|
Chatham, Ontario, Dec. 27, 2005 -- Chatham-Kent Hydro announced achieving a significant step toward fulfilling the Ontario Energy Board's smart metering vision with the successful interface between its TUNet wireless communications network and the Power Information Platform by eMeter (PIPe) meter data management system.
The TUNet / PIPe interface complies with the draft provincial smart metering guidelines that propose a central data repository in which energy usage data is consolidated. Easy access to and administration of daily consumption information - by individual utility, regional groupings, and provincial aggregate - will enable the province to determine where, when, and how much power is being consumed.
As a result, energy regulators will be able to set power generation policies that more closely match shifting demands, such as those experienced during heat waves or cold snaps when demand can potentially outstrip supply. Spike situations such as these can lead to blackouts, higher energy costs, and greater dependence on coal and nuclear generated power.
Chatham-Kent Hydro demonstrated the functionality of the process by collecting end-user interval consumption data via the TUNet (Tantalus Utility Network) system and then consolidating it in PIPe. The eMeter system can also provide business process management capabilities to support efficient operation of the overall smart meter system and handling of system data.
The new processes developed by Tantalus and eMeter allow LDCs to possess the timely and accurate information required for progressive energy management, and to provide regulators and operators of the provincial electricity system direct access to crucial data in order to better understand energy usage patterns.
Chatham-Kent Hydro is serving as a bellwether for other Ontario utilities. It is one of the first utilities in the province to implement a smart metering solution that presents household consumption information via a web browser. Easy access to real-time data provides valuable operational data, such as outage reports, and gives customers unprecedented perspective about their electricity consumption as well as the ability to play an active role in conservation and cost containment.
| 
Web Exclusives 
| View all PennWell sites | View all PennWell events
Add RSS Feed
