS)
will be licensed by SDG&E to monitor the BPL network. Ambient technology will be
purchased and installed by SDG&E to provide high-speed data services so that SDG&E
may evaluate several applications including BPL-enabled meter reading.
John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient, stated, “We believe this is a significant
opportunity for Ambient to demonstrate how our solution may play a role in helping to
fulfill the Advanced Metering Initiative (AMI) set forth by California’s Energy Commission
(CEC) and Public Utility Commission (CPUC). California’s energy vision set forth by
these two commissions is unique as it focuses on customer-oriented or demand-side
solutions, seeking to establish a technology and pricing policy foundation that links
customer rates with the market price for energy. Our goal is to establish a BPL network
in the state where the Public Utility Commission has clearly expressed an interest in
evaluating BPL technologies for better serving the utility’s customers.”
About Ambient Corporation
Ambient Corporation (OTC BB: ABTG) is a development stage company engaged in the design,
development and marketing of equipment and technologies that utilize existing electrical power
medium voltage and low voltage distribution lines as a medium for the delivery of broadband and
other communication services. The use of an electric power distribution system as a high-speed
communication medium is commonly referred to as "power line communications" or "broadband
over power lines." Visit Ambient at www.ambientcorp.com.
Monday, August 28, 2006
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