Follow the Money: April 25, 2008
$1.5 trillion: That’s what The Brattle Group, an economics/finance consultancy, projects the US electric utility will have to spend through 2030 on vital infrastructure.
That includes a forecast that the 30 percent growth in power demand currently projected by the US Energy Information Administration can be cut by a third on the basis of aggressive energy efficiency programs. But it anticipates massive spending to meet even that, as well as to provide needed upgrades to our country’s aging transmission system and to tackle carbon capture from fossil fuel plants, which still produce nearly three-quarters of US electricity.
Even under those lowered projections, the country will still need at least 150 gigawatts of new and replacement plant capacity through 2030. Brattle anticipates a cost of $560 billion for the new fleet, a large chunk of which should be renewable energy. That’s without changes in carbon policy, which appear almost certain and would cost an additional $200 billion.
It also projects a needed investment of $900 billion for transmission and distribution for a range of purposes. These include connecting new renewable-based power plants to the grid, adapting “smart grid” technologies to enable greater efficiencies and gearing up for a new generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Brattle also anticipates an impact from rising raw material and labor costs on overall capital expenditures.
Like many voices in the ongoing environmental/energy debate, The Brattle Group is an advocate as well as a reporter. Its opinion, as is apparent in the study available at www.brattle.com, is that heavy investment in renewable energy and more efficiency along the transmission grid to increase efficiency and limit waste is needed. High-voltage transmission investments are projected to reach $233 billion, while distribution projects come in at $675 billion.
Brattle’s contention is the renewable plants will be far easier to build and site than plants running on conventional fuels such as coal and natural gas. And it believes investment made to limit the need for new generating capacity or negawatts is generally less costly than actual construction, which is subject to delays in the permitting and construction process as well as cost overruns from rising raw material, labor and legal costs. Building negawatts basically means investing in transmission and distribution.
I have no problem with any of the report’s contentions. In fact, interest in negawatts continues to mushroom throughout the industry. One way is through the proliferation of advanced meter technology. The leader here is Itron, which has clients globally and recently won contracts for a major build-out of its systems in California.
“Smart” meters allow utilities to monitor where their power is flowing, which enables them to control waste and interact better with customers in conservation matters. To date, regulators in states where such meters have been proposed have been willing to pony up the rate increases to pay for them, with the idea that the negawatt benefits would pay off in spades. California in particular has been willing to fund major spending projects undertaken by the likes of Edison International utility unit Southern California Edison.
As these projects proliferate nationally, officials’ willingness to fund them—particularly should the US economy take a while to cycle out of its current slump/recession—may be put to the test. For now, however, the capital expenditures are flowing into rate base, boosting earnings and simultaneously reducing future operating risk by expanding negawatts rather than megawatts.
Broadband over powerlines (BPL) is another promising technology for creating negawatts. To date, much of the media focus on BPL has been on its ability to create a rival high-speed broadband network to the telephone and cable companies. Not only is that highly unrealistic and improbable, but it’s served to obscure BPL’s real utility as a means of heightening grid efficiency. In fact, an investment in BPL is likely to be far more profitable for a power company if it stays out of the communications business entirely.
Tiny Ambient Corp is a pure play on BPL. This week, it won a major contract from Duke Energy and received private capital funding of $3 million. With a total market capitalization of barely $10 million, however, it’s as small as the emerging BPL industry itself. If BPL really does take off, the usual suspects in such technology are likely to take over.
Whether sector investment is made to create megawatts or negawatts, The Brattle Group’s report is just more confirmation of the sheer magnitude of the task ahead. Investment will be faster in some areas and slower than others. Politics—including what party holds the White House after inauguration day next January—will play a huge role in where money is spent first and what solutions are discarded.
One thing is clear, however: This investment will have to be made, regardless of whether Democrats or Republicans are pulling the strings. If the US economy is in recession, the government will lead the way. If the economy is booming, it will be private enterprise. Either way, investors who follow the money in these projects will prosper.
Covering the Costs
The opportunity in electric power is staggering by any measure. And based on how things have shaped up in prior cycles, the dollars spent will vastly exceed projections, including The Brattle Group’s, which seem most outrageous now.
For one thing, there’s politics. Few issues are stirring the pot here in early 2008 more than global warming. As I reported here a couple weeks ago, some advocacy groups have taken extreme positions on the issue, such as opposing all new coal and natural gas power plants and going to court to see older ones closed down.
Their actions are no doubt well intentioned. But they’re also certain to add to system costs by delaying or preventing projects that could actually reduce carbon emissions—such as replacing old, inefficient and polluting coal-fired plants with new ones that emit virtually no acid rain, mercury and other pollutants and can later be retrofitted to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2).
Furthermore, insisting that every new plant be built to run on wind or solar is pushing up the price of needed components for this type of facility. That fact is made crystal clear in the robust profit reports of those who make them, such as SunPower and Vestas Wind Systems. Of course, even these companies are being challenged by higher raw material costs and capacity constraints to meet the kind of demand we’re seeing.
Inflation is another key concern. The double-digit inflation of the 1970s was a major reason the last power plant construction cycle wound up costing far more than envisioned. Those cost overruns subsequently led to massive disallowances by regulators, which in turn led to monumental writedowns, dividend cuts and even a handful of bankruptcies.
We can expect the same thing this time around. In fact, regulators in some states are clearly telegraphing they intend to take a very hard line on rate increases, no matter what they’re supposed to pay for.
This week, New Mexico regulators granted a $33 million rate hike to PNM Resources. That was less than half the $76.1 million originally requested. The allowed return on equity of 10.1 percent was equally meager and well below the 10.75 percent requested by the company.
Furthermore, regulators denied the utility’s request that changes in fuel and purchased power costs be automatically reflected in rates, as they are in most of the country—though regulators still plan to hear the utility’s request for an emergency fuel adjustment at a hearing slated for May 15.
The catastrophic plunge in PNM’s share price since early November 2007 is a clear sign of the high stakes involved in this rate case, mainly the extremely negative impact of unrecovered costs on its financial health. It’s also a clear warning for utilities elsewhere of the growing political pressures faced by regulators nationwide and the fact that officials will always be tempted to go for the expedient solution, rather than what makes sense long term.
Consolidated Edison got a similar shock in mid-March, as New York regulators granted only $425 million of its proposed $1.2 billion rate hike. Furthermore, 55 percent of the amount received is subject to refund, pending an investigation of $1.6 billion in utility capital expenditures for 2005-08. Return on equity was set at just 9.1 percent, one of the lowest in the country.
The decision triggered an immediate cut in the company’s credit ratings from Fitch, and Moody’s cut its outlook from stable to negative. Both raters cited the decision as raising doubt about whether or not regulators would support Con Ed’s credit quality, which is critical in view of its anticipated $2 billion a year in needed capital spending for vital system upgrades and conservation.
The New York Public Service Commission, of course, has been rocked by the political uncertainty in the state over the past year, as well as the weakening economy. That situation has likely been made worse by the sudden, ignominious departure of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his replacement by a relative unknown.
For example, even with the massive disallowances in this rate decision, state Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) is quoted as calling the increase “profoundly irresponsible.” He went on to call it “the highest rate increase in history” and charged Con Ed is in need of “dramatic reforms” to “fix” its management.
That’s obviously a politically appealing position to take, particularly when the economy is slumping and the price of energy is soaring in all forms. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do a lot to help Con Ed actually do something about the problem, such as massively investing in negawatts as management has proposed. And to the extent the added financial risk prevents or discourages Con Ed from investing the needed dollars, it could well make matters a lot worse.
Self-serving politicians are just part of the equation when it comes to paying for electricity. But they’re sure to become increasingly important going forward, as utilities ramp up capital expenditures in coming years to meet the combined challenges of updating basic infrastructure, meeting new demand with either negawatts or megawatts and complying with environmental regulations, particularly those dealing with regulating CO2.
The bottom line here is simply this: Companies that can recover their increased investment are going to see much higher earnings, dividends and share prices. In short, they’re going to be among the best investments around anywhere, particularly in an environment where companies, consumers and the economy as a whole is squeezed by rising costs for everything from raw materials to money.
On the other hand, companies that are forced to make huge expenditures they can’t recover are in for some rough sledding. They’re going to be absolutely horrendous investments.
In the US utility business, success or failure will boil down to working out a deal with regulators to recover costs and avoid rate shock for consumers. That, in turn, will depend on controlling the cost of capital spending and operating expenses, as well as maintaining good relations with the officials themselves.
The rules of the game will be slightly different when it comes to other infrastructure spending plays. But the basic premise is the same: If a company can earn a return on its investment—be it in bridges, roads, communications networks or water mains—the potential rewards are truly staggering. If, on the other hand, dollars go out but don’t come back in sufficiently, the fall from grace will be destructive in equal measure.
The global tab for infrastructure by 2030 is currently projected at $41 trillion. A lot of that is happening in Asia, where millions of people are leaving the rural areas for cities each year. The strain on resources from foodstuffs to basic metals is immense, which is why Yiannis Mostrous and I have launched Vital Resource Investor (www.vitalresourceinvestor.com).
But the surge in needed spending also extends to developed countries outside the US. Canada, for example, has an estimated infrastructure deficit of $335 billion to fill in the next few years. That’s the legacy of 40 years of underinvesting in everything from roads to water treatment facilities.
Moreover, given the country’s recent prosperity and huge federal budget surpluses, it’s easy to see the money is there to take on a project of this immensity. The country’s nonresidential construction cycle, for example, has been on the upswing now for more than four years, with very little impact from the US recession.
Again, the key is finding ways to ensure the money will flow once the investment has been made and the assets are up and running. That will require management skill and investor vigilance to ensure they’re still succeeding.
The companies that succeed will reward investors with big returns for many years. And that’s worth the trouble of finding them.
A Taste of Stagflation
Covering costs—or rather passing costs through to customers—is the biggest test for any business going forward. And it’s only going to become more so, at least for the next few quarters and possibly for several years.
For one thing, the decades-long massive gains in productivity we’ve seen for the US and world economy may be petering out. One reason is these gains were based on a scenario of very low labor costs in countries such as China, which put downward pressure on wages globally as they increased trade with the rest of the world. Without downward wage pressures, productivity gains depend on technology, which has advanced in some areas—particularly the Internet—but are generally a lot more difficult to come by.
Back in the ’70s, the price of energy and commodities was far more significant to US GDP than it is now, largely because the manufacturing sector was much larger relative to GDP. The low inflation of the ’80s and ’90s was due in large part to their lessened importance to the overall economy as manufacturing’s share of GDP shrank and prices fell.
Here in the latter half of the ’00s, however, energy and commodities have again taken on massive importance. Manufacturing is a smaller slice of the overall US economy than ever. But we’re more connected to the rest of the world than ever, too, and use of these vital resources has never been greater. As a result, rising prices are starting to have the same impact on the overall US economy—and individual companies—that they did during the ’70s.
Not every industry is being squeezed yet. But there are certainly some very good examples popping up.
The $10 billion combined first quarter losses of merging Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines Corp are pretty clear signs of the massive crunch on airline industry profits. The airlines have seen a massive increase in the cost of jet fuel but have been unable to pass it along to consumers in ticket prices. That’s in part due to competition in the industry, and it may also be due to airlines’ fears that demand will prove more elastic than expected, i.e., rising ticket prices bring a drop in traffic and revenue.
Another industry on the ropes now is refining. The cost of oil and natural gas has risen sharply in recent months. However, refiners have been unable to push along those increases to the price of gasoline.
That no doubt seems incredulous to many consumers, given the spike in prices we’ve already seen at the pump over the past few years. But it’s plain as day from the collapse in margins at refiners in recent quarters. And it shows little sign of abating.
Producers of vital resources such as copper have seen unprecedented revenue increases from rising prices over the past year, even if they’ve been unable to maintain production levels. Some, however, have felt a squeeze in certain regions of the world, from the spiking cost of electricity needed for effective mining. And of course, the power producers themselves are feeling the pinch from rising coal and natural gas prices this year, even though the price of electricity itself in wholesale markets continues to rise.
Financing costs are emerging as another squeeze in certain industries. The Federal Reserve hasn’t been shy about cutting the federal funds rate, with another reduction likely next week. Neither has it been averse to pulling other levers to shore up the financial system.
Nonetheless, borrowing costs have risen sharply over the past few months. Even investment-grade credits are paying premiums over the benchmark Treasury note yield that are twice as high as in mid-2007. And non-investment-grade credits are paying 700 to 800 basis points above equivalent Treasury paper, several times the spread before the credit crisis erupted.
The situation is graver still with companies that rely heavily on credit lines based on the London Interbank, or LIBOR, rate, which has spiked in recent weeks. These companies’ rising interest costs will have to come out of something.
If they pay high dividends, they may have to cut them. If they don’t, it will come out of growth budgets. Either way, it’s bad news for investors.
Financial services are an obvious point of vulnerability. And judging from the first quarter earnings results we’ve seen thus far, there are almost certainly more asset writedowns and losses ahead.
This sector has already been pounded in the stock market. And with every successive blow doing progressively less damage to the group, it’s increasingly likely the worst is well baked into share prices already.
That—plus the fact that financials will be the biggest winners when visibility clears on the credit crunch and economy—is a good reason to hang onto the best, such as Regions Financial and Well Fargo, in a small corner of your portfolio. Both companies have successfully navigated their ways thus far through the crisis. Both should be watched closely for weakness but look increasingly like the worst is behind them.
In contrast, there are sectors getting relatively little notice where rising financial costs could have a much larger impact and where the potential damage isn’t reflected in share prices. Last week, I underscored the importance of really examining first quarter financials, not just for headline numbers but particularly for exposure to near-term refinancing risk.
Credit conditions will almost surely improve over the next year or so and almost definitely over the next five. But the more debt a company has coming due in the near future, the more at risk it is to a spike in costs. And nothing is more exposed to rate swings now than a credit line tied to LIBOR.
In the May issue of Utility Forecaster—available for subscribers May 3 at www.utilityforecaster.com—I survey my entire universe of 215 essential service companies for their five-year debt exposure. One company that looks vulnerable is Consolidated Communications, which has credit lines and less than five-year debt that are greater than its entire market value. In addition, the credit lines it took on to finance recent acquisitions are tied to LIBOR.
Ironically, the telecom business itself has thus far been remarkably resilient in the face of the weakening US economy and credit crunch. AT&T, for example, reported blockbuster numbers, showing continued robust growth in wireless but also progress expanding its wireline broadband business. Even Consolidated has been covering its generous distribution by a healthy margin, which should help it navigate any difficulties from LIBOR.
There are other industries as well that appear to be standing up to cost pressures and are earning more money than ever. Entergy Corp’s huge first quarter earnings gain is a pretty good sign all is well in the power business, at least as long as producers can recover their fuel costs and run their plants well.
General Electric’s booming infrastructure business is the best possible sign for that sector, though financial services underperformance hurt the bottom line. Goodyear’s tire business also appears to be absorbing cost and recession pressures, judging from the robust profits announced today.
My general rule is anything that does put up good first quarter numbers can be considered stress tested. The economy may get weaker still in coming months. But they’ve proven themselves able to function amid the weakness.
If we’ve seen anything over the past few months, it’s that not everything is going to measure up. The silver lining, however, is we can have a lot of confidence in what is. Moreover, there’s a lot of risk priced in now with the S&P 500 nearly 200 points off its 52-week high.
There will almost surely be more damage ahead, particularly from companies that don’t measure up as businesses and cost-vulnerable sectors. But as long as companies perform, the risks from here are low, and there’s a lot of upside ahead when the overall situation—inevitably—shifts back in our favor.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Judge tells FCC to rework powerline broadband regulations
By Eric Bangeman | Published: April 28, 2008 - 09:10PM CT
Despite its glacially slow advance into the US broadband market, the Federal Communications Commission has championed broadband over powerline (BPL) as a "third-pipe" alternative to the DSL/cable duopoly in the US. An appeals court dealt the Commission and BPL backers a blow late last week, siding with ham radio operators by ruling that the FCC erred in its rule-making for the technology.
At issue are a series of tests conducted prior to the FCC's issuing its rules governing BPL deployment. The American Radio Relay League, a national organization of ham radio operators, sued the FCC last October in an attempt to have the rules enacted back in 2004 blocked. The ARRL and other ham radio groups have been consistently critical of BPL, arguing that the technology causes interference on their receivers.
Prior to filing suit, the ARRL had tried to get the FCC to act on its concerns, to no avail. In June 2007, the group sent a letter to the FCC asking that BPL testing by a New York utility be halted due to interference. That request, as well as others, was spurned by the Commission.
The decision handed down by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia holds that the FCC erred during the rulemaking process. In drawing up the regulations governing BPL, the FCC relied on five different studies. The results were made public as required by law, but some portions of the studies were blacked out. The ARRL said that the redacted portions should be made public, while the FCC said they weren't relevant.
In its ruling, the three-judge panel said that federal law required the FCC to make all portions of the studies available, and that the Commission didn't adequately explain how it arrived at its criteria for determining when a BPL signal causes "harmful interference."
The FCC will now have to "make available for notice and comment the unredacted 'technical studies and data that it has employed in reaching [its] decisions,' and shall make them part of the rulemaking record," wrote the judges.
The ARRL applauded the decision. "Now that the Commission has been ordered to do what it should have done in the first place, we look forward to participating in the proceedings on remand, and to helping to craft rules that will provide licensed radio services with the interference protection they are entitled to under law," said ARRL CEO David Sumner in a statement.
Given the snail's pace adoption of BPL, sending the FCC back to the rulemaking drawing board should have little or no impact. In fact, the FCC should be able to adopt the same set of rules once again, as long as the process is fully transparent this time around. The biggest problem is a lack of interest in BPL by utilities and other broadband players. Since Google and Goldman Sachs famously dropped $100 million on Current Communications in mid-2005, high-profile BPL investments and deployments have been few and far between.
Standards-setting body IEEE is developing a standard to govern all aspects of BPL delivery, including data, VoIP, and video, but a May 2006 report by the Government Accountability Office characterized BPL as being in the "trial stage," and not a whole lot has changed since then. At the dawn of 2006, there were only around 6,000 BPL subscribers in the US; that number had grown to 75,000 by the beginning of 2007. Analysts estimate that number will hit 2.5 million by 2011, but that appears questionable given the current slow pace of deployment.
Despite its glacially slow advance into the US broadband market, the Federal Communications Commission has championed broadband over powerline (BPL) as a "third-pipe" alternative to the DSL/cable duopoly in the US. An appeals court dealt the Commission and BPL backers a blow late last week, siding with ham radio operators by ruling that the FCC erred in its rule-making for the technology.
At issue are a series of tests conducted prior to the FCC's issuing its rules governing BPL deployment. The American Radio Relay League, a national organization of ham radio operators, sued the FCC last October in an attempt to have the rules enacted back in 2004 blocked. The ARRL and other ham radio groups have been consistently critical of BPL, arguing that the technology causes interference on their receivers.
Prior to filing suit, the ARRL had tried to get the FCC to act on its concerns, to no avail. In June 2007, the group sent a letter to the FCC asking that BPL testing by a New York utility be halted due to interference. That request, as well as others, was spurned by the Commission.
The decision handed down by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia holds that the FCC erred during the rulemaking process. In drawing up the regulations governing BPL, the FCC relied on five different studies. The results were made public as required by law, but some portions of the studies were blacked out. The ARRL said that the redacted portions should be made public, while the FCC said they weren't relevant.
In its ruling, the three-judge panel said that federal law required the FCC to make all portions of the studies available, and that the Commission didn't adequately explain how it arrived at its criteria for determining when a BPL signal causes "harmful interference."
The FCC will now have to "make available for notice and comment the unredacted 'technical studies and data that it has employed in reaching [its] decisions,' and shall make them part of the rulemaking record," wrote the judges.
The ARRL applauded the decision. "Now that the Commission has been ordered to do what it should have done in the first place, we look forward to participating in the proceedings on remand, and to helping to craft rules that will provide licensed radio services with the interference protection they are entitled to under law," said ARRL CEO David Sumner in a statement.
Given the snail's pace adoption of BPL, sending the FCC back to the rulemaking drawing board should have little or no impact. In fact, the FCC should be able to adopt the same set of rules once again, as long as the process is fully transparent this time around. The biggest problem is a lack of interest in BPL by utilities and other broadband players. Since Google and Goldman Sachs famously dropped $100 million on Current Communications in mid-2005, high-profile BPL investments and deployments have been few and far between.
Standards-setting body IEEE is developing a standard to govern all aspects of BPL delivery, including data, VoIP, and video, but a May 2006 report by the Government Accountability Office characterized BPL as being in the "trial stage," and not a whole lot has changed since then. At the dawn of 2006, there were only around 6,000 BPL subscribers in the US; that number had grown to 75,000 by the beginning of 2007. Analysts estimate that number will hit 2.5 million by 2011, but that appears questionable given the current slow pace of deployment.
Monday, April 28, 2008
“2007 Global BPL - Utilities Moving Towards Broadbanded Smart Grids”
New Report Analyses the Broadband Over Power Lines Market
NewswireToday - /newswire/ - London, United Kingdom, 04/28/2008 - Report Buyer added a new report showing that after trials, Broadband Over Power Lines (BPL) is performing well up to standard, when compared with most other technologies.
Report Buyer, the online destination for business intelligence for major industry sectors, has added a new report showing that after trials, Broadband Over Power Lines (BPL) is performing well up to standard, when compared with most other technologies.
“2007 Global BPL - Utilities Moving Towards Broadbanded Smart Grids” reports that the next step is to make the transition from the current trial status to the commercial arena, and this will require the establishment of an appropriate regulatory framework to support the technological developments that are occurring.
Authors of the report note that in general terms, positive developments on that level are taking place around the globe. But as with most new technologies, progress is slow, however full standardisation may occur in 2008.
The further note that a joint IEEE standards proposal submitted by the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and Panasonic is a positive sign; its aim is to permit interoperability between existing BPL products from both vendors. Large scale rollouts will not occur before full standardisation has taken place.
The report shows that, although equipment prices have dropped drastically already, the key problem in 2008 continues to remain the high equipment costs and a more competitive price shift will need to take place. On a positive note, there are now much clearer business models for the technology in various other market segments, which will significantly broaden its scope.
“2007 Global BPL - Utilities Moving Towards Broadbanded Smart Grids” is available from Report Buyer. For more information, see website.
NewswireToday - /newswire/ - London, United Kingdom, 04/28/2008 - Report Buyer added a new report showing that after trials, Broadband Over Power Lines (BPL) is performing well up to standard, when compared with most other technologies.
Report Buyer, the online destination for business intelligence for major industry sectors, has added a new report showing that after trials, Broadband Over Power Lines (BPL) is performing well up to standard, when compared with most other technologies.
“2007 Global BPL - Utilities Moving Towards Broadbanded Smart Grids” reports that the next step is to make the transition from the current trial status to the commercial arena, and this will require the establishment of an appropriate regulatory framework to support the technological developments that are occurring.
Authors of the report note that in general terms, positive developments on that level are taking place around the globe. But as with most new technologies, progress is slow, however full standardisation may occur in 2008.
The further note that a joint IEEE standards proposal submitted by the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and Panasonic is a positive sign; its aim is to permit interoperability between existing BPL products from both vendors. Large scale rollouts will not occur before full standardisation has taken place.
The report shows that, although equipment prices have dropped drastically already, the key problem in 2008 continues to remain the high equipment costs and a more competitive price shift will need to take place. On a positive note, there are now much clearer business models for the technology in various other market segments, which will significantly broaden its scope.
“2007 Global BPL - Utilities Moving Towards Broadbanded Smart Grids” is available from Report Buyer. For more information, see website.
Smart Grid: Smart business?
Smart Grid: Smart business?
XCEL TALKS GRID OF THE FUTURE WITH LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY
By RICHARD VALENTY Colorado Daily Staff Writer
Friday, April 25, 2008
Craig Eicher, Xcel Energy's Area Manager for the Boulder Region, knows one phrase that will make people's ears perk up.
It's "Smart Grid City," a project that will come to Boulder in the near future - but also a project that very few locals understand in great detail. Eicher spent part of his Thursday morning giving a Smart Grid presentation to the business-oriented citizen group Boulder Tomorrow at the Spice of Life Event Center, 5706 Arapahoe Ave.
But it wasn't his first such presentation and it won't be his last.
Xcel recently chose Boulder to be the nation's first Smart Grid City. Eicher said the current grid system is basically a design that's more than a century old and delivers electricity in a "monodirectional" manner, while a Smart Grid will have interactive features that can allow both the utility and its customers to better monitor and/or control electrical loads or usage.
Xcel and several Smart Grid partners might invest up to $100 million to bring the project to fruition. Infrastructure expenses could include items such as "smart" substations and meters, diagnostic sensors throughout the system, and fiber optic cable for high-speed system communications.
Also, the project includes an outline of a "Smart Home," in which residential customers will be able use "smart" appliances that can sense grid conditions and, for example, turn devices off in a potential overload situation. The Smart Home of the future might include smart thermostats, or even a way to send electricity back to the grid via plug-in hybrid vehicles that aren't in use.
Eicher said Boulder was selected for the project partially because it is one of the most environmentally conscious cities in the nation. Also, he said the city has great scientific assets such as CU-Boulder and the NOAA/NIST federal laboratory campus.
"I think this is the very best city to do something like this, and I'm glad my company agrees," said Eicher.
He proceeded to mention a number of potential advantages to making the switch. For starters, the new system infrastructure will relay information about overload situations or outages back to Xcel.
"No longer will we have to rely on a phone call from you when there's an outage in your neighborhood," said Eicher.
The system will also be able to "tell" Xcel the location of an electrical problem, such as a bad transformer or a compromised cable. Eicher said the sensors will allow maintenance workers to go straight to where the problem is as opposed to searching for it, which could allow the utility to fix problems faster.
On the economic front, Eicher said limiting electrical demand during peak hours - such as hot summer afternoons when air conditioners are running full blast - can help Xcel avoid the need to purchase expensive additional power to meet the demand.
Environmental advantages could include the use of distributed generation technologies. For example, non-centralized wind or solar generators could be equipped with battery storage capacity so power could be available when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing - minimizing the variable nature of renewable generation supply.
Eicher also told the Boulder Tomorrow crowd about an actual Xcel alternative energy storage project -a wind-to-battery system in Minnesota in which the battery is about "the size of a tractor-trailer."
But he also said it will be a while before homeowners are receiving real-time information about grid conditions, or allowing the Smart Home to manage electric usage automatically.
Eicher said the "Phase 1" rollout will include building a communications network for about 15,000 residential customers, which will include "broadband over power line" capacity and fiber optic cable. He said the goal is to have the power lines and meters servicing the customers on the new digital network by the end of this summer.
"That will enable us to start offering more choices to our customers, and at the very least it will have the reliability component built in -such as the automatic sensing of outages, and perhaps the automatic switching of power around problem areas," said Eicher after his presentation.
Xcel's Smart Grid partners will also have various responsibilities.
The technology services firm Accenture will integrate diagnostic and other systems into Xcel's information technology infrastructure. The Current Group will work on monitoring and real-time data solutions. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories will work on the smart substations. The software firm Ventyx will provide work management solutions -and all of the previous descriptions are very abbreviated.
Eicher said during his presentation that Xcel could ask Colorado's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for permission to roll Smart Grid systems out to its other customers after the Boulder system is established, although he couldn't predict when that might happen.
But he also said that other cities around the country are seeing Smart Grid-type technology as a good investment. For example, Fort Collins is examining a smaller-scale project that could use distributed generation in an effort to establish a net-zero energy use district.
"The more people who are in this game, the more innovation there will be; the less expensive it will ultimately be; and the more accepting our customers will be of the new technologies and choices we'll be giving them," said Eicher. "All of that is good."
FYI
For more information about Smart Grid City, visit the Web site www.xcelenergy.com/smartgrid.
XCEL TALKS GRID OF THE FUTURE WITH LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY
By RICHARD VALENTY Colorado Daily Staff Writer
Friday, April 25, 2008
Craig Eicher, Xcel Energy's Area Manager for the Boulder Region, knows one phrase that will make people's ears perk up.
It's "Smart Grid City," a project that will come to Boulder in the near future - but also a project that very few locals understand in great detail. Eicher spent part of his Thursday morning giving a Smart Grid presentation to the business-oriented citizen group Boulder Tomorrow at the Spice of Life Event Center, 5706 Arapahoe Ave.
But it wasn't his first such presentation and it won't be his last.
Xcel recently chose Boulder to be the nation's first Smart Grid City. Eicher said the current grid system is basically a design that's more than a century old and delivers electricity in a "monodirectional" manner, while a Smart Grid will have interactive features that can allow both the utility and its customers to better monitor and/or control electrical loads or usage.
Xcel and several Smart Grid partners might invest up to $100 million to bring the project to fruition. Infrastructure expenses could include items such as "smart" substations and meters, diagnostic sensors throughout the system, and fiber optic cable for high-speed system communications.
Also, the project includes an outline of a "Smart Home," in which residential customers will be able use "smart" appliances that can sense grid conditions and, for example, turn devices off in a potential overload situation. The Smart Home of the future might include smart thermostats, or even a way to send electricity back to the grid via plug-in hybrid vehicles that aren't in use.
Eicher said Boulder was selected for the project partially because it is one of the most environmentally conscious cities in the nation. Also, he said the city has great scientific assets such as CU-Boulder and the NOAA/NIST federal laboratory campus.
"I think this is the very best city to do something like this, and I'm glad my company agrees," said Eicher.
He proceeded to mention a number of potential advantages to making the switch. For starters, the new system infrastructure will relay information about overload situations or outages back to Xcel.
"No longer will we have to rely on a phone call from you when there's an outage in your neighborhood," said Eicher.
The system will also be able to "tell" Xcel the location of an electrical problem, such as a bad transformer or a compromised cable. Eicher said the sensors will allow maintenance workers to go straight to where the problem is as opposed to searching for it, which could allow the utility to fix problems faster.
On the economic front, Eicher said limiting electrical demand during peak hours - such as hot summer afternoons when air conditioners are running full blast - can help Xcel avoid the need to purchase expensive additional power to meet the demand.
Environmental advantages could include the use of distributed generation technologies. For example, non-centralized wind or solar generators could be equipped with battery storage capacity so power could be available when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing - minimizing the variable nature of renewable generation supply.
Eicher also told the Boulder Tomorrow crowd about an actual Xcel alternative energy storage project -a wind-to-battery system in Minnesota in which the battery is about "the size of a tractor-trailer."
But he also said it will be a while before homeowners are receiving real-time information about grid conditions, or allowing the Smart Home to manage electric usage automatically.
Eicher said the "Phase 1" rollout will include building a communications network for about 15,000 residential customers, which will include "broadband over power line" capacity and fiber optic cable. He said the goal is to have the power lines and meters servicing the customers on the new digital network by the end of this summer.
"That will enable us to start offering more choices to our customers, and at the very least it will have the reliability component built in -such as the automatic sensing of outages, and perhaps the automatic switching of power around problem areas," said Eicher after his presentation.
Xcel's Smart Grid partners will also have various responsibilities.
The technology services firm Accenture will integrate diagnostic and other systems into Xcel's information technology infrastructure. The Current Group will work on monitoring and real-time data solutions. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories will work on the smart substations. The software firm Ventyx will provide work management solutions -and all of the previous descriptions are very abbreviated.
Eicher said during his presentation that Xcel could ask Colorado's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for permission to roll Smart Grid systems out to its other customers after the Boulder system is established, although he couldn't predict when that might happen.
But he also said that other cities around the country are seeing Smart Grid-type technology as a good investment. For example, Fort Collins is examining a smaller-scale project that could use distributed generation in an effort to establish a net-zero energy use district.
"The more people who are in this game, the more innovation there will be; the less expensive it will ultimately be; and the more accepting our customers will be of the new technologies and choices we'll be giving them," said Eicher. "All of that is good."
FYI
For more information about Smart Grid City, visit the Web site www.xcelenergy.com/smartgrid.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Ambient Secures $3.0 Million in Permanent Funding- Ramping Up Production for Largest Ambient Smart Grid(TM) Deployment
Thursday April 24, 9:15 am ET
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG - News) announced today that it has raised an additional investment of $3 million from Vicis Capital Master Fund (Vicis). In return for the investment, Vicis received warrants for 135 million shares of Ambient common stock and other consideration.
This cash infusion, along with the revenue generated from the contract announced earlier this month, position Ambient to pursue its business plan for the remainder of 2008 and afford it the necessary flexibility to increase inventory for future sales opportunities. As the present financing involves only warrants and no debt, Ambient will not be incurring principal or periodic payment obligations, thereby allowing Ambient to use the full amount of the funding to meet their present contractual obligations.
Shad Stastney, a partner with Vicis Capital, LLC, the investment manager for Vicis Capital Master Fund, commented, “This investment into Ambient by Vicis reiterates our long-term commitment in Ambient and belief in the resiliency of both the management and technology teams at Ambient, as well as the future for Ambient Smart Grid™. Our overall long-term interest in Ambient and smart grid technology is the potential it has to dramatically improve the efficiency with which utilities serve their customers and reduce their environmental footprint. We are excited to see this shared vision progress with their recent contract with one of the largest utility companies in the U.S.”
“The ‘utility of the future’ vision is one we believe in, and believe other utilities are moving towards as well. All of these factors combined, along with Ambient’s recent advancements with their technology, add up to why we have committed additional capital into Ambient,” continued Mr. Stastney.
“At our annual meeting of stockholders last year, we set forth goals and objectives we wanted to meet: grow revenue, enhance our technology and protect our intellectual property, stabilize our capital structure and foster the creation of industry standards. The continued support of Vicis allows us to strive to consistently meet these goals,” stated John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient. “The structure of the latest tranche affords Ambient the necessary flexibility and working capital to execute and deliver on the purchase order announced earlier this month.”
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG - News) announced today that it has raised an additional investment of $3 million from Vicis Capital Master Fund (Vicis). In return for the investment, Vicis received warrants for 135 million shares of Ambient common stock and other consideration.
This cash infusion, along with the revenue generated from the contract announced earlier this month, position Ambient to pursue its business plan for the remainder of 2008 and afford it the necessary flexibility to increase inventory for future sales opportunities. As the present financing involves only warrants and no debt, Ambient will not be incurring principal or periodic payment obligations, thereby allowing Ambient to use the full amount of the funding to meet their present contractual obligations.
Shad Stastney, a partner with Vicis Capital, LLC, the investment manager for Vicis Capital Master Fund, commented, “This investment into Ambient by Vicis reiterates our long-term commitment in Ambient and belief in the resiliency of both the management and technology teams at Ambient, as well as the future for Ambient Smart Grid™. Our overall long-term interest in Ambient and smart grid technology is the potential it has to dramatically improve the efficiency with which utilities serve their customers and reduce their environmental footprint. We are excited to see this shared vision progress with their recent contract with one of the largest utility companies in the U.S.”
“The ‘utility of the future’ vision is one we believe in, and believe other utilities are moving towards as well. All of these factors combined, along with Ambient’s recent advancements with their technology, add up to why we have committed additional capital into Ambient,” continued Mr. Stastney.
“At our annual meeting of stockholders last year, we set forth goals and objectives we wanted to meet: grow revenue, enhance our technology and protect our intellectual property, stabilize our capital structure and foster the creation of industry standards. The continued support of Vicis allows us to strive to consistently meet these goals,” stated John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient. “The structure of the latest tranche affords Ambient the necessary flexibility and working capital to execute and deliver on the purchase order announced earlier this month.”
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
UPLC PowerLine: CALIFORNIA SMART GRID BILL PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS
STATES: CALIFORNIA SMART GRID BILL PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS
April 17th, 2008 by kristy.weinshel
The California Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee passed an amended version of a Smart Grid bill (SB-1438), which now requires the PUC, the State Energy Commission and the ISO to develop a definition of "Smart Grid" by January 15, 2009. The definition must “achieve certain goals and to develop standards and protocols for the deployment of smart grid technologies and services that will improve overall efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of electrical system operations, planning, and maintenance.” Under the bill, utilities would be required to develop and submit by June 30, 2010 a Smart Grid deployment plan to the PUC for approval and recovery of "reasonable costs of deploying smart grid technologies and services from ratepayers." The bill would authorize Smart Grid technologies and services to be deployed in “an incremental manner"; and would require the PUC in consultation with the Energy Commission, the ISO, and the utilities, at each step of deployment, to "evaluate the impact of deployment on major initiatives and policies."
April 17th, 2008 by kristy.weinshel
The California Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee passed an amended version of a Smart Grid bill (SB-1438), which now requires the PUC, the State Energy Commission and the ISO to develop a definition of "Smart Grid" by January 15, 2009. The definition must “achieve certain goals and to develop standards and protocols for the deployment of smart grid technologies and services that will improve overall efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of electrical system operations, planning, and maintenance.” Under the bill, utilities would be required to develop and submit by June 30, 2010 a Smart Grid deployment plan to the PUC for approval and recovery of "reasonable costs of deploying smart grid technologies and services from ratepayers." The bill would authorize Smart Grid technologies and services to be deployed in “an incremental manner"; and would require the PUC in consultation with the Energy Commission, the ISO, and the utilities, at each step of deployment, to "evaluate the impact of deployment on major initiatives and policies."
Monday, April 21, 2008
UPA Invites Participation on PowerMAX, the new 400+Mbps Powerline Technology Development
UPA Invites Participation on PowerMAX, the new 400+Mbps Powerline Technology Development
UPA Developing Next-Gen Backwards Compatible Powerline Technology for Access, Smart Grid, In-Building and In-Home Markets
April 21, 2008 London - The Universal Powerline Association, a leading industry consortium providing a forum for the development of interoperable and open specifications for Powerline communications - is inviting service providers, electricity utilities, technology providers, network operators and other industry professionals to participate in the development of PowerMAX, the next generation specification for Powerline communications technology which will deliver 400Mbps and beyond.
The first step in this process is the development of a Market Requirements Document (MRD) to define the goals for the PowerMAX specification including bandwidth requirements and underlying technology parameters such as physical layer throughput. Next generation Powerline communications products must support bandwidth hungry applications including FTTH, Multi-Dwelling Unit Networking, Broadband over Powerline Access applications and home networking applications including multi-channel HD-IPTV delivery or multi-room PVR. These new applications are driving the need for increased bandwidth beyond what today´s Powerline technologies can achieve.
"UPA customers are demanding more and more bandwidth to deliver faster bandwidths to and within the home to compete and compliment FTTH and other Access technologies. Large MDU's also need much more bandwidth as consumers and businesses alike are sharing the electrical infrastructure and the corresponding bandwidth. Consumers are also migrating to HD and multi-room HD PVR, again requiring more speed. The PowerMAX specification will reach speeds of 400Mbps and beyond to support our customers' current and future demands, all with complete interoperability with our 200Mbps technology and complete interoperability between Access and In Home applications," said Brian Donnelly, Chairman of the UPA.
"The question we need to ask is not what is the size of the market today, but how can we serve our customers needs moving forward. We are beginning with the Market Requirements Document to ensure that customer needs are served by the future specification," said Frank Chuang of Comtrend Communications, Board Member of the UPA.
Daniel Drolet, UPA Marketing Working Group Chairman commented that, "the MRD process is expected to be completed in 3 months, with integrated circuits and products available in 2009. We will invite technology providers to submit proposals once the MRD process is completed."
PowerMAX, the 3rd generation Powerline communications technology MRD development process is open to all interested parties. Companies interested in receiving information regarding the Universal Powerline Association and contributing to the PowerMAX MRD development process are invited to contact the Donald Pollock, UPA Secretariat, donald.pollock@upaplc.org +44 1780 470003
About the Universal Powerline Association
The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is an International not-for-profit trade association working to promote global standards and regulations in the fast developing Powerline communications market. The UPA aims to catalyze the growth of Powerline technology by delivering UPA plug tested and certified products that comply with these specified standards and regulations. All products and applications designed around UPA guidelines will communicate, from simple coexistence to full interoperability. The UPA provides all Powerline players the opportunity to respond to key customer expectations with open standards, based on interoperability, security and coexistence and supported by exclusive and independent certifications, the only global guarantee of quality and confidence for high-speed power line technology available today.
Members of the UPA include: AcBel Polytech Inc., Ambient Corporation, Arteche, Belfuse Inc., Buffalo Inc., Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp., Current Technologies International, D-Link, DS2, Freedom Digital Networks, China Gridcom Company Ltd, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu Corporation, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Logitec Corporation, Moscow City Electricity Grid, Netgear, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Planex, Power Monitors Inc., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, Toyo Networks & System Integration Co.,Ltd and Watteco.
Additional information about the UPA is available at www.upaplc.org.
UPA Developing Next-Gen Backwards Compatible Powerline Technology for Access, Smart Grid, In-Building and In-Home Markets
April 21, 2008 London - The Universal Powerline Association, a leading industry consortium providing a forum for the development of interoperable and open specifications for Powerline communications - is inviting service providers, electricity utilities, technology providers, network operators and other industry professionals to participate in the development of PowerMAX, the next generation specification for Powerline communications technology which will deliver 400Mbps and beyond.
The first step in this process is the development of a Market Requirements Document (MRD) to define the goals for the PowerMAX specification including bandwidth requirements and underlying technology parameters such as physical layer throughput. Next generation Powerline communications products must support bandwidth hungry applications including FTTH, Multi-Dwelling Unit Networking, Broadband over Powerline Access applications and home networking applications including multi-channel HD-IPTV delivery or multi-room PVR. These new applications are driving the need for increased bandwidth beyond what today´s Powerline technologies can achieve.
"UPA customers are demanding more and more bandwidth to deliver faster bandwidths to and within the home to compete and compliment FTTH and other Access technologies. Large MDU's also need much more bandwidth as consumers and businesses alike are sharing the electrical infrastructure and the corresponding bandwidth. Consumers are also migrating to HD and multi-room HD PVR, again requiring more speed. The PowerMAX specification will reach speeds of 400Mbps and beyond to support our customers' current and future demands, all with complete interoperability with our 200Mbps technology and complete interoperability between Access and In Home applications," said Brian Donnelly, Chairman of the UPA.
"The question we need to ask is not what is the size of the market today, but how can we serve our customers needs moving forward. We are beginning with the Market Requirements Document to ensure that customer needs are served by the future specification," said Frank Chuang of Comtrend Communications, Board Member of the UPA.
Daniel Drolet, UPA Marketing Working Group Chairman commented that, "the MRD process is expected to be completed in 3 months, with integrated circuits and products available in 2009. We will invite technology providers to submit proposals once the MRD process is completed."
PowerMAX, the 3rd generation Powerline communications technology MRD development process is open to all interested parties. Companies interested in receiving information regarding the Universal Powerline Association and contributing to the PowerMAX MRD development process are invited to contact the Donald Pollock, UPA Secretariat, donald.pollock@upaplc.org +44 1780 470003
About the Universal Powerline Association
The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is an International not-for-profit trade association working to promote global standards and regulations in the fast developing Powerline communications market. The UPA aims to catalyze the growth of Powerline technology by delivering UPA plug tested and certified products that comply with these specified standards and regulations. All products and applications designed around UPA guidelines will communicate, from simple coexistence to full interoperability. The UPA provides all Powerline players the opportunity to respond to key customer expectations with open standards, based on interoperability, security and coexistence and supported by exclusive and independent certifications, the only global guarantee of quality and confidence for high-speed power line technology available today.
Members of the UPA include: AcBel Polytech Inc., Ambient Corporation, Arteche, Belfuse Inc., Buffalo Inc., Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp., Current Technologies International, D-Link, DS2, Freedom Digital Networks, China Gridcom Company Ltd, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu Corporation, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Logitec Corporation, Moscow City Electricity Grid, Netgear, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Planex, Power Monitors Inc., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, Toyo Networks & System Integration Co.,Ltd and Watteco.
Additional information about the UPA is available at www.upaplc.org.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
MacWireless Announces 200 Mbps over Household Wiring
MacWireless Announces 200 Mbps over Household Wiring
by John Martellaro, 4:25 PM EDT, April 18th, 2008
Macwireless announced on Friday the immediate availability of a power line adapter," Powerline - 200 Mbps" for Macintosh. The device allows one to create a network with speeds of up to 200 Mbps using existing house wiring. It's particularly useful when obstructions block wireless networking.
According to MacWireless, the Powerline is ideal for:
Sharing broadband internet access around the home or office.
Connecting networks together.
Sharing printers, scanners and other peripherals.
Transferring and sharing files between computers.
Playing network games - you can even connect your game consoles.
"Powerline Networking devices convert data from your computer into a signal that can be transmitted over standard AC wires. The signal does not interfere with the ordinary current traveling through the wires. You simply go Ethernet into one adapter and take Ethernet out of one or more adapters in different outlets. Powerline adapters use your existing wiring as an Ethernet extension cable," according to MacWireless.
No drivers are required, and the system will also work with Windows computers.
There are several products with different rated speeds in this family. The Powerline Network Adapter - 200 Mbps allows use up to 980 feet of electrical wiring. Each unit is priced at US$99.98, and at least two of the devices is required to set up a network.
by John Martellaro, 4:25 PM EDT, April 18th, 2008
Macwireless announced on Friday the immediate availability of a power line adapter," Powerline - 200 Mbps" for Macintosh. The device allows one to create a network with speeds of up to 200 Mbps using existing house wiring. It's particularly useful when obstructions block wireless networking.
According to MacWireless, the Powerline is ideal for:
Sharing broadband internet access around the home or office.
Connecting networks together.
Sharing printers, scanners and other peripherals.
Transferring and sharing files between computers.
Playing network games - you can even connect your game consoles.
"Powerline Networking devices convert data from your computer into a signal that can be transmitted over standard AC wires. The signal does not interfere with the ordinary current traveling through the wires. You simply go Ethernet into one adapter and take Ethernet out of one or more adapters in different outlets. Powerline adapters use your existing wiring as an Ethernet extension cable," according to MacWireless.
No drivers are required, and the system will also work with Windows computers.
There are several products with different rated speeds in this family. The Powerline Network Adapter - 200 Mbps allows use up to 980 feet of electrical wiring. Each unit is priced at US$99.98, and at least two of the devices is required to set up a network.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
AMBIENT RECEIVES ~$11MM PURCHASE ORDER FOR X-2000 - Enabling Smart Grids for the Utility of the Future”
BOSTON, Apr 16, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ambient Corporation (ABTG, Trade ) announced today that it has received a purchase order for 9,000 units of its newest communications node, the X-2000. The purchase order is from the contract announced by Ambient earlier this month. With a maximum value of $11.0 million, the purchase order includes licensing of Ambient's Network Management System, AmbientNMS(TM), and engineering support in building out an intelligent grid/intelligent-metering platform.
"Ambient will be supporting utility applications for smart grid and Utility of the Future initiatives. Initially, we will be building out the communications platform, Ambient Smart Grid(TM), for "last mile" backhaul supporting the utility's plan to reach approximately 50,000 end points," stated John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient.
A communications platform such as the Ambient Smart Grid(TM) is necessary for utilities to implement a full suite of smart grid applications, which include Advanced Meter Reading (AMR), real-time pricing, Demand Side Management (DSM) and direct load control. When combined, these applications can offer economic, operational and environmental benefits for utilities and utility customers. This platform helps utilities meet growing energy demand with their existing legacy systems by increasing the efficiency and functionality of the electrical distribution grid.
About Ambient Corporation
Ambient designs, develops and markets Ambient Smart Grid(TM) communications technologies and equipment. Utilizing proprietary, open standards-based technologies along with in-depth industry experience, Ambient provides utilities with solutions for creating smart grid communication platforms and technologies. Headquartered in Newton, MA, Ambient is a publicly traded company (ABTG, Trade ). More information on Ambient is available at www.ambientcorp.com .
"Ambient will be supporting utility applications for smart grid and Utility of the Future initiatives. Initially, we will be building out the communications platform, Ambient Smart Grid(TM), for "last mile" backhaul supporting the utility's plan to reach approximately 50,000 end points," stated John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient.
A communications platform such as the Ambient Smart Grid(TM) is necessary for utilities to implement a full suite of smart grid applications, which include Advanced Meter Reading (AMR), real-time pricing, Demand Side Management (DSM) and direct load control. When combined, these applications can offer economic, operational and environmental benefits for utilities and utility customers. This platform helps utilities meet growing energy demand with their existing legacy systems by increasing the efficiency and functionality of the electrical distribution grid.
About Ambient Corporation
Ambient designs, develops and markets Ambient Smart Grid(TM) communications technologies and equipment. Utilizing proprietary, open standards-based technologies along with in-depth industry experience, Ambient provides utilities with solutions for creating smart grid communication platforms and technologies. Headquartered in Newton, MA, Ambient is a publicly traded company (ABTG, Trade ). More information on Ambient is available at www.ambientcorp.com .
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
"Con Edison expects to spend approximately $5 billion over the next three years on its electric delivery system.."
Press Release Source: Con Edison Co. of NY, Inc.
Con Edison Proposes New Energy Efficiency Programs for a Cleaner, Greener New York
Tuesday April 15, 3:17 pm ET
NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Apr 15, 2008 -- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) has filed a plan with the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) asking that a package of new energy efficiency programs be approved for implementation this summer.
"Con Edison's proposals represent a major part of the company's overall effort to achieve at least 500 megawatts (MW) of demand reduction by 2015," said Rebecca Craft, Con Edison's Director of Energy Efficiency Programs. "Reaching that goal would offset the need to power the equivalent of 500,000 homes. It coincides with the state's desire to realize a 15 percent reduction in electric consumption growth, significantly reducing carbon emissions over the same period."
The 11 residential and commercial programs proposed in the filing are designed to achieve 378 MW of demand reduction and reduce energy use overall by 4.4 billion kilowatt hours (KWh). The resultant 2.3 million tons of CO2 reduction is the equivalent of taking 380,000 vehicles off the road, or growing 53,000 tree seedlings for 10 years.
Total estimated cost of the programs is $306 million through 2015, varying from approximately $10 million this year to $75 million in 2015. The funding would be drawn from funds already designated for energy efficiency programs in the most recent rate plan approved by commission effective April 1.
Con Edison estimates an annual anticipated savings of 86 MW of demand, 1.1 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), and 27.7 million therms through four residential energy efficiency programs:
An Appliance Dealer Incentive program
A Residential Lighting program
A Residential Space Heating and Cooling program
A Home Energy Efficiency Kit
The company also estimates an annual anticipated savings of 292 MW and 3.3 billion kWh through implementation of seven commercial energy efficiency programs:
An Office Building program, focusing on larger office buildings
A Buyback program
An Education and Healthcare program, focusing on schools and hospitals
A Hospitality and Entertainment program
A Data Centers program
A Freezer-Case LED Lighting program
A Multi Family Building program
These programs (see details on fact sheet attached) were developed to build on the company's unique customer relationships, have a sector-by-sector approach specifically geared to its service area, and are designed to reduce both peak demand and energy consumption. If approved, Con Edison will incorporate the peak demand reductions into system planning so that that it can defer building certain new infrastructure.
A portion of the proposed programs, over 130MWs, is for the continuation of the company's Targeted DSM program designed to defer capital projects for infrastructure upgrades and expansion. Permanent energy efficiency projects installed in specific neighborhoods can defer the installation of cable, transformers, and other equipment.
In the past several years, Con Edison has contracted for over 190 MW of demand reduction through its targeted programs that began in 2004. Measures to achieve these reductions will be implemented through 2012.
Con Edison has the largest underground electrical system in North America with 94,000 miles of underground cables, enough to wrap the earth 3.6 times. The company also maintains 36,000 miles of overhead cables.
Con Edison expects to spend approximately $5 billion over the next three years on its electric delivery system to maintain reliability and support the significant economic growth projected for its New York City and Westchester County service area. EnergyNY, the company's recently announced plan to meet the future energy needs of its customers through infrastructure upgrades and energy efficiency programs, can be viewed at http://www.conEd.com/energyny.
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED - News), one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $13 billion in annual revenues and $28 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas, and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations, and customer service information, visit Con Edison's Web site at www.coned.com.
Con Edison Proposes New Energy Efficiency Programs for a Cleaner, Greener New York
Tuesday April 15, 3:17 pm ET
NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Apr 15, 2008 -- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) has filed a plan with the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) asking that a package of new energy efficiency programs be approved for implementation this summer.
"Con Edison's proposals represent a major part of the company's overall effort to achieve at least 500 megawatts (MW) of demand reduction by 2015," said Rebecca Craft, Con Edison's Director of Energy Efficiency Programs. "Reaching that goal would offset the need to power the equivalent of 500,000 homes. It coincides with the state's desire to realize a 15 percent reduction in electric consumption growth, significantly reducing carbon emissions over the same period."
The 11 residential and commercial programs proposed in the filing are designed to achieve 378 MW of demand reduction and reduce energy use overall by 4.4 billion kilowatt hours (KWh). The resultant 2.3 million tons of CO2 reduction is the equivalent of taking 380,000 vehicles off the road, or growing 53,000 tree seedlings for 10 years.
Total estimated cost of the programs is $306 million through 2015, varying from approximately $10 million this year to $75 million in 2015. The funding would be drawn from funds already designated for energy efficiency programs in the most recent rate plan approved by commission effective April 1.
Con Edison estimates an annual anticipated savings of 86 MW of demand, 1.1 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), and 27.7 million therms through four residential energy efficiency programs:
An Appliance Dealer Incentive program
A Residential Lighting program
A Residential Space Heating and Cooling program
A Home Energy Efficiency Kit
The company also estimates an annual anticipated savings of 292 MW and 3.3 billion kWh through implementation of seven commercial energy efficiency programs:
An Office Building program, focusing on larger office buildings
A Buyback program
An Education and Healthcare program, focusing on schools and hospitals
A Hospitality and Entertainment program
A Data Centers program
A Freezer-Case LED Lighting program
A Multi Family Building program
These programs (see details on fact sheet attached) were developed to build on the company's unique customer relationships, have a sector-by-sector approach specifically geared to its service area, and are designed to reduce both peak demand and energy consumption. If approved, Con Edison will incorporate the peak demand reductions into system planning so that that it can defer building certain new infrastructure.
A portion of the proposed programs, over 130MWs, is for the continuation of the company's Targeted DSM program designed to defer capital projects for infrastructure upgrades and expansion. Permanent energy efficiency projects installed in specific neighborhoods can defer the installation of cable, transformers, and other equipment.
In the past several years, Con Edison has contracted for over 190 MW of demand reduction through its targeted programs that began in 2004. Measures to achieve these reductions will be implemented through 2012.
Con Edison has the largest underground electrical system in North America with 94,000 miles of underground cables, enough to wrap the earth 3.6 times. The company also maintains 36,000 miles of overhead cables.
Con Edison expects to spend approximately $5 billion over the next three years on its electric delivery system to maintain reliability and support the significant economic growth projected for its New York City and Westchester County service area. EnergyNY, the company's recently announced plan to meet the future energy needs of its customers through infrastructure upgrades and energy efficiency programs, can be viewed at http://www.conEd.com/energyny.
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED - News), one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $13 billion in annual revenues and $28 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas, and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations, and customer service information, visit Con Edison's Web site at www.coned.com.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Portugal Telecom selects DS2 powerline technology for advanced, HD-ready IPTV
UPA-compliant Powerline technology helps Portugal Telecom´s MEO TV achieve ambitious subscriber growth.
Valencia, Spain, 15th April, 2008 – DS2, the leading technology innovator and global supplier of high-speed powerline communications technology and Portugal Telecom, the leading operator in the Portuguese telecommunications market, announced today that DS2´s UPA-compliant 200Mbps powerline technology has been selected to offer a remotely-managed, multi-channel IPTV service over power lines or coaxial cable that substantially reduces installation time and costs.
Portugal Telecom's IPTV subscribers can opt to install three Set-Top-Boxes (STB). The service supports simultaneous streaming of one HD channel and two SD channels on multiple TVs in the home. Thanks to the flexibility provided by DS2's powerline technology, Portugal Telecom's subscribers can install their STBs anywhere in their homes, without the need for any new wires. Taking advantage of the technology’s inherent robustness and flexibility, Portugal Telecom can use either the home coaxial network or the existing electrical wiring for IPTV content distribution. More than 60% of all MEO TV subscribers use DS2's 200 Mbps technology over electrical wiring as the standard home networking solution. The other 40% uses a variety of networking options, including DS2 technology over coaxial cables.
Service Providers deploying IPTV networks face significant problems to distribute IPTV services to every room in a subscriber’s home. Most homes do not have the cabling required for reliable IPTV distribution, and the option of installing these new cables in each home is very expensive and disruptive for the consumer. Wireless technology (802.11-based) does not have the bandwidth or the reliability required to carry HD video and suffers from interference problems in dense urban environments. DS2's 200 Mbps powerline technology provides a robust and secure connection using the existing electrical wires for the distribution of multiple IPTV channels throughout the home, even in densely populated areas.
DS2 technology reliably delivers multiple TV channels simultaneously, and has enough bandwidth to support HD services. In addition to guaranteed bandwidth, customizable QoS and reliable operation, only DS2-based solutions the support the DSL Forum's TR-069 remote management protocol a key feature for network management and control.
Victor Dominguez, VP Sales at DS2, said "As Service Providers continue their efforts to provide advanced video, audio and data services, they need an easy way to deliver those service anywhere in their customers' homes in a cost-effective way. DS2's UPA-compliant Powerline technology provides the perfect solution to Service Providers that want a reliable solution today and that need guaranteed interoperability with next generation 400 Mbps powerline technology."
UPA-compliant Powerline technology has helped to make Portugal Telecom's offering more attractive and convenient to consumers than competing satellite or cable TV services. During 2008, Portugal Telecom plans to increase its subscriber base by over 340%. Equipment manufacturers Comtrend Communications (http://www.comtrend.com) and Corinex Communications (http://www.corinex.com) provide UPA-compliant 200 Mbps network adapters to Portugal Telecom. Both Comtrend's and Corinex's devices are based on DS2' chipset and both have satisfied the exhaustive interoperability tests required to obtain the "UPA Plug Tested" logo.
Valencia, Spain, 15th April, 2008 – DS2, the leading technology innovator and global supplier of high-speed powerline communications technology and Portugal Telecom, the leading operator in the Portuguese telecommunications market, announced today that DS2´s UPA-compliant 200Mbps powerline technology has been selected to offer a remotely-managed, multi-channel IPTV service over power lines or coaxial cable that substantially reduces installation time and costs.
Portugal Telecom's IPTV subscribers can opt to install three Set-Top-Boxes (STB). The service supports simultaneous streaming of one HD channel and two SD channels on multiple TVs in the home. Thanks to the flexibility provided by DS2's powerline technology, Portugal Telecom's subscribers can install their STBs anywhere in their homes, without the need for any new wires. Taking advantage of the technology’s inherent robustness and flexibility, Portugal Telecom can use either the home coaxial network or the existing electrical wiring for IPTV content distribution. More than 60% of all MEO TV subscribers use DS2's 200 Mbps technology over electrical wiring as the standard home networking solution. The other 40% uses a variety of networking options, including DS2 technology over coaxial cables.
Service Providers deploying IPTV networks face significant problems to distribute IPTV services to every room in a subscriber’s home. Most homes do not have the cabling required for reliable IPTV distribution, and the option of installing these new cables in each home is very expensive and disruptive for the consumer. Wireless technology (802.11-based) does not have the bandwidth or the reliability required to carry HD video and suffers from interference problems in dense urban environments. DS2's 200 Mbps powerline technology provides a robust and secure connection using the existing electrical wires for the distribution of multiple IPTV channels throughout the home, even in densely populated areas.
DS2 technology reliably delivers multiple TV channels simultaneously, and has enough bandwidth to support HD services. In addition to guaranteed bandwidth, customizable QoS and reliable operation, only DS2-based solutions the support the DSL Forum's TR-069 remote management protocol a key feature for network management and control.
Victor Dominguez, VP Sales at DS2, said "As Service Providers continue their efforts to provide advanced video, audio and data services, they need an easy way to deliver those service anywhere in their customers' homes in a cost-effective way. DS2's UPA-compliant Powerline technology provides the perfect solution to Service Providers that want a reliable solution today and that need guaranteed interoperability with next generation 400 Mbps powerline technology."
UPA-compliant Powerline technology has helped to make Portugal Telecom's offering more attractive and convenient to consumers than competing satellite or cable TV services. During 2008, Portugal Telecom plans to increase its subscriber base by over 340%. Equipment manufacturers Comtrend Communications (http://www.comtrend.com) and Corinex Communications (http://www.corinex.com) provide UPA-compliant 200 Mbps network adapters to Portugal Telecom. Both Comtrend's and Corinex's devices are based on DS2' chipset and both have satisfied the exhaustive interoperability tests required to obtain the "UPA Plug Tested" logo.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Duke Energy CEO: Energy efficiency technology, such as smart grids, should be adopted immediately.
April 13, 2008 8:25 AM PDT
Duke Energy CEO: Coal not going away
Posted by Martin LaMonica
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--The chief executive of Duke Energy, James Rogers, is an unlikely advocate for policies to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. But the man who is building two new coal power plants is just that.
Rogers delivered a keynote speech at the MIT Energy Conference here on Saturday where he called for policies and technologies to bridge the fossil fuel-based energy industry of today with low-carbon alternatives.
Duke Energy CEO James Rogers at the MIT Energy Conference.
(Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET Networks)
Rogers heads a company that generates 90 percent of its electricity from burning coal or nuclear power to serve its 4 million customers. So it's not surprising that he says that "coal is not a four-letter word."
But even with his company's marriage to fossil fuels, the potential influence of Duke Energy and its like over the future of the energy industry is undeniable: Duke's capital budget to invest in technology and infrastructure is $5 billion this year.
Meanwhile, the total amount of venture capital that went into clean tech start-ups last year was in the range of $3 billion to $4 billion.
Rogers is one of several industry CEOs calling for regulations that put a price on polluting carbon dioxide and Duke Energy is a member of U.S. CAP (United States Climate Action Partnership), a consortium of large corporations trying to influence policy.
Technology research should be funded now without waiting for carbon regulations, which he expects to come into force in 2009 and 2010 followed by a transition period.
"A vision of a low-carbon world is a hallucination without technology," Rogers said. He said the U.S. federal government is funding research and development in energy at 50 percent of the level it was in the 1970s.
Energy efficiency technology, such as smart grids, should be adopted immediately. But policy makers need to create the same incentives for energy efficiency as they are for renewable energy, like wind and solar, he argued.
He called for "decarbonizing" the electricity power grid. Once plug-in hybrid vehicles come online, a cleaner power system will effectively address cleaning the transportation sector as well, he said.
"I think the technology can do it. We just need to spend the money," he said, complaining about a lack of focus on climate change among policy makers. "Where the hell is the sense of mission? The mission is solving climate change."
At the same time, Rogers cautioned against policies that will dramatically raise the price of electricity for consumers.
In particular, he said that certain states are at a disadvantage to one policy proposal that is the equivalent to a carbon tax because they generate power from coal, which is a dirtier form of power generation than natural gas or nuclear.
"If you have a consumer revolt, one, it will never get passed and secondly, even it does, it gets repealed. So it's very important for us to get that right...
(Policy) has got to be affordable, it's got to be a transition, it has got to make sense, and we need a political consensus to go forward. We can't afford to get started and stop. And we can't delay. We need to get started even faster," he said.
Rogers also called for a fundamental change to utility regulation that does not tie the company's revenues to the amount of power it sells.
Instead, the utilities that can run their power networks most efficiently through software should be the most successful financially, he said.
"I want to change my model so that I create value not by building power plants. I create value by optimizing those networks," Rogers said.
Duke Energy CEO: Coal not going away
Posted by Martin LaMonica
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--The chief executive of Duke Energy, James Rogers, is an unlikely advocate for policies to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. But the man who is building two new coal power plants is just that.
Rogers delivered a keynote speech at the MIT Energy Conference here on Saturday where he called for policies and technologies to bridge the fossil fuel-based energy industry of today with low-carbon alternatives.
Duke Energy CEO James Rogers at the MIT Energy Conference.
(Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET Networks)
Rogers heads a company that generates 90 percent of its electricity from burning coal or nuclear power to serve its 4 million customers. So it's not surprising that he says that "coal is not a four-letter word."
But even with his company's marriage to fossil fuels, the potential influence of Duke Energy and its like over the future of the energy industry is undeniable: Duke's capital budget to invest in technology and infrastructure is $5 billion this year.
Meanwhile, the total amount of venture capital that went into clean tech start-ups last year was in the range of $3 billion to $4 billion.
Rogers is one of several industry CEOs calling for regulations that put a price on polluting carbon dioxide and Duke Energy is a member of U.S. CAP (United States Climate Action Partnership), a consortium of large corporations trying to influence policy.
Technology research should be funded now without waiting for carbon regulations, which he expects to come into force in 2009 and 2010 followed by a transition period.
"A vision of a low-carbon world is a hallucination without technology," Rogers said. He said the U.S. federal government is funding research and development in energy at 50 percent of the level it was in the 1970s.
Energy efficiency technology, such as smart grids, should be adopted immediately. But policy makers need to create the same incentives for energy efficiency as they are for renewable energy, like wind and solar, he argued.
He called for "decarbonizing" the electricity power grid. Once plug-in hybrid vehicles come online, a cleaner power system will effectively address cleaning the transportation sector as well, he said.
"I think the technology can do it. We just need to spend the money," he said, complaining about a lack of focus on climate change among policy makers. "Where the hell is the sense of mission? The mission is solving climate change."
At the same time, Rogers cautioned against policies that will dramatically raise the price of electricity for consumers.
In particular, he said that certain states are at a disadvantage to one policy proposal that is the equivalent to a carbon tax because they generate power from coal, which is a dirtier form of power generation than natural gas or nuclear.
"If you have a consumer revolt, one, it will never get passed and secondly, even it does, it gets repealed. So it's very important for us to get that right...
(Policy) has got to be affordable, it's got to be a transition, it has got to make sense, and we need a political consensus to go forward. We can't afford to get started and stop. And we can't delay. We need to get started even faster," he said.
Rogers also called for a fundamental change to utility regulation that does not tie the company's revenues to the amount of power it sells.
Instead, the utilities that can run their power networks most efficiently through software should be the most successful financially, he said.
"I want to change my model so that I create value not by building power plants. I create value by optimizing those networks," Rogers said.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Power industry braces to spend US$1 trillion on upgrades !!!
Power industry braces to spend US$1 trillion on upgrades
APRIL 2008
The electric industry faces huge challenges in the next few decades as transmission is getting older and more congested, reserve margins are shrinking, new generation needs to be built and climate change ...
BPL Today
APRIL 2008
The electric industry faces huge challenges in the next few decades as transmission is getting older and more congested, reserve margins are shrinking, new generation needs to be built and climate change ...
BPL Today
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Ambient takes $10.7M from Duke Energy for smart grid tech
Chris Morrison | April 8th, 2008
Energy utilities are getting with the program when it comes to smart grids, and that’s translating into interest in a generation of startups innovating new ways to track how energy is distributed across large networks.
A startup that is also traded on the over-the-counter bulletin boards, Ambient Corp. (OTCBB: ABTG) works on smart grid tech with utilities on the east coast. That includes Duke Energy, which just inked a $10.7 million contract with the company to further develop the technology, according to VentureWire (subscription required).
The investment follows closely on two others into similar companies: eMeter just received $12.5 million, and last week, GridPoint, which also works with Duke, took on $15 million more. But there’s plenty of room in the market; as we wrote several years ago, the smart grid space may be worth as much as $45 billion.
Ambient, which is based in Boston, also picked up a $2.5 million investment in January.
Energy utilities are getting with the program when it comes to smart grids, and that’s translating into interest in a generation of startups innovating new ways to track how energy is distributed across large networks.
A startup that is also traded on the over-the-counter bulletin boards, Ambient Corp. (OTCBB: ABTG) works on smart grid tech with utilities on the east coast. That includes Duke Energy, which just inked a $10.7 million contract with the company to further develop the technology, according to VentureWire (subscription required).
The investment follows closely on two others into similar companies: eMeter just received $12.5 million, and last week, GridPoint, which also works with Duke, took on $15 million more. But there’s plenty of room in the market; as we wrote several years ago, the smart grid space may be worth as much as $45 billion.
Ambient, which is based in Boston, also picked up a $2.5 million investment in January.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Ambient Introduces Newest Communications Node, X-2000- Key Component of Ambient Smart Grid(TM)
Monday April 7, 9:00 am ET
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG - News) announced today the incorporation of key design innovations into the latest model of its communications node, commercially known as the X-2000. Ambient’s hybrid platform, Ambient Smart Grid™, supports multiple communications technologies such as cellular, fiber and power line carrier along with previously supported technologies such as Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) and Wi-Fi.
The combination of a flexible modular communications platform based on a single device, the Ambient X-2000, minimizes utility equipment needed at the transformer. The X-2000 also incorporates Ambient’s current and voltage sensing capabilities; very important for utilities to monitor power delivery and operational status.
The Ambient Smart Grid™ enables a two-way, real-time communications platform, utilizing the X-2000, to serve the “last mile” backhaul, necessary for utilities to implement smart grid applications such as Advanced Meter Reading (AMR), real-time pricing, Demand Side Management (DSM) and direct load control. When combined, these applications can offer economic, operational and environmental benefits for utilities and utility customers.
Ambient first introduced multiple high-speed BPL interfaces and Wi-Fi into its nodes in early 2005, and continues to demonstrate its ability to adapt and keep pace with the changing needs of electric utilities with numerous wireless and wire-line technology combinations available now for implementation. Ambient’s flexible hybrid communications platform, managed by Ambient’s Network Management System, AmbientNMS™, meets the needs of utilities modernizing their grids for the information age by providing a single platform for multiple applications such as AMR, SCADA and sensor networks.
“In its Grid 2030: A National Vision for Electricity’s Second 100 Years, the Department of Energy (DOE) has stated that our electrical grid, ‘the supreme engineering achievement of the 20th century, is aging, inefficient, and congested, and incapable of meeting the future energy needs’. The DOE predicts a 20% increase in peak demand for electricity over the next ten years, which will only worsen in the future. Thus, creating a new, smart electrical grid will be essential in addressing some of the problems that exist today,” stated Ram Rao, CTO of Ambient.
“Addressing these concerns and very serious issues, we have designed the X-2000 to enable utilities to deploy a scalable hybrid communications infrastructure that meets the specific requirements for different segments of their distribution system while minimizing the operational and management overhead, with the attainable goal of creating a truly smart grid,” continued Mr. Rao.
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG - News) announced today the incorporation of key design innovations into the latest model of its communications node, commercially known as the X-2000. Ambient’s hybrid platform, Ambient Smart Grid™, supports multiple communications technologies such as cellular, fiber and power line carrier along with previously supported technologies such as Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) and Wi-Fi.
The combination of a flexible modular communications platform based on a single device, the Ambient X-2000, minimizes utility equipment needed at the transformer. The X-2000 also incorporates Ambient’s current and voltage sensing capabilities; very important for utilities to monitor power delivery and operational status.
The Ambient Smart Grid™ enables a two-way, real-time communications platform, utilizing the X-2000, to serve the “last mile” backhaul, necessary for utilities to implement smart grid applications such as Advanced Meter Reading (AMR), real-time pricing, Demand Side Management (DSM) and direct load control. When combined, these applications can offer economic, operational and environmental benefits for utilities and utility customers.
Ambient first introduced multiple high-speed BPL interfaces and Wi-Fi into its nodes in early 2005, and continues to demonstrate its ability to adapt and keep pace with the changing needs of electric utilities with numerous wireless and wire-line technology combinations available now for implementation. Ambient’s flexible hybrid communications platform, managed by Ambient’s Network Management System, AmbientNMS™, meets the needs of utilities modernizing their grids for the information age by providing a single platform for multiple applications such as AMR, SCADA and sensor networks.
“In its Grid 2030: A National Vision for Electricity’s Second 100 Years, the Department of Energy (DOE) has stated that our electrical grid, ‘the supreme engineering achievement of the 20th century, is aging, inefficient, and congested, and incapable of meeting the future energy needs’. The DOE predicts a 20% increase in peak demand for electricity over the next ten years, which will only worsen in the future. Thus, creating a new, smart electrical grid will be essential in addressing some of the problems that exist today,” stated Ram Rao, CTO of Ambient.
“Addressing these concerns and very serious issues, we have designed the X-2000 to enable utilities to deploy a scalable hybrid communications infrastructure that meets the specific requirements for different segments of their distribution system while minimizing the operational and management overhead, with the attainable goal of creating a truly smart grid,” continued Mr. Rao.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Duke Energy to purchase $10.7MM AMBIENT (ABTG) Equipment and Services for Commercial Deployment of Smart Grid !!!
See: Yahoo Finance for Ambient Corp. ABTG.OB
On April 1, 2008, Ambient Corporation (“Ambient “ or the "Company") and Duke Energy (“Duke”), one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, entered into a Commercial Deployment Agreement (the “Agreement”) pursuant to which Ambient Smart Grid equipment and technology will be deployed over portions of Duke’s electric power distribution grid.
Under the terms of the Agreement, Duke will be purchasing from the Company Smart Grid equipment and services valued at approximately $10.7MM. The Company and Duke will both exert commercially reasonable efforts including, without limitation, the dedication of appropriate staff, facilities and equipment as well as access to facilities and sites to carry out the Deployment. In addition to the equipment to be supplied by Ambient, the Company will be providing engineering and technical support as needed to design, support and assist in the completion of the Deployment.
===
Previous articles: Duke Energy's spending plan has nearly $1 billion for 'smart grid'
September 18. 2007
BPL TODAY
Duke Energy plans to spend $975 million over the next five years on what it calls the "utility of the future . . . keep reading(subscription needed) BPL Today
Click and Read:
DUKE ENERGY pushes for AMBIENT/DS2 G2 200Mbps BPL gears in N. Carolina
Click and Read:
Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) has Expanded Broadband over Power Line Deployment with DUKE ENERGY (NYSE: DUK)
IMHO ... "The above IS A GREAT NEWS for BPL stock investors" !!!
On April 1, 2008, Ambient Corporation (“Ambient “ or the "Company") and Duke Energy (“Duke”), one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, entered into a Commercial Deployment Agreement (the “Agreement”) pursuant to which Ambient Smart Grid equipment and technology will be deployed over portions of Duke’s electric power distribution grid.
Under the terms of the Agreement, Duke will be purchasing from the Company Smart Grid equipment and services valued at approximately $10.7MM. The Company and Duke will both exert commercially reasonable efforts including, without limitation, the dedication of appropriate staff, facilities and equipment as well as access to facilities and sites to carry out the Deployment. In addition to the equipment to be supplied by Ambient, the Company will be providing engineering and technical support as needed to design, support and assist in the completion of the Deployment.
===
Previous articles: Duke Energy's spending plan has nearly $1 billion for 'smart grid'
September 18. 2007
BPL TODAY
Duke Energy plans to spend $975 million over the next five years on what it calls the "utility of the future . . . keep reading(subscription needed) BPL Today
Click and Read:
DUKE ENERGY pushes for AMBIENT/DS2 G2 200Mbps BPL gears in N. Carolina
Click and Read:
Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) has Expanded Broadband over Power Line Deployment with DUKE ENERGY (NYSE: DUK)IMHO ... "The above IS A GREAT NEWS for BPL stock investors" !!!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Boulder, CO: America’s First Smart Grid Town
April 2, 2008
by Cate Trotter
The Smart Grid and all of its energy-saving intelligence is coming to Boulder, Colorado, making this picturesque town at the foot of the Rockies poised to become the nation’s first fully integrated Smart Grid City within the next few years! Chosen by Xcel Energy for its location, ideal size and current infrastructure, Boulder was also chosen because of in-place smart grid initiatives through University of Colorado and several other nearby institutions. Xcel Energy and its Smart Grid Consortium will start research over the next few weeks and the first phase of Smart Grid City could be in place as early as August 2008!
The key difference between the centralized, inefficient grid of today and smart grids are identifiable access points, enabling interaction between nodes in the system to give more control over consumption. This builds a more distributed, flexible and reliable system. Energy can be collected from a range of sources connected to it, such as wind turbines or even, in times of exceptional need, grid-connected hybrid cars.
Monitoring and communication across the grid is done remotely in real-time, optimizing the entire system by making it more responsive and informative. Feedback to users and appliances is also much better, improving understanding to reduce energy use. Dynamic pricing reduces pressure at peak times. Fault detection will improve. Supply will be better matched to demand. And power and broadband could even be supplied over the same lines. New devices are being developed to make the most of the technology, such as a new washing machine by Whirlpool which powers down certain functions when it discovers that the grid is under pressure.
Widespread adoption of smart grid technology is likely to be years down the line but it`s great to see we`re making headway!
by Cate Trotter
The Smart Grid and all of its energy-saving intelligence is coming to Boulder, Colorado, making this picturesque town at the foot of the Rockies poised to become the nation’s first fully integrated Smart Grid City within the next few years! Chosen by Xcel Energy for its location, ideal size and current infrastructure, Boulder was also chosen because of in-place smart grid initiatives through University of Colorado and several other nearby institutions. Xcel Energy and its Smart Grid Consortium will start research over the next few weeks and the first phase of Smart Grid City could be in place as early as August 2008!
The key difference between the centralized, inefficient grid of today and smart grids are identifiable access points, enabling interaction between nodes in the system to give more control over consumption. This builds a more distributed, flexible and reliable system. Energy can be collected from a range of sources connected to it, such as wind turbines or even, in times of exceptional need, grid-connected hybrid cars.
Monitoring and communication across the grid is done remotely in real-time, optimizing the entire system by making it more responsive and informative. Feedback to users and appliances is also much better, improving understanding to reduce energy use. Dynamic pricing reduces pressure at peak times. Fault detection will improve. Supply will be better matched to demand. And power and broadband could even be supplied over the same lines. New devices are being developed to make the most of the technology, such as a new washing machine by Whirlpool which powers down certain functions when it discovers that the grid is under pressure.
Widespread adoption of smart grid technology is likely to be years down the line but it`s great to see we`re making headway!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Korea Showcases Power Line (PLC) Networking
Written by T_Korea
Wednesday, 02 April 2008
Power Line Communications (PLC) carrying information over existing power lines is arousing strong interest and producing tangible outcomes recently.
Intermingling with digital technology, PLC is overcoming handicaps such as low transmission speed and reliability and expanding into broadband communications.
Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) recently developed PLC-based healthcare system allowing users to access real time health care information and professional advices without worrying about communication fees. PLC is also being applied to related areas such as integrated meter-reading and energy-management system on a test basis.
Meanwhile, KERI and Korea Electric Power Corporation will host IEEE ISPLC 2008 (International Symposium on Power-Line Communications and Its Applications) for three days from April 2 in Jeju Island. On this occasion, KERI and KEPCO will introduce research outcomes and demonstrate Korea’s PLC technology using the test bed in Jeju. KERI says “The test bed in Jeju is a pilot networking complex using real networking facility and provides a complete model for commercial PLC network.”
The demonstration in Jeju will present wireless Internet services using high-voltage (22.9kV), high-speed PLC network, automation system for electric power supply and remote metering based on high-speed PLC.
PLC fulfills power supply and data transmission at one time over a single power line. It is used for home network controlling home appliances such as TV, refrigerators, air conditioners and micro-wave ovens as well as PC.
Wednesday, 02 April 2008
Power Line Communications (PLC) carrying information over existing power lines is arousing strong interest and producing tangible outcomes recently.
Intermingling with digital technology, PLC is overcoming handicaps such as low transmission speed and reliability and expanding into broadband communications.
Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) recently developed PLC-based healthcare system allowing users to access real time health care information and professional advices without worrying about communication fees. PLC is also being applied to related areas such as integrated meter-reading and energy-management system on a test basis.
Meanwhile, KERI and Korea Electric Power Corporation will host IEEE ISPLC 2008 (International Symposium on Power-Line Communications and Its Applications) for three days from April 2 in Jeju Island. On this occasion, KERI and KEPCO will introduce research outcomes and demonstrate Korea’s PLC technology using the test bed in Jeju. KERI says “The test bed in Jeju is a pilot networking complex using real networking facility and provides a complete model for commercial PLC network.”
The demonstration in Jeju will present wireless Internet services using high-voltage (22.9kV), high-speed PLC network, automation system for electric power supply and remote metering based on high-speed PLC.
PLC fulfills power supply and data transmission at one time over a single power line. It is used for home network controlling home appliances such as TV, refrigerators, air conditioners and micro-wave ovens as well as PC.
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