FCC Scheduled to Decide Broadband over Power Lines ( BPL ) Classification

FCC Scheduled to Decide BPL Classification
10/30/2006
Kelly M. Teal


The FCC on Friday is likely to decide whether BPL should be classified as an interstate information service, rather than a telecommunications service, the same as DSL and cable modem access.

Offering a service under the information service header puts providers at an advantage, as they face less regulation than they would under the telecommunications service moniker. The decision also stands to influence the deployment of BPL services, which remain scant.

The commission is taking up the matter three months after it originally had planned to address a request that was filed by the United Power Line Council (UPLC) in late 2005. Commissioners on Friday also are expected to consent to the pending AT&T-BellSouth merger during the meeting, scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. EST.

The UPLC last year asked the FCC for the classification change for BPL, also known as the “third wire” into the home. The federal body was to consider the appeal in August, but dropped the matter from its agenda and has not taken it up again until now.

UPLC lawyers contend that classifying BPL as an information service would serve the public interest by promoting investment in BPL equipment and technology. It further would encourage facilities-based competition against telcos and cablecos, the organization argued, and help meet the president’s goal of achieving ubiquitous broadband by 2007.

Brett Kilbourne, counsel and director of regulatory services for the UPLC, told xchange in August, “All indications are the commission will treat BPL the same as cable and DSL.”

The industry has yet to see large rollouts of BPL services; it also faces skepticism from experts who are not entirely convinced of the technology’s viability in the marketplace. The largest project underway so far is being done by TXU Electric Delivery in Texas, along with BPL solutions provider CURRENT Communications Group. The companies are in a 10-year, $150 million contract to develop a broadband-enabled “Smart Grid” for delivering BPL Internet access. Marking the project’s advancement, TXU announced last week it will buy 400,000 BPL-capable power meters in 2007.

TXU Electric Delivery’s BPL will be able to reach as many as 2 million customers in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, the company has said.

Source: www.xchangemag.com

Broadband over Power Lines weeds out dope pushers

BPL is not just about delivering super fast downloads, say providers
Howard Dahdah 31/10/2006 17:11:16


The illegal hydroponics industry can potentially be weeded out if the rollout of Broadband over Power Lines technology becomes increasingly more prevalent. But catching dope growers is just one of many and varied benefits that can be delivered to service providers by this technology.

While most Australians are law abiding and pay for the power they use, the theft of electricity from the power grid is a problem. Chief among these thieves are those involved in the illegal drug trade.

"Hydroponics in ceilings requires high heat lamps.... which chew up power," said Geoff Fietz, manager of telecommunications enterprises at Country Energy, referring to the illegal marijuana cultivation industry scattered amongst the population.

He tells an anecdote about a house which burnt down in Queanbeyan, New South Wales. When the police turned up they saw the hydroponics equipment smouldering in the ceiling. Not only had they discovered an illegal drug plantation; power was being siphoned as well. "It's real. It happens," said Fietz.

Police around the world know that increased use of electricity is an indicator of the presence of an indoor hydroponics plantation. Uncovering this increased usage is difficult when illegal connections are used to siphon off the electricity is difficult.

"This strengthens the argument for BPL to address this issue," said Fietz


Intuitive network management

For telecommunication providers, hunting down the smell of MaryJane is a minor issue. For them, BPL has many selling points in ultimately delivering better service to customers.

A case in point is the heat wave which hit in South Australia this January, causing equipment failure at ETSA Utilities, the operator of the state's electricity distribution network. The intense heat caused fuses to blow, and transformers and switchgear to fail.

A subsequent inquiry by the SA government found that the utility had little ability to locate the faults, and that the result was delays in the restoration of supply to consumers.

BPL equipment available today is capable of providing that information needed in South Australia last summer, claimed Dieter Hadrian, national manager of BPL equipment at Schneider Electric.

Additionally, the installed equipment can improve maintenance operations. The condition of power lines can be monitored in order to predict the breakdown of grid infrastructure and thus prioritise maintenance.

"There are many potential benefits," said Peter Firth, manager strategy and business planning at Victorian energy transmission and distribution utility, SP AusNet.

"If we have IP connectivity to pieces of equipment in the field we can see how they perform," he said. "It is all about having more information. If we know how the network is performing we can improve the operation of it."

SP AusNet has just commenced a six month BPL trial in the Victorian Alpine town of Mt Beauty. Firth said it was early days yet, but said the purpose of the trial was to see if this technology delivered on its promise.


Light me up

Another use for BPL is regulating public lighting.

With climate change and global warming the topic du jour, Schneider's Hadrian said his company has approached local councils to try and implement new energy-saving lighting systems that are based on BPL equipment.

One of Schneider's products, called the Lubio, can regulate the voltage applied to the lights for the majority of their operating time. He said it can be set up to work with photoelectric detectors - which are used to control the lights - in several ways.

"Lights generally need close to the full nominal voltage to start and stabilise. The Lubio ensures that full voltage is available for the first 10 to 30 minutes or so and then reduces the voltage. There is a slight reduction in light output but it is generally imperceptible. However, the energy saved is significant: 30 to 40 per cent," he said.

Alternatively, the voltage available from the network transformers also varies depending on the load on the electricity network.

"High load gives low voltage. The street lighting scheme is designed to give sufficient light when the voltage is low. This is typically in the early evening when people arrive home, cook meals, and so on. For the rest of the night and early morning the voltage is usually highest. The lights are brightest, and use more energy, when few people are around and lower lighting levels would be acceptable," he said.

Hadrian said the energy reductions would qualify for Greenhouse Gas Reduction certificates in New South Wales and Queensland.

"However, to qualify it is necessary to have a means to measure the energy reduction and to communicate that data back to a management system. BPL facilitates that data collection and validates the energy savings."

Source: Computerworld

SDG&E on broadband BPL !!!

SDG&E on broadband BPL !!!

"Broadband will help build California so we can grow our economy by competing in the global marketplace," said Gov. Schwarzenegger.

10/27/2006 GAAS:786:06 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Executive Order to Help Make California the Leader in Telecommunications Revolution

Fulfilling his commitment to digitally connect California's cities to each other and the world, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed an executive order to clear the government red tape for building broadband networks, ensure all government agencies are using the best technologies to serve the people and creates a broadband task force that lets experts from government and business work together to identify and eliminate obstacles to making broadband internet access ubiquitous in the state.
"California is home to the greatest technology entrepreneurs. Let's show the world what we can do," said Gov. Schwarzenegger at the UC Davis Health System Pediatric Telehealth Colloquium in San Francisco, where a doctor examined an 11-year old leukemia patient by video about 100 miles away in Sacramento. "If we want to stay No. 1 in technology, we need action. In countries like Japan and South Korea, the people have access to great technologies at lower costs than anywhere in America. We can do that. Michigan has one of the largest wireless broadband networks in the country. We can do that. That’s why I’m signing an executive order to help make California a leader in the telecommunications revolution."

Telemedicine is just one of the exciting possibilities that expanding broadband access would bring to the state.

Highlights of the executive order include:

Establishing a broadband task force to recommend additional steps the Governor can take to promote broadband access and usage.
Designating one agency—Business, Transportation & Housing (BT&H)—as lead coordinator for implementing the state’s broadband policy, to help ensure cohesion, speed and efficiency.
Directing BT&H to create a database linking private broadband companies with state transportation agencies, permitting companies to better coordinate fiber optic installation, leading to more consumer choice and efficient pricing.
Establishing a pricing policy for private companies paying for “rights-of- way” access to state roads. Previously, charges to lay fiber varied widely—the order sets pricing based on actual costs incurred by the State.
Calling for streamlined, expedited rights-of-way permitting procedures to accelerate broadband deployment.
Directing BT&H to collect and analyze current broadband information so the state can accurately map existing resources.
Directing the Department of General Services to make wireless Internet access available in State buildings and increase video streaming to deliver public meetings, training materials and other state resources online.
Directing state agencies to enable Voiceover Internet Protocol technologies for business and government use, and include broadband conduit in their infrastructure planning.
After his speech to the colloquium, Gov. Schwarzenegger joined Silicon Valley CEOs and executives to discuss the economic development that increased broadband adoption would spur.

"Broadband will help build California so we can grow our economy by competing in the global marketplace," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. "California must remain competitive so we continue to attract the best, brightest and most creative workforce in the world."

Since Gov. Schwarzenegger took office, California has added more than 650,000 jobs and the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.8 percent. Investing in broadband will help continue California’s economic prosperity.

Research conducted on the California "One Gigabyte or Bust" Broadband Initiative estimated that enabling broadband access for 50 percent of Californians would have enormous economic impacts on the state, adding over $365 billion annually to the state's economy within seven years and helping create or retain two million sustainable jobs. Similarly, the California Communications Association estimates that every dollar invested in broadband networks generates $3 in economic activity, and that every $1 billion in telecom capital spending equates to 7,000 new telecom jobs – including jobs in network construction, engineering, operations and the creation of new equipment and products.

A U.S. Commerce Department study released this year found that the availability of broadband is directly tied to business growth – especially among new technology-intensive firms. Greater broadband access will directly support California’s world-leading technology industry – creating jobs both in the communications sector and for high-tech companies like Intel, Google, Yahoo!, and eBay, which rely on internet usage to drive business. Increasing broadband deployment will also further support the California economy by making our state an attractive home for the nation’s – and the world’s – preeminent scientists and researchers. The U.S. currently trails several European and Asian countries in broadband access rates.


Attached is the
full text of the executive order

Companies have broad aims for TV on the Web !!!

By BRIAN BERGSTEIN, AP Technology Writer
Mon Oct 30, 12:55 AM ET


CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Eyebrows went up when Google Inc. recently agreed to spend $1.65 billion for YouTube, the most popular Web site for free video clips. But that figure could be blown away one day if some emerging companies achieve their much broader visions for the future of online TV.


These companies are building flexible online networks that can host content, serve up ads and dish out interactive features. While "viral" video-sharing sites like YouTube focus on individual clips — many pirated — these new Internet TV platforms are designed to host full-fledged channels that content creators can control.

One of the best positioned is Brightcove Inc., which on Monday is taking the wraps off an Internet video network that handles virtually everything for content creators.

Aiming to serve everyone from garage auteurs to major media companies, Brightcove offers free publishing tools and runs video wherever publishers want it.

That could be on the central Brightcove site, which is accessible through the video search functions at Google, Yahoo and AOL. Or content publishers can use Brightcove to run video on their own separate, branded sites. Or they can syndicate it to third-party Web sites, such as blogs or MySpace pages, where the content might run alongside user-generated material.

All those videos can be sold as paid downloads or streamed for free, with ads. Brightcove will sell ads and pool them among its customers, or it will plug in commercials that content creators sell themselves.

"They can launch a business in our system in a week," said Brightcove's founder and CEO, Jeremy Allaire, who formerly was chief technical officer at "Flash" graphics creator Macromedia Inc. before it was acquired by Adobe Systems Inc.

It's not a new idea that the abundant bandwidth of the Internet could become the delivery mechanism for thousands of TV channels — including new special-interest stations that would struggle to crack the cable or satellite lineup. We heard that pitch in the dot-com heyday.

But after a slow ramp-up, more than half of U.S. Internet subscribers now have broadband rather than dial-up. And the explosive growth of video-sharing sites, YouTube included, has helped convince advertisers that the medium has legs (though the term most commonly used is eyeballs).

These trends have helped Brightcove draw $28 million in funding from such companies as Time Warner Inc.'s AOL LLC, Hearst Corp., General Electric Co. and IAC/Interactive Corp. And Brightcove's flexibility has attracted diverse publishers trying to expand their broadband video presence. National Geographic, the Travel Channel, Warner Music, The New York Times and The Washington Post are all Brightcove customers.

So is Barrio 305, a Miami-based Internet-only channel devoted to the tropical hip-hop music flavor known as reggaeton. Brightcove pumps Barrio 305's videos to free sites in addition to Barrio 305's own pages. That gives the upstart network such wide dispersal that it hasn't mattered that Barrio 305 has yet to persuade any cable TV programming buyers to offer its package.

"We can bypass these traditional media agencies, and we can get out directly to our audience," said Antonio Otalvaro, one of the three brothers who founded Barrio 305. "Our primary audience is online. They're not watching TV."

Brightcove wins big praise from Forrester Research video analyst Josh Bernoff, who says Allaire "has really got it all figured out."

Even so, Brightcove is not alone in holding video publishers' hands as they step into the Internet.

NBC Universal recently launched an Internet video distribution system called NBBC (short for National Broadband Co.) that is working with NBC affiliates and even traditional NBC rivals such as CBS Corp. and News Corp. NBBC is a marketplace where content owners and third-party sites can agree to share content and ad revenue.

Full article...

AT&T Unveils Video Monitoring Service

AT&T Unveils Video Monitoring Service
AT&T Inc. is expanding into the video-monitoring business to help customers stay more connected with property and family while away from home.
Oct 26, 2006 - By Laurie Sullivan Courtesy of TechWeb News


AT&T Inc. is expanding into the video-monitoring business to help customers stay more connected with property and family while away from home.

The company launched a new service Thursday that allows customers watch real-time video on their Cingular wireless phones or computers. The IP-based service also allows subscribers to control lights remotely or receive text message alerts on motion, door and window movement.

"The platform hooks into a control system that plugs directly into the router," said Brad Bridges, assistant vice president for corporate planning at AT&T. "Sensors communicate wirelessly through 400 megahertz back to the central gateway."

The video is sent through the router and broadband connection to a central server at AT&T, where they're archived, Bridges said. Subscribers also can download the content back to their home server. The basic package comes with 50 MB of storage, expandable to an additional 250 MB, Bridges said.

Subscribers interface with the AT&T monitoring platform through a Web application, where they can control functions, such as turning off and on lights or rotating cameras.

The connecting piece is the alert service to Cingular Wireless phones, because subscribers aren't going to want to check into the service, said Julie Ask, JupiterResearch research director focused on wireless applications.

All the cameras can directly connect to the router, but the starter kit also comes with broadband over power-line modules to use existing wire in the home, Bridges said.

Carriers have been looking for a practical application with appeal to the masses. While other companies offer wireless and IP connected camera services, AT&T's platform will let the subscribers connect up to four cameras and access the video through nearly 95 percent of cellular phones sold by Cingular today.

"There's definitely a market for this type of service," said Stan Schatt, vice president for IP networking at ABI Research. "Carriers have been looking for an application other than e-mail for cellular phones that will really generate some bandwidth, and this is probably the most practical because it touches the largest demographics."

There are automation features on the product roadmap. AT&T has plans to add the ability to tie in with alarm systems to alert police or fire departments, or radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors, and the ability to access content to store on a server through on a digital video recorder (DVR). Audio also will likely become and option.

Stifel Nicolaus & Company Inc. Senior Analyst Christopher King agrees that traditional phone companies are looking toward developing any type of application deliverable over broadband into the home. "If it proves successful, my guess is Verizon will offer a similar application," he said. "Verizon has a more robust telecommunications plan with their ViOS build then than AT&T does with their current plans, so they could do something similar."

AT&T will charge $199 for the starter kit, including the pan-and-tilt IP camera, two power cords, wireless door and window sensor, wireless gateway to connect equipment throughout the home, and software. A monthly service charge of $9.95 also applies.

Propagating the triple play through the house

10/25/2006 1:25:31 PM,
by Eric Bangeman

How will triple-play services propagate through the house? A new report from ABI Research looks at the question facing both customers and service providers as they attempt to get data from point A to points B, C, D, and E.

Voice and data are no problem. Plug your VoIP-capable router into a phone jack and you've got phone service throughout the house. And 802.11g can transmit data faster than it can be downloaded over the vast majority of Internet connections. High-definition video is the sticking point.

MPEG2 HD video streams need an average of 10 to 18Mbps of bandwidth, with a peak somewhere between 13 and 19Mbps. When you add DVR-like functions such as fast-forward, rewind, and other modes to the equation, the bandwidth can spike to nearly 60Mbps. A typical scenario of a single HDTV stream, 2 SDTV double hops (e.g., going from , and a single ATSC digital TV stream requires anywhere from 50 to 84Mbps, with the upper ceiling hitting 148Mbps if all four streams were performing DVR-like functions simultaneously.

MPEG4 requires less bandwidth than does MPEG2, although the exact number varies depending on the codec being used. Apple claims that a 1920x1080, 24fps HD video stream encoded using H.264 needs only 7-8Mbps. Microsoft's VC-1 codec uses as little as 6Mbps according to Microsoft. So as video providers gradually transition to the more efficient MPEG4 for video, the bandwidth demands will go down a bit.

Those with new homes or recent remodeling projects can count on the Cat5e or Cat6 cable that may have been installed during construction. Both of those are capable of carrying data, voice, and most importantly in the context of this discussion, high-definition video. But what about those of us who live in old houses without Cat5e running to every room?

Full article

Duke, Home Depot partner on 'Smarthome'

Wednesday October 25, 11:39 am ET

The Home Depot Inc. and Duke University are teaming up to create a combination residence hall and undergraduate laboratory where students will research and develop a variety of new technologies for the home.


The facility will serve as a technology prototype assembly and testing center where students -- including the 10 dorm residents, more than 100 student members of the Duke Smart House Club and entire engineering classes -- can test new home technology ideas developed by Duke students. The occupants will live with and in the design ideas of the larger group to provide feedback on issues such as technology usability and adoption, energy efficiency and automated control.

Atlanta-based Home Depot (NYSE: HD - News) will sponsor "The Home Depot Smarthome" with $2 million over a three-year period to cover the cost of construction. The 6,000-square-foot home is expected to be finished by fall 2007. Raleigh-based Bovis Lend Lease is the contractor for the project.

"Our objectives are threefold: to create a home environment that incorporates innovative solutions that simplify life, to better understand the technology behind these solutions and ultimately to bring this technology to the consumer market," said Craig Menear, senior vice president of merchandising at Home Depot.

Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering has been working toward construction of the smart home since 2003. The project began as an idea by Mark Younger, who was an electrical engineering student at the time. Upon graduation, Younger was hired as the project director and has since guided it through the early stages of development. Since 2003, more than 225 Duke students have worked on smart home technology and sustainable building projects, many of which contributed to the design of the facility.

Published October 25, 2006 by the Triangle Business Journal

SDG&E Signs $42.9 Million Contracts for Energy-Efficiency Programs

SDG&E Signs Contracts for Energy-Efficiency Programs
Monday October 23, 12:00 pm ET


SAN DIEGO, Oct. 23, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has signed contracts totaling $42.9 million that expand opportunities for its residential and business customers to save money and help the environment through energy efficiency.
The new programs are administered under contracts awarded by SDG&E through a competitive bidding process. The contracts provide funding through 2008 for the following innovative energy-efficiency programs:



-- Advanced Home Renovations Program: Conducts an "Extreme Energy
Makeover" of an older home that will help educate customers on
energy impacts of cost-effective renovations.
-- San Diego Energy-Efficiency Education Program (E3): Provides an
energy-efficiency education program for all schools within the
SDG&E service territory.
-- Time-of-Sale Energy-Efficiency Check-up: Educates realtors on the
benefits of an energy-efficient home and trains home inspectors to
perform the energy audit at the time of sale.
-- Appliance Recycling: Makes available rebates to customers who
recycle inefficient refrigerators, freezers and room air
conditioners.
-- Mobile Home Program: Provides a comprehensive set of
energy-efficient measures to customers in manufactured and mobile
homes.
-- Business Energy Assessment Program: Offers business customers an
interactive, online assessment to develop practical
energy-efficiency recommendations.
-- Industrial Energy-Efficiency Acceleration Program: Increases
efficient use of large commercial and industrial customers by
driving continuous improvement in energy efficiency.
-- Sweetwater Schools Demonstration Program: Showcases and
demonstrates innovative indirect/direct evaporative cooling systems
and lighting systems.
-- California Preschool Energy-Efficiency Program: Provides technical
audits and implementation of comprehensive lighting, heating,
ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration retrofits
at preschools.
-- Domestic Hot Water Control Program: Offers the installation of
monitored hot water controls to hotels and motels.
-- Mobile Energy Clinic Program: Focuses on improving energy
efficiency for small-business customers by providing diagnostics
and maintenance of HVAC equipment and small boiler tube cleaning
and other improvements through energy audits.
-- RCx Retrocommissioning Program: Recruits large customers to
identify operational improvements, achieve energy savings and
improve occupant comfort.
-- Laundry Coin-Op Program: Offers an install/rebate program to
replace inefficient gas and electric coin-operated washers in
Laundromats, as well as offer hot- and cold-water pipe wrap,
lighting and other measures.
-- VeSM Advantage Plus: Provides energy-efficiency measures for large
and mid-sized manufacturing companies through the improvement of
production processes.
-- HVAC Training, Installation and Maintenance: Provides training and
incentives for contractors to install energy-efficiency HVAC units
in grocery stores, restaurants, large single-story and small retail
businesses, and homes.
-- SUREFAST Program: Deploys, tests and commercializes the SUREFAST
energy management system to monitor energy usage and conserve
energy.
-- Upstream HVAC/Motors Program: Increases the supply and stocking of
HVAC units and motors for residential customers by providing
incentives to manufacturers and distributors and suppliers.
-- CHEERS New Construction Advanced Rating Program: Enhances the
state-approved Title 24 compliance software to accurately
demonstrate energy savings in SDG&E's new construction programs.


``We want everyone to reap the benefits of energy efficiency, and our new energy-efficiency contracts will help our campaign reach a broader range of customers,'' said Mark Gaines, SDG&E's director of customer programs.

SDG&E's energy-efficiency campaign has a three-year goal of saving about 121.1 million kilowatt hours equivalent to the energy consumed by 242,2000 residential customers for one month or 20,183 residential customers for one year.

For a description of SDG&E's energy-efficiency programs, visit sdge.com/thirdparty or contact SDG&E's Energy Information Center at (800) 644-6133.

San Diego Gas & Electric is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 825,000 natural gas meters. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - News). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to http://www.sdge.com.

Read more:
Ambient and San Diego Gas & Electric Extend Agreement on Broadband over Power Lines !!!

TXU Electric Delivery and Landis+Gyr Sign Agreement for 400,000 Automated BPL Meters

TXU Electric Delivery and Landis+Gyr Sign Agreement for 400,000 Automated BPL Meters
Monday October 23, 9:00 am ET


DALLAS, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- TXU Electric Delivery, the regulated transmission and distribution business subsidiary of TXU Corp., has signed a landmark agreement with Landis+Gyr, manufacturer of state-of-the-art advanced meters, to purchase 400,000 meters with broadband over power line (BPL) capabilities in 2007.
ADVERTISEMENT


"Our contract with Landis+Gyr is a major step forward in TXU Electric Delivery's drive to develop the nation's first automated, smart electric grid," said Jim Greer, vice president, asset management, TXU Electric Delivery. "TXU Electric Delivery is following through on its strategy of implementing innovative technology to improve reliability, safety and customer satisfaction, as well as provide a platform for new energy management and billing options for consumers."

Advanced, digital meters continuously record and report information about the electric system, making it possible to know automatically when the power is out, where to send repair crews, and when the power is back on. This steady stream of data helps reduce restoration time when outages occur, pinpoint problems on the system, and provide a constant supply of information on the system's overall performance.

TXU Electric Delivery plans to have its three million automated meters by 2011, complementing an advanced grid intelligent enough to monitor electric service real-time. By year end, TXU Electric Delivery expects to have 370,000 automated meters system-wide, including 10,000 BPL-enabled meters.

"TXU Electric Delivery's decision to award Landis+Gyr this supply contract for advanced meters confirms the strength of our long-term, collaborative relationship that has developed over many years. This project, in conjunction with CURRENT Technologies, will result in a world class Automated Meter Information solution," said Jerry Figurilli, chief operating officer of Landis+Gyr.

CURRENT Communications Group, through its subsidiary CURRENT Technologies, will provide BPL-enabled communications technology for the Landis+Gyr meters. On December 19, 2005, TXU Electric Delivery and CURRENT announced an agreement for CURRENT to install a BPL network serving approximately two million meters on TXU Electric Delivery's power distribution network, creating the nation's first BPL-enabled network. Through this agreement, CURRENT will provide the bandwidth to support advanced technologies enabling improved reliability and provision of new energy management and conservation services by third parties to consumers.

"We applaud this critical milestone in TXU Electric Delivery's visionary effort to utilize a state-of-the-art communications network overlaid on its electric delivery system to improve the end-to-end management of that system- from substation to meter to the home or business," said Thomas J. Casey, CURRENT's chief executive officer. "We're privileged to be a part of this effort and hope it serves as a model for others in the industry."

TXU Electric Delivery's automated meter network will use BPL-enabled meters and other meter technologies in order to increase network reliability and power quality, prevent, detect and restore customer outages more effectively and implement system-wide automated meter reading.

About TXU Electric Delivery

STATE OF NEW YORK PSC: STATEMENT OF POLICY ON DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND OVER POWERLINE TECHNOLOGIES

STATE OF NEW YORK
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

At a session of the Public Service
Commission held in the City of
Albany on October 18, 2006


COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
William M. Flynn, Chairman
Patricia L. Acampora
Maureen F. Harris
Cheryl A. Buley

CASE 06-M-0043 - Proceeding on Motion of the Commission to Examine Issues Related
to the Deployment of Broadband Over Power Line Technologies.
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND OVER
POWERLINE TECHNOLOGIES

(Issued and Effective October 18, 2006)

BY THE COMMISSION:

Introduction

Broadband over Powerline technology may provide significant benefits to
New Yorkers. This Statement of Policy provides our view of how best to maximize
benefits and minimize risks posed by the technology.

Read full report here: STATEMENT OF POLICY ON DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND OVER
POWERLINE TECHNOLOGIEStance

Read also: New York City Eyes Broadband Over Power Lines Along With "Smart Metering" Technology!!!

EPIC Report: Implementing “Smart” Technologies in the San Diego Region Could Provide a Cost Effective Solution to Improve Grid Reliability

EPIC Releases Smart Grid Study Report
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


USD School of Law Energy Center Report:
Implementing “Smart” Technologies in the San Diego Region
Could Provide a Cost Effective Solution to Improve Reliability

[DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE REPORT]

San Diego, Calif., October 18, 2006—The Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC), a nonprofit academic and research center at the University of San Diego (USD) School of Law, released a new study that finds that implementing “smart” communication and control technologies on the electric grid in the San Diego Region is not only technically feasible, but also could be cost effective.

“The unprecedented heat wave in July and August reminded us how fragile our electric infrastructure can be and how important reliable energy is to the health, safety and prosperity of all residents in our region and state,” commented Scott Anders, EPIC Director. “We experienced outages in our region that might have been avoided if we had a “smarter” electric grid that could – in almost real time – identify and take actions to correct problems on the system.”

The report identifies the key technologies needed to create an intelligent framework in the region and recommends a timeline for implementation, including several near-term research, development and demonstration projects. As part of the cost benefit analysis, the report identifies numerous potential benefits of implementing a Smart Grid. Benefits include reduced service outages, congestion costs and peak demands, along with increased system asset utilization, improved security and tolerance to natural disasters. In addition, implementing the Smart Grid could increase integration of distributed energy resources (e.g., rooftop solar system), and reduce emissions.

“Based on the preliminary cost-benefit analysis in our study, we found that the expense of implementing a Smart Grid likely would be offset by benefits to the utility system and society in general,” continued Anders. “We think it is important to start a dialogue about whether it is time to modernize our electric grid to provide better controls, advanced communication technologies and to allow customers to more easily generate their own power.”

The San Diego Smart Grid study was conducted by SAIC and funded equally by San Diego Gas & Electric and the Utility Consumer’s Action Network.

EPIC is co-sponsoring a conference to discuss in more detail the costs and benefits of implementing a Smart Grid in the region. The two-day event will take place October 25-26 at the University of San Diego.

[DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE REPORT]

Contact:

Scott Anders, Director, Energy Policy Initiatives Center (619) 260-4589

Ashley Wood, Director of Communications, USD School of Law (619) 260-4097

The latest buzz in AUSTRALIA: 200 mbps Internet access via power lines !!!

Broadband power!
advertisementHoward Dahdah, PC World

20/10/2006 15:50:40


Most people think of power lines as having the sole purpose of providing electricity to their homes. But they are more sophisticated than what you think.

That latest buzz in many parts of the world, including Australia, is the delivery of broadband Internet over these same lines with technology that is called Broadband over Power Lines (BPL). And just as you would connect an electrical appliance in your house to a power point, the same applies for BPL customers. Once the service provider's BPL network (wires in the street) is enabled, all you have to do is plug in your modem anywhere in the house. The modem then authenticates with the outside network, and you are ready to surf.

The immediate appeal for consumers of BPL is the speed. The latest BPL technology can deliver symmetric speeds of 200Mbps. This is well up from the 45Mbps of a few years ago and still significantly faster than the download speeds of ADSL2+ (24Mbps), cable (9.9Mbps with Optus) and ADSL (currently capped at 1.5Mps by Telstra).

However, like a wireless network, a broadband network is a shared medium. So while current chipsets provide for 200Mbps, with more people on a network, to achieve this speed in practice is difficult.


Increasing interest

more: PC World

New York City Eyes Broadband Over Power Lines Along With "Smart Metering" Technology !!!

October 18, 2006 8:57 a.m. EST
Jacob Cherian - All Headline News Staff Writer


New York, NY (AHN) - New York City is considering going broadband over power lines.

The City Council's technology committee plans to have a hearing on the debate, Thursday. The hearing will address "smart metering," enabling real time information about energy consumption - measured in rates per watt. Along with that functionality, the City plans to introduce the concept of broadband over power lines for "niche populations."

Consumers would be able to save money since smart meters reveal data regarding how much power is being used and the rate charged per kilowatt - rates vary through out the day, allowing consumers to measure their use, saving money and energy.

Jeffrey Baker, New York City Council Technology Committee attorney told TechWeb.com during an interview Tuesday: "For example, customers can make a choice about when to use major electrical appliances, and operate their dishwashers in the middle of the night instead of when they are at peak power."

The lawyer said it would be feasible to "tie smart meter technology with broadband over power lines" in order to explore the issues at the same time.

Baker added, "They're two separate subjects, but if we ask them to put in smart meters, there's no reason why they can't allow third party providers to allow access to the Internet over power lines."

Some New York City proponents see the measure as a chance to introduce broadband access to New Yorkers who would not be able to afford cable or DSL installation. However, one of the limitations to the technology is that it is in its nascent stages in comparison to other types of broadband delivery.

Baker says, "The advantage to doing broadband over power lines is that everybody has electricity...People can get on the Internet immediately without installation. The infrastructure is there."

Read:
Big Apple Eyes Broadband Over Power Lines

Ambient Corp.(BB: ABTG) Obtains Global Supply-Chain Partner-CTS for volume production of 2nd Gen X2 200Mbps Broadband over Power Line(BPL) ACCESS NODE

October 18, 2006 08:30:00 AM ET

Ambient Obtains Global Supply-Chain Partner
CTS and Ambient Enter Agreement for Volume Production of X2 Nodes


BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ambient Corporation (OTCBB:ABTG - News), a leader in Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) solutions, and CTS Corporation (NYSE:CTS - News), a leading provider of electronic manufacturing services, today announced that they have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding related to production of Ambient's X2 BPL Access Node.

The agreement with CTS allows Ambient to ensure volume production capability, which can scale to meet marketplace demands. CTS will provide full turnkey EMS services, including PCB assembly, box build integration and direct-ship logistics from its New Hampshire facility. Through this agreement CTS represents a strategic global supply-chain partner with multi-national and multi-plant capabilities for Ambient.

"CTS is delighted to be awarded this program," stated Don Schroeder, President of CTS EMS, "The X2 node is a leading-edge broadband product and we believe that our long-term experience within the technology-driven networking sector will serve Ambient well, and we look forward to building a strong partnership in the future."

"Securing a reliable source for one of the key components in our network architecture is one of the key pieces of the puzzle in meeting ever-increasing market demand for our FCC-certified product," commented John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient Corporation. "Finding the right companies to work with, whether it be a utility or manufacturer, is crucial for this industry's success. As a leader in this industry, we are proud to have such a strong supply-chain partner."

About CTS

CTS is a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic components and sensors and a provider of electronics manufacturing services (EMS) to OEMs in the automotive, computer, communications, medical and industrial markets. CTS manufactures products in North America, Europe and Asia. CTS' stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "CTS." To find out more, visit the CTS Web site at www.ctscorp.com.

About Ambient Corporation

Ambient Corporation, a development stage company and founding member of the Universal Powerline Association (UPA), is a pioneer in the Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) industry. Engaged in the design, development and marketing of patented BPL equipment and technologies, Ambient's proprietary technology and in-depth industry experience is designed to provide optimal solutions for the Utility and Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) markets. Headquartered in Newton, MA, Ambient is a publicly traded company (OTCBB:ABTG - News). Visit Ambient at www.ambientcorp.com.

New York City Eyes Broadband Over Power Lines Along With "Smart Metering" Technology !!!

Big Apple Eyes Broadband Over Power Lines
October 17, 2006 (5:31 PM EDT)
By K.C. Jones, TechWeb Technology News

New York City leaders are looking into the possibility of providing broadband over existing electric lines.


The City Council's technology committee is holding a hearing on the issue Thursday. The hearing is focusing on smart metering, which would allow energy consumers to get real-time information about their energy consumption and rates per watt. While the committee is considering that technology, it is taking the opportunity to examine broadband over power lines as a solution for niche populations.

The smart meters would allow consumers to find out at any given time how much power they are using and how much they are being charged per kilowatt. Since rates vary at different times of the day, consumers could adjust their use to save money and energy.

"For example, customers can make a choice about when to use major electrical appliances, and operate their dishwashers in the middle of the night instead of when they are at peak power," Jeffrey Baker, counsel to the New York City Council Technology Committee, said during an interview Tuesday.

Smart meter technology also could help prevent outages during high-demand days. It also saves Con Edison, New York City's electric supplier, time and effort on meter readings or estimates.

The counsel decided to tie smart meter technology with broadband over power lines and address the issues simultaneously.

"They're two separate subjects, but if we ask them to put in smart meters, there's no reason why they can't allow third party providers to allow access to the Internet over power lines," Baker said.

Though there are limitations to the technology, which is in its early stages compared to other forms of broadband delivery, some New York City government leaders see it as an opportunity to extend broadband access to people who otherwise would not have it.

"The advantage to doing broadband over power lines is that everybody has electricity," Baker said. "People can get on the Internet immediately without installation. The infrastructure is there."

That eliminates hurdles for people who cannot afford cable or DSL installation.

Baker said the hearing would seek information on why Con Edison is not pursuing the technology more aggressively.


Ambient Corp. and Earthlink collaborated with Con Edison to test the technology in a high rise on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Ambient reported that it took just a few days to install the technology in the 16-story, 213-unit condominium building, which now has high-speed Internet access and VoIP over power lines.

Several cities, organizations and power companies throughout the country are testing and implementing the technology, but Con Edison spokesperson Chris Olert said that the technology is still in the research and development phase.

He said during an interview Tuesday that the company is most interested in developing the capability to monitor utilities for maintenance and power loads.

Ambient and San Diego Gas & Electric Extend Agreement on Broadband over Power Lines !!!

Ambient and San Diego Gas & Electric Extend Agreement
October 17, 2006


BOSTON--(Business Wire)--Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG), a leader in Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) solutions, today announced that it has extended its previously announced agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), a unit of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).

Ambient was the first vendor selected by SDG&E for a BPL trial that began in July 2005, and according to the extended agreement, SDG&E will be deploying Ambient's FCC-certified BPL Nodes and the latest version of the Ambient developed Network Management System (NMS).

John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient commented, "Based upon the evaluation and testing to date by SDG&E, the extension and enhancement was a logical next step in our relationship. We look forward to continuing our relationship and installing our next-generation product with this leading utility, especially as they evaluate the technology and potential future business models."

About Ambient Corporation

Ambient Corporation, a development stage company and founding member of the Universal Powerline Association (UPA), is a pioneer in the Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) industry. Engaged in the design, development and marketing of patented BPL equipment and technologies, Ambient's proprietary technology and in-depth industry experience is designed to provide optimal solutions for the Utility and Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) markets. Headquartered in Newton, MA, Ambient is a publicly traded company (OTC BB: ABTG). Visit Ambient at www.ambientcorp.com.

Telkonet and EarthLink to Deliver Broadband Over Power Lines to D.C. Apartment Dwellers

Telkonet and EarthLink to Deliver Broadband Over Power Lines to D.C. Apartment Dwellers
Tuesday October 17, 9:00 am ET


GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Telkonet, Inc. (Amex:TKO - News), the leader in providing in-building broadband access over existing electrical wiring, and EarthLink (Nasdaq:ELNK - News), the next generation Internet service provider, have agreed to test broadband over power line access and Internet voice service in nine apartment complexes located in the Washington, D.C. area using Telkonet's powerline backbone.


Under the terms of the agreement, Telkonet's iWire System(TM) will be the platform used to enable high-speed Internet and data access to EarthLink as part of a voice and broadband Internet and home networking package that includes features such as caller ID, voicemail and three-way calling bundled with high-speed Internet access. EarthLink will market its services to apartment residents in the D.C. metro area.

"This combination of high-speed Internet, voice and home networking service is a part of EarthLink's ongoing commitment to providing more access options for customers," said Kevin Brand, EarthLink's group vice president of access. "We want to make it easy for apartment residents to save money on their phone bills and get feature-rich, high-quality high-speed access."

"EarthLink's reputation for superb customer service combined with their enhanced services, competitive pricing and the Telkonet powerline backbone makes for a very compelling product offering," said Ronald W. Pickett, president and CEO of Telkonet.

EarthLink will leverage Telkonet's powerline technology to offer high-speed access, Internet voice and home networking service to apartment households in the D.C. area where the cost of retro-fitting the property with new wiring for broadband is not economically feasible. Telkonet's system uses each building's internal electrical wiring to deliver the service.

The nine properties are owned and managed by the Bozzuto Management Company, an award-winning operator of residential communities and commercial properties in the Washington/Baltimore and Philadelphia market. Bozzuto provides the very best value to their customers through an outstanding level of service to both the owners of the properties and the residents who live in them.

The European Utility Telecom Conference 31 October - 3 November 2006 in Rome, Italy!!

EUTC 2006 will be held 31 October - 3 November 2006 in Rome, Italy


The European Utility Telecom Conference represents the largest gathering of telecommunications and technology executives from Europe's electric, gas and water utilities, and their technology partners who are focused on exploring the latest telecommunications and data networking business solutions and business opportunities.

The Conference features informative and provocative presentations on wireless networking, shared system solutions, European Commission regulatory drivers, security and reliability issues and new telecom business opportunities for utilities.

======
WORKSHOP #2

Power Line Communications Opportunities

Power Line Communications (PLC) is a technology that may not be just for electric companies any more. This session will explore how electric companies are deploying PLC networks for both commercial services AND internal services, such as meter reading and network control – services that all utilities may take advantage of. This session will look at the EU’s OPERA Project and other European PLC initiatives.



WORKSHOP LEADER: Jose Aguiar, Advisor to the Board, Electricidade de Portugal (Portugal)

Sergio Rogai, Head of Metering Systems and CIO, ENEL (Italy)

Paulo de Sousa, Head of Sector for Mobile and Wireless and Director of the OPERA Project, European Commission (Belgium)

PLC Commercial Telecom Perspective: Luis Miro, Director of Information Technology, Endesa (Spain) - Invited

PLC Internal Utility Applications Perspective: Joe Cufari , Vice President-Business Development, Current Communications Corp. (USA)

DS2´s 200Mbps Powerline Technology chosen by Pirelli for its IPTV home networking products

Paris – 12th October, 2006 – DS2, world leader in semiconductor solutions for home networking and broadband access over power line, coaxial cable, and telephone wires today announces that Pirelli Broadband Solutions has introduced a highly-integrated powerline extender based on DS2´s 200 Mbps powerline chip technology into its portfolio. Pirelli’s powerline products use existing electrical wiring to deliver IPTV signals from an access gateway, to one or more TV set top boxes throughout the home.


Pirelli´s powerline portfolio delivers bandwidth-intensive applications, including HD IPTV, video on demand (VOD), and VoIP via consumer appliances such as a televisions or a PC through the existing electrical power network. The solution not only extends the reach of the existing broadband network but also allows telecom operators to offer a self-installing solution that does not require additional wiring.


“We offer proven technology solutions to telecom operators,” said Corrado Rocca senior vice president, Product Marketing and Development for Pirelli Broadband Solutions. “Our DS2-based 200 Mbps powerline product strengthens our end-to-end solution for delivering voice, data and multimedia-based services to telecom operators. With this new powerline product Pirelli delivers innovation, value and costs savings to commercial IPTV rollouts.”

“As part of the Pirelli group, Pirelli Broadband Solutions brings a solid experience in global telecom markets as a world-class brand with a distinguished history in Telecom industries,” said Jorge Blasco, CEO of DS2. "We are delighted that Pirelli has chosen to add products based on our 200 Mbps technology to their portfolio for telecom operators. DS2´s powerline products are gaining traction in commercial IPTV roll outs because they not only deliver on performance, coverage and quality of service, they also support multiple video streams thereby providing a scalable service for the future that adds to return on investment for the operator”.

Belgacom Selects DS2 200Mbps Powerline Technology For IPTV Home Networking

Thu, 12 Oct 2006

Belgacom has chosen DS2 based powerline communications (PLC) technology to deliver room to room AV streaming in its IPTV home entertainment and communications package.

Under the new IPTV package DS2 powered equipment from the Canadian company Corinex will use the existing electrical wiring to connect an ADSL modem, sending IP TV signals, to a TV set top box to deliver the signal throughout the entire home.

A major limitation to delivering TV over DSL lines has been sending the signal from the ADSL modem to other rooms in the home. Powerline technology carries signals throughout an entire home, instantly eliminating the connectivity problem and avoiding the additional installation charges and customer distress that the drilling of holes or addition of new cabling cause. This new generation of 200 Mbps DS2-based Powerline products is the only technology that eliminates dead spots by offering the speed and Quality of Service required to distribute video throughout the whole home.

Belgacom is continuously investigating available and emerging technology options and has selected DS2 based solutions as part of a set of options to deploy the service anywhere in the home.

"We at DS2 are delighted that Belgacom, a leader in offering IPTV services, has chosen to add Powerline technology to its IPTV rollout to provide innovative and effortless whole home coverage for its subscribers. DS2 is now the preferred PLC technology of telecom operators, including Belgacom, Telefonica, Telecom Italia, etc. DS2 based suppliers succeed in the rigorous testing and field trials by telecom operators due to the quality and performance of our 200Mbps Powerline and Coaxial AV Technologies. DS2's 200Mbps chipset is the only available technology in the market that supports scalable commercial IPTV services over Powerlines, ready for HDTV and for multiple channels of SDTV content" says Jorge Blasco, DS2's CEO.

DS2's technology is compliant with the most widely sold 200Mbps Powerline standard supported by the Universal Powerline Association (UPA). UPA currently holds a near 100% market share in the high speed 200Mbps PLC product market.

Google bought YOUTUBE for $1.65 billion !!!!!

Google cues up with YouTube
Updated 10/9/2006 11:26 PM ET

By Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY

Internet search giant Google (GOOG) on Monday snapped up red-hot video-sharing website YouTube for $1.65 billion in an all-stock deal.
Video "is the next step in the evolution of the Internet," Google CEO Eric Schmidt told news reporters in a conference call.

YouTube, which launched in 2005, has grown overnight into the Internet's most popular place to watch videos, showing 100 million daily. Yet, along the way it became a hotbed for copyright infringement, with many contributors posting videos of TV shows or using copyrighted songs in homegrown productions.

STORY: Deal joins joins Net search, video forces

YouTube, in clearing the way for a deal, announced an alliance with record label Universal Music — one of the site's harshest critics — that called for a filtering system that would automatically weed out videos with its songs.

By aligning with Google, YouTube now has the resources to build an even stronger filtering system that would please all content owners, said Chad Hurley, 29, one of YouTube's co-founders.

Google said YouTube will remain independent, with a separate website. Google will continue to run its own Google Video site, which also features homemade videos and professional content from networks and movie studios.

Where visitors will see change is in Google searches: Videos from YouTube will begin appearing in search results.

The addition of YouTube videos brings "a humongous amount of content that will be searchable" on Google, says John Battelle, who runs the Searchblog website. That makes Google that much more valuable, he says, because it can profit with more advertising from YouTube videos.

Google reported $6.1 billion in revenue last year, virtually all from little text-based ads that appear near search results. Still, it's been on a tear this year, trying to expand into video advertising and creating recent alliances with MTV Networks and MySpace.

Now, says Scott Kessler, an analyst at research firm Standard & Poor's, Google is "far and away the leader in video advertising."

Investors applauded Google's deal. Shares in the company rose $2.75 in after-hours trading after closing at $429, up $8.50 a share, in regular trading.

In less than a year, YouTube in San Bruno, Calif., quickly became a social phenomenon as a way for users to easily share — and discuss — homegrown videos. It has seen a 2,500% increase in its audience base, according to measurement firm ComScore Media Metrix.

The site had 72 million visitors in August, up from just 2.8 million visitors a year before. It's now the Internet's 14th-most-visited site. Google is No. 3 after Yahoo and MSN.

It's time for the Feds to subsidize broadband

By Preston Gralla on Mon, 10/09/2006 - 12:41pm


The U.S. is falling so far behind the rest of the world in broadband that it's time for the government to take some action -- and Senator Hillary Clinton's proposed Rural Broadband Innovation Fund is a good first step.

Now, I know there are a lot of wingnuts out there who believe that Senator Clinton is the spawn of the devil, but whatever you think of Clinton, her idea is on-target. The U.S. lags behind the rest of the industrialized world in broadband deployment -- coming in at a lousy 16th worldwide -- and one part of the reason is that if you're in a rural area, you simply can't get a broadband connection. Only 17 percent of rural households have access to broadband, studies have shown.

This has implications not only for those who can't get broadband, but for the rest of us as well. There's a multiplier effect at work in broadband access; the greater the number of people who have it, the better off the general economy will be.

Even the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), no great fan of government action, recognizes that lack of broadband access is hurting the country.

“America has fallen behind in broadband penetration, reducing our relative efficiency in a number of ways,” TIA President Matthew J. Flanigan noted in a recent press release touting the fact that one million homes and businesses now subscribe to fiber to the home (FTTH) services.

You can be sure that those homes are not in rural areas. Telcom companies target only high-income suburbs for their FTTH deployments, and ignore both cities and rural areas alike. That's why the government needs to step in.

Clinton's bill would set up the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives at the Department of Agriculture. The office would administer grants and loan programs to encourage investment in broadband infrastructure in underserved rural areas. It would also create a Rural Broadband Innovation Fund which would invest in services hat can deliver broadband service to rural areas including satellite, fiber, WiFi, and broadband over power lines (BPL).

There are some things the government can do well, and others it can't. This is an instance in which it can do a great deal of good, with seed money, investment, and encouragement.

After all, the Internet began its life as a government project as well, and that investment paid off pretty well.

7th annual International Powerline Communications 2006

International Powerline Communications 2006

Unleash the opportunities of a “Smart Grid”, IPTV and in-home networking for business optimisation to impact your bottom-line

October 24 - 25, 2006 ·
Renaissance Penta Vienna Hotel, Vienna, Austria


Crucial focus areas for this year’s meeting include:
Optimise internal business processes with Core Applications and a “Smart Grid” – find out how from America’s largest announced deployment TXU Electric Delivery
Bridge the digital divide: exploit the benefits & integration of combination technologies

Leverage the commercial opportunities of PLC with killer applications & services: in-home MDU networking, IPTV and triple-play

Devise a watertight business model that maximises utility/telecoms partnerships to the best competitive advantage

Boost top-line growth and revolutionise customer satisfaction by full integration of PLC with alternative technologies such as WiFi & WiMax


Don’t miss these exclusive presentations from two of the hottest rollouts in the world!
Europe’s largest commercial deployment: LINZ AG/LINZ-STROM GmbH
America’s largest announced commercial deployment: TXU Electric Delivery


Site Visit:
Get behind the scenes of one of Europe’s most exciting PLC deployments at LINZ AG. Places are limited, so be sure to book on immediately and secure your place!

What’s Ahead for BPL? By Jeffrey Taft, IBM

Utility Automation & Engineering T&D October, 2006
Author(s) : Jeffrey Taft

Broadband over power line (BPL) technology offers both challenge and transformation for electric utilities. The key is to focus on core utility needs.

Electric distribution utilities have come under increasing pressure to find innovative ways to improve efficiency and generate new revenue. With the deregulation of the electric power industry, separation of generation, transmission and distribution has put more emphasis on the stand-alone performance of distribution systems than in the past when electric utilities were more vertically integrated.


Historically, distribution has accounted for 28 percent of the costs of delivering electricity, with generation and transmission accounting for 64 percent and 8 percent respectively. Events such as the increasing congestion on transmission grids and the blackout of 2003 have focused attention on transmission. Meanwhile, distribution companies have been faced with the issues of aging infrastructure; loss of valuable knowledge and skills in the utility workforce due to retirement; increasing reliability and power quality issues; limited options to increase revenue; and an increasing gap between customer expectations and the ability of the distribution utility to meet these demands, especially in the areas of local grid reliability and power quality.

To meet each of these challenges, some electric utilities have turned to broadband over power lines (BPL). BPL makes use of digital signal processing technology to implement advanced modulation techniques capable of overcoming the severe shortcomings of electric distribution grids as communication media. BPL was originally touted as a way for the utility to generate new revenue from existing infrastructure by using the distribution wiring in conjunction with BPL to deliver broadband digital services such as Internet connectivity to consumers.

While BPL was supposed to become a third alternative to digital cable and DSL for consumer broadband service delivery, the utility industry view of its value has shifted since its initial debut in the 1990s. The technology has gradually improved, but its deployment and operational complexity and costs have remained significant, and the business case for delivery of broadband services via power lines has not proved adequate to justify an electric utility venturing into an area removed from its core business.

A number of electric utilities have carried out pilot projects with various BPL vendors, and some commercial ventures have been created to deliver consumer broadband services via BPL. But, increasingly, electric utilities are seeing BPL as only one of many options to transport data for utility operations, especially in the context of an intelligent power grid. PPL Utilities Corp of Allentown, Pa., for example, cancelled its commercial BPL venture, but CenterPoint Energy of Houston, Texas, is exploring the use of BPL to support core utility functions such as transporting electric meter data; supporting distributed sensors for grid monitoring and diagnosis; and aiding in automatic outage detection and localization. In addition, the company is considering BPL as a mechanism to enable advanced energy delivery services such as time-of-day rate structures as well as off-peak usage discounting and remote energy management and load shedding.


Positioning BPL

Positioning BPL has proved to be a challenging proposition for electric utilities for several reasons. Electric utilities have traditionally been operated for reliability and long-term stability, and their primary mission still centers on this concept. Utilities have, therefore, been uncomfortable with the degree of risk that comes with a new technology. In addition, after the spectacular implosion of the dot-com boom, new Internet-based business models (such as those associated with early BPL efforts) have been viewed as counter to the current “back to basics” trend in the electric utility industry. Furthermore, rapid changes in the technology have made it a moving target in terms of costs and performance, making analysis difficult.

The intense competition in the broadband delivery industry has also been a significant concern-since the broadband provider concept would require the electric utility or a third party wishing to use utility BPL infrastructure to compete against entrenched incumbents who have proved capable of increasing service speeds to levels not supportable by practical BPL implementations. These incumbents have made and are continuing to make large investments in infrastructure and new services and are well ahead of BPL in terms of market penetration.

To date, there has been no utility industry consensus on standards or best practices for BPL implementation, and benefits associated with BPL are not well quantified. In many states, public utility commissions have set no definitive policy regarding rate relief for BPL investment, although Texas and California are exceptions. More than 20 communication technologies are available to carry digital data, and BPL must compete with them for use in intelligent grid data transport applications. In addition, many utilities have significant investment in legacy communication systems and are reluctant to invest in yet another communication infrastructure. Finally, radio amateurs have voiced strong opposition to BPL on the grounds that the technology causes interference in radio frequency bands used by amateurs, emergency services and government agencies.

Nonetheless, BPL can be a winning technology because it is able to deliver modern network management capabilities and sufficient bandwidth to provide functionality for present applications while providing expansion capacity for future functions. BPL is still the subject of much research and development and, therefore, it is reasonable to assume that there will be improvements in the overall capabilities and costs of the technology, so that business cases will become easier to close as the technology matures.

BPL can act as the data transport backbone for many core utility functions in the areas of grid state measurement, meter data transport, power quality and reliability measurement and monitoring, grid equipment state and health monitoring, outage and failure detection and localization, and safety and security applications. BPL is unique among broadband telecommunications technologies in that it is embedded in the power system infrastructure itself. This makes it the only data transport technology that can reach every electric utility asset on a distribution grid. While other technologies may be able to reach above-ground assets, only BPL provides a unified means to reach both above-ground and underground assets for communications purposes. Underground distribution poses an especially difficult problem for distributed sensing and control because the wireless technologies are essentially ineffective here. This feature becomes especially important as utilities extend asset management to include real-time asset monitoring and as utilities extend grid and device-state monitoring to improve system performance metrics such as SAIDI and SAIFI.

The architecture of BPL systems is such that BPL devices not only provide data transport but are located ideally to make many of the key measurements that support full grid observability. For example, BPL devices, properly designed, could measure local AC voltage, current, and real and reactive power flow. They could sample the AC current and voltage waveforms and then compute displacement, distortion and total power factor as well as total harmonic distortion and total demand distortion. They could compute and monitor distribution transformer demand, including peaks, so that distribution transformer demand management could be carried out with confidence. They could perform signal analyses to detect and locate high impedance faults. Existing BPL systems do not perform these functions and are not likely to until BPL manufacturers realize that the potential for BPL goes well beyond broadband communication. In addition, BPL could still become a conduit for the delivery of specialized broadband-based services for utility customers, including home automation and more flexible energy delivery rate plans (e.g., time-of-day demand, etc.).


Business Transformation with BPL

The embedded nature and broad coverage characteristics of BPL can open the door to a utility business transformation that goes well beyond the obvious benefits of simple automated meter reading and outage location applications. By increasing grid observability, the utility can change the fundamental way it performs basic business functions, from inventory management to strategic planning. The utility can move from the traditional focus on “keeping the lights on” to a focus on true business drivers:

Delivery of high-quality power over a stable grid;
Asset utilization optimization and asset life cycle management;
Cost containment;
Optimal asset replacement/upgrade and expansion;
End-to-end power delivery chain integration;
Infrastructure security;
Ability to meet or exceed customer quality and performance expectations; and
Facilitating the still-evolving digital ecosystem.

Ultimately, BPL can become a key portion of a grid intelligence system that supports these business drivers by acting as the data transport layer (and possibly, to some extent, as a smart sensor) in intelligent power grid architecture. If we embed BPL as a data transport technology in the framework of an intelligent power grid (see figure, pg. 60), we provide a context for determining its value. BPL is a unique telecommunications technology in that its intimate association with the power grid gives it the potential to act both as data transport and as a data source.

Seeing BPL in this way, utility business analysts and strategic planners can balance its cost against the definable benefits of core utility functions enabled by BPL and examine the costs of BPL compared to alternate technologies. To perform a proper analysis, we must be careful to not only include the benefits of the applications enabled by BPL but also do a careful accounting of the various cost elements associated with BPL network deployment and operation. These include:

Network design cost;
Preliminary RF survey cost;
BPL equipment costs;
Head-end equipment costs;
BPL equipment installation cost;
BPL equipment installation project management cost;
Post-installation RF survey and system-tuning costs;
Backhaul communication installation cost;
Network operations center cost;
Backhaul monthly communication cost;
Network management cost;
Technical and help desk support cost; and
Maintenance and system refresh costs.

Network design costs can be significant for BPL. Network designers must learn the entire feeder system in the proposed BPL service area and identify solutions for dealing with distribution transformers, switches, reclosers, capacitors and other potential infrastructure impediments to proper BPL operation. It may be necessary to install additional optical fiber runs or wireless links to complete connectivity for the BPL network in some cases. These items may become apparent only after network architects have performed a design study. Since BPL deployments attract opposition from radio amateurs, it is prudent for the utility to allocate costs for outreach to the amateur radio community and plan for efforts to adjust the BPL system to notch out frequencies that would cause interference with radio systems in the BPL service area. The utility should perform and document a baseline RF survey before deploying BPL equipment. Once the utility has deployed the BPL equipment, it should repeat the RF survey and make any adjustments necessary to avoid interference problems. Involving the amateur radio community in these processes can smooth the introduction of BPL technology.

BPL is still an emerging technology with much to be done before it becomes a mainstream electric utility tool. Standards are just beginning to emerge, best practices are not yet defined, and business cases are still inconclusive or remain to be validated by actual experience. We are now emerging from the peak of the hype cycle for BPL and are entering into a period of practical refinement and application. As long as utilities continue to focus BPL equipment vendors on issues of cost and functionality, standards and interoperability and robust performance, then BPL should continue to move toward its proper place as another tool for the electric utility to apply to its operations.

Even though BPL is very unlikely to become a primary channel for delivery of broadband connectivity to consumers, it still may find a role as a carrier of broadband services to end users in areas where traditional providers do not offer workable or affordable options and may eventually prove to be a prime means of bringing specialized services to the home. It is clear, however, that BPL’s greatest value will be as an enabler of intelligent grid functions that support the distribution utility’s core business.

Jeffrey Taft is a senior IT architect with IBM Application Innovation Services and is responsible for solution architecture for intelligent power grids. He holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and has extensive experience in the electric power industry, especially in the areas of distributed sensors and power grid.

Ray Blair, Vice President- BPL Initiatives at IBM- elected as UPLC's new Technology Co-Chairman of its Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2006

United Power Line Council Elects IBM Executive as New Technology Co-Chairman


Washington, DC – The United Power Line Council (UPLC) elected Ray Blair, Vice President- BPL Initiatives at IBM as UPLC's new Technology Co-Chairman of its Board of Directors during its annual conference, Broadband Power Line 2006 in September. Blair succeeds Joe Cufari of Current Technologies, who served as the Technology Co-Chair of UPLC for the last four years.

As the Technology Co-Chairman, Blair will work closely with the Board's Utility Co-Chairman, Tim Frost, Director of Corporate Planning for Consolidated Edison. Together, they will lead the UPLC's efforts to drive the development of Broadband over Power Line (BPL) solutions specifically in regards to smart grid, smart home and broadband applications.

"I am thrilled to work with UPLC in the role of Technology Co-Chair," commented Ray Blair. "Through its efforts to foster the growth and development of Broadband over Power Lines -- for both utility companies and the technology companies that support their BPL efforts -- UPLC is playing a vital role in defining what BPL is today and where the industry is heading. I'm excited about working with Tim and shaping the direction of UPLC moving forward."

"I know I speak on the behalf of the entire UPLC board in saying that we are all excited to work with Ray in his new role as Technology Co-Chair of the UPLC Board," noted William R. Moroney, UPLC President and CEO. "Ray brings a new perspective to the board – that of active deployment. With IBM currently working with CenterPoint Energy on the deployment of BPL for smart grid applications in Houston, Ray understands the potential of BPL and what it takes to deploy the technology."

United Power Line Council
The United Power Line Council (UPLC) is an alliance of utilities and technology companies working together to drive the development of Broadband over Power Line (BPL) - broadband services over the existing distribution electrical grid and in-home electrical wiring – in a manner that helps utilities and their partners succeed. UPLC's efforts are focused in four strategic areas: business opportunities, regulatory and legislative advocacy, technical operability and utility applications. UPLC is an independent operating unit of the United Telecom Council (UTC). The UPLC Web site is www.uplc.org and the UTC Web site is www.utc.org.

Faster HomePlug Power-Line Networking Gear--Finally

HomePlug Alliance members show off first products based on HomePlug AV 200-mbps power-line networking standard.
Yardena Arar, PC World
Thursday, October 05, 2006 05:00 PM PDT


BURLINGAME, California -- Power-line networks--networks that use the existing electrical wiring in your residence or small office--may yet prove the dark horse of home networking technologies.

That's the message emerging from the HomePlug Powerline Alliance's annual technology conference here, which wrapped up today. Taking center stage this year were the first products based on the group's HomePlug AV standard, which was ratified more than a year ago. Promising theoretical throughput of up to 200 megabits per second (and real-world speeds approaching 100 mbps), HomePlug AV will be competing with other technologies as the best way to stream multimedia--specifically, high-definition video--throughout the home.

Competing With Wireless
Power-line networking supporters are hoping to gain traction as people begin to acknowledge wireless networking's limitations for high-bandwidth applications that require quality-of-service features--meaning the ability to prioritize packets so that streamed video or audio plays smoothly. The problems with products based on the first draft of the high-speed 802.11n Wi-Fi standard may also play to power-line networking's advantage.

Due in stores by year's end, the first HomePlug AV products will be simple ethernet adapters, small bricks that plug into an ethernet port on one end and a standard electrical outlet on the other. Setting up a network requires at least two such adapters: one to plug into an Internet-connected router, and another to plug into the ethernet port of whatever device you wish to put on the network.

First AV Products
Zyxel, one of the exhibitors at the HomePlug conference, will be among the first companies to offer HomePlug AV adapters. Product manager Alex Wei says the Zyxel PLA-400 will have a suggested retail price of $99.

Zyxel is also working on a HomePlug AV adapter targeting telephone companies that are gearing up to compete with cable and satellite TV providers. The concept adapter at Zyxel's booth supported both ethernet and coaxial cable, with a small switch to toggle between the two. The idea is that you'd be able to stream incoming video from its point of entry (wherever your phone line comes in) to a HomePlug AV adapter connected to a TV's coaxial input port.

Wei says that in his own informal tests transferring files via FTP, he saw throughput of up to 90 mbps with the HomePlug ethernet adapter.

Competing Technologies
HomePlug AV is not the only power-line technology--in fact, it's the third of three competing technologies promising similar speed, all over existing electrical wires. Panasonic introduced its HD-PLC power-line adapters earlier this year, and Netgear has recently introduced Powerline HD adapters based on the Universal Powerline Association's Digital Home Standard technology from a Spanish company called DS2.

But while HomePlug AV may be late to the power-line party--it was announced in October 2002--neither of its competitors (both of which started out as candidates to become the next-generation HomePlug standard) appear to have as much backing. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance's membership roster includes such high-profile companies as EarthLink, Intel, Linksys (which had prototype products at the HomePlug conference and has promised commercial products by year's end), Motorola, Samsung, and Sony.

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance's conference documents included descriptions of coming HomePlug AV adapters from ActionTec, Delta Electronics, and GigaFast. But the biggest display of products was in the booth of Intellon, a principal contributor to the technology.

Optimized for Video
Presentations at the conference focused on applications that can best benefit from HomePlug AV, almost all of which involved some kind of multimedia streaming: distributing IPTV throughout the home, monitoring for security with video cameras, and networked set-top boxes such as TiVo or Sling Media's SlingBox. In fact, power-line networking is nothing new for some existing SlingBox owners: Sling Media's SlingLinks power-line adapters, accessories that connect SlingBoxes to network routers in homes that do not have ethernet cabling, are based on the original 14-mbps HomePlug 1.0 standard.

Intellon has claimed that HomePlug AV's technology is superior to its power-line competitors in part because it is better able to handle circuit noise resulting from the presence or introduction of other electrical devices on the same circuit as the networked devices.

A demonstration at the Intellon booth sought to prove the claim. It consisted of side-by-side notebooks displaying a couple of video streams, which Intellon said were being transmitted from another notebook over a HomePlug AV network on one system, and either a DS2 or Panasonic HD-PLC network on the other.

The video streams looked great on both displays--until a lamp was plugged into the same power strip. The HomePlug AV video played on uninterrupted, but artifacts appeared on the display showing video streamed over the competing technologies.

The Evolution Of Broadband: Broadband Over Power Lines Takes Another Step Forward !!!

October 6, 2006 • Vol.28 Issue 40
Page(s) 30 in print issue

The Evolution Of Broadband
Broadband Over Power Lines Takes Another Step Forward

Broadband over power lines, or BPL, took one step closer to reality with a recent Memorandum Opinion And Order from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). But while clearance has been given for operators to offer services, don’t expect to be able to plug into your wall socket and get Internet service any time soon. FCC-approved commercial equipment is just now beginning to become available, so it will be a while before any large-scale deployments roll out.

Several energy companies plan on implementing BPL to improve their overall service reliability. According to Tom Shiel, spokesperson for Duke Energy, “Duke Energy will be using BPL to make our electrical distribution more efficient and reliable through better monitoring down to the transformer level. We expect to take advantage of the two-way communication the smart grid will provide by implementing other applications as we go forward.”

Duke Energy has also been part of several Internet trials around southern Charlotte, N.C. The first test in 2004 involved 500 to 700 homes, while a more recent trial includes up to 6,000 homes using equipment provided by BPL design, development, and marketing firm Ambient (www.ambientcorp.com). This test will help demonstrate the scalability of the technology while measuring reliability.

The Other Side

One of the biggest concerns about BPL is the potential interference with some forms of communication. Amateur radio could potentially experience the most interference due to the unshielded wires used to transmit power over long distances. Because of this, the Amateur Radio Relay League was one of the most vocal opponents to approval of the technology during the FCC’s comment period before issuing the memorandum.

FCC part 15 regulates unlicensed RF devices and will be the specific controlling document with respect to each BPL deployment. The biggest concern of the amateur radio operators is that this won’t be enforced to the level necessary to prevent disruption of their communications.

Moving Forward

The United Power Line Council is an organization with the stated goal of “driving the development of broadband over power line solutions for electric utilities and their partners.” A recently released UTC (United Telecom Council) study titled “Opportunities for Electric Utilities: Broadband over Power Line” listed a number of factors pertinent to BPL and its deployment:

• Smart grid automation and intelligent grid projects will help to demonstrate the viability and usefulness of BPL

• BPL use for in-building networks will increase

• BPL for home networking of communications, computing, and entertainment systems will become available

• BPL as a solution for rural Internet access

Several vendors are providing BPL equipment for testing and early deployment.

CURRENT Communications Group (www.currentgroup.com) has received a number of investments during the past year. It has partnered with several energy companies in early demonstration efforts, including TXU Electric Delivery in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Duke Energy (formerly Cinergy) in Cincinnati.

Ambient has participated in a number of demonstrations in partnership with Consolidated Edison in New York and Duke Energy in Charlotte. In September, Ambient received a grant of BPL Equipment Authorization from the FCC for its second-generation communication node, also called the X2. This approval allows Ambient to market and install its latest equipment to commercial customers.

With FCC approval should come more real deployments. As the equipment makes its way to the field, the questions of scalability and reliability should be answered. Power companies will be the biggest initial users, as they strive to cut costs and improve their services. Right behind them should be some of the other services mentioned in the UTC study.

by Paul Ferrill Jr.



Companies Offering Broadband Over Power Lines

Company URL Available Products
Ambient www.ambientcorp.com Smart grid; BPL (broadband over power lines)
Arkados www.arkados.com Whole house connectivity
BPL Global www.bplglobal.net Smart grid; BPL
CURRENT Communications Group www.currentgroup.com Smart grid; BPL
Telkonet www.telkonet.com Multidwelling BPL

"Broadband over power lines was once an abstract concept. But, it is now real. Utilities, in fact, are using their current distribution lines ..." !!!

Energy Risk - Broadband's Evolution
Author: Ken Silverstein, EnergyBiz Insider, Editor-in-Chief
Date: 2006-10-05


Broadband over power lines was once an abstract concept. But, it is now real. Utilities, in fact, are using their current distribution lines to not only communicate internally but to also deliver high-speed Internet access to their customers.


Certainly, utilities are focused on their bread and butter enterprises. But, they are in an enviable position: They own the rights-of-way where the fiber that allows for high-speed Internet connections would go. That's fortuitous. The wave of mergers within the telecom sector is a precursor as to who will control the so-called last mile into consumers' homes. Utilities are not necessarily eager to retail telecom services. But, they would certainly lease their limited rights to others who would be all too happy to do the leg work.

"Broadband over power lines (BPL) promises to be the third wire into homes," says Steve Turner, chief operating office of IBEC in Huntsville, Alabama, which manufactures equipment used to provide such high-speed services. "It offers speeds that are comparable to digital subscriber lines and cable modems. And it offers the possibility to turn every power outlet into a channel for high-speed access. His comments came at a conference in Atlanta sponsored by EnerVision, a consulting firm.

According to Turner, 28 percent of all homes have access to high-speed Internet service. But another 31 percent live in locations that are considered too remote for conventional providers of such service while another 14 percent are "waiting" for these features to be sold by some entity. That means 47 million homes are underserved, he says. With their ubiquitous wires, utilities could bridge that divide.

Certainly, the potential is enormous. Telecom Trends International says that BPL revenues will grow from $57 million in 2004 to $4.4 billion in 2011. Right now, digital subscriber lines (DSL) that are provided by telecom carriers and cable modems have made the greatest inroads. But BPL is making its presence known. Already, there are six commercial deployments that include a rural electric cooperative in Virginia and one in south central Indiana. "Rural areas want these services too," says IBEC's Turner.

At the height of the telecom boom around early 2000, about 150 utilities offered telecom services as wholesale providers of capacity. Many have dropped out, like Williams and Dynegy. But others such as Southern Co. have stayed in the game. Even municipal electric companies are participating in the telecom market in some measure because the major players are not enticed to build out. Tacoma Power, the city of Manassas, Virginia and Morristown Utility Systems in Tennessee are three.

During the tech boom of the late 1990s, the marketplace was enamored of companies that could deliver the latest and greatest technologies to homes and businesses. Utilities had longed to shed their stodgy images. They wanted to be viewed as enterprises that had just as much foresight as the tech ventures that were ruling the day. As such, they sought to use their goodwill in the markets they served to offer new products and services.

Digital Living

All told, about 20 percent of the nation's utilities are considering investments in BPL, says New Millennium Research. But power companies don't want to get burned, again. That's why -- in the majority of cases -- they won't make the capital investments in infrastructure and equipment and why they won't actually sell the services to customers.

In most circumstances, utilities serve as "landlords" by leasing space on their wires. The service providers own the equipment and market the product, although customers generally will get their bill from their utility. None of this precludes utilities from vertically integrating high-speed assets and offerings or even from making the needed investments and letting partners provide the service. But, such forays have proved risky in the past and utilities have learned to stick to generating and delivering power.

Utilities have long used low speed technologies to optimize their grids. But, the acceleration of fiber optics has allowed them to place devices along their wires that increase the speeds to deliver data. Through their power substations, they can use couplers along medium voltage power lines that transmit data. A converter is then used to move the signal to a low voltage line that goes into homes. Once inside, a BPL modem is used to provide high-speed access from any electrical outlet.

There are some delivery issues. Emergency responders have expressed concerns that BPL signals might interfere with the government's ability to deliver care during times of crisis. That's why the Federal Communications Commission has issued rules that became effective in July that mandate all equipment be made so as not to cloud communications. Existing gear, however, is grandfathered.

Other concerns: electrical wires are noisy and impede data transmissions. That means that Internet traffic must adapt. But, companies are working on this by developing more advanced couplers.

Without a doubt, BPL ventures pose a lot of risks. The fallout from the telecom bust in the 2001 time period still reverberates. But, the key to winning the broadband wars is controlling the lines into homes and possibly the customers themselves. All players want to provide bundled services such as voice, data and cable. If utilities choose to participate, the object would be to expand those services to include advanced home monitoring as well as technologies that interact with smart appliances.

The opportunities are especially appealing for rural electric cooperatives. At least half of their members -- customers -- say that they trust their management more than they do their phone or cable companies, says IBEC's Turner. Besides that loyalty, they are a captive market that is trying to boost job growth. Without high-speed Internet services, they will not have the underlying infrastructure they need to economically develop.

Technology is indisputably going to change rapidly over the next 10 years. The extent of broadband's evolution is pure guesswork. Still, there are certain factors that are known. Chief among them is that the cable and copper wire are the only services that are prevalent and that lead directly into consumers' homes. And while they are capital-intensive technologies, they are still cost effective when compared to others that are immediately available. The evolution, though, is ongoing. And, there's room for new ideas and new players -- a role that some utilities think they can play.