Concho Valley Electric Co-op Modernizes Grid with Sensus FlexNet Utility Network
Upgraded infrastructure will lay foundation for dynamic pricing and DA applications.
- (1888PressRelease) July 19, 2012 - Raleigh, N.C. - Concho Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC) will install the FlexNetTM utility communications network from Sensus as part of a thorough distribution system upgrade to serve its approximately 7,200 members in a ten-county territory surrounding San Angelo, Texas. The FlexNet system is a long-range radio solution that is based on open standards and communicates via dedicated, primary-use, FCC-protected spectrum.
Full deployment is scheduled to start in August and will be completed by late fall 2012. The project calls for installation of 13,000 Sensus iCONŽ electric meters in predominantly residential applications. Fourteen base stations and antennae will create a network canopy covering more than 4,000 square miles of mainly rural terrain.
CVEC's director of engineering operations, Victor Thompson, explained that the grid modernization is part of a work plan designed several years ago to replace its power line carrier-based advanced meter reading system for a more robust, secure network that can support multiple applications.
"Our plan ranges from the very basic, such as 'last gasp' capabilities from the meter in outage conditions, to more complex demand side management programs including dynamic pricing, plus we wanted the same network to handle distribution automation functions as well," said Thompson. "To do that, you need very fast updating and we were impressed by the Sensus offering when we talked to other FlexNet users."
CVEC started with a pilot of FlexNet and several hundred meters in October 2011. Low latency speeds met expectations as did range. Under ideal conditions, one meter can quickly transmit accurate data over 60 miles back to the base station. CVEC will integrate FlexNet with existing outage management and integrated voice response systems, as well as new customer information and meter data management systems via a MultiSpeak interface.
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) is serving as general contractor for the project.
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About Concho Valley Electric Cooperative
Concho Valley Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative that provides service to all or parts of ten counties, mostly in rural areas. CVEC was organized in 1940 and is headquartered in San Angelo, Texas.
About Sensus
Sensus is a leading utility infrastructure company offering smart meters, communication systems, software and services for the electric, gas, and water industries. Sensus technology helps utilities drive operational efficiency and customer engagement with applications that include advanced meter reading, data acquisition, demand response, distribution automation, home area networking and outdoor lighting control. Customers worldwide trust the innovation, quality and reliability of Sensus solutions for the intelligent use and conservation of energy and water. Learn more at www.sensus.com.
To follow Twitter updates from Sensus, please visit http://twitter.com/sensussmartgrid.
Contacts
Sensus
Linda Palmer
Manager, Corporate Communications
(919) 845-4021 or (919) 259-5778 (cell)
Linda.Palmer ( @ ) Sensus dot com
The McDonnell Group
Marc Marton
Director, Public Relations
(770) 587-3985
Marc ( @ ) themcdonnellgroup dot com
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