Getting a quick response during utility infrastructure outages

SkyBitz has worked on a solution for disaster recovery teams to get a quick response during utility infrastructure outages.

The solution, based on SkyBitz’s Smart Sensor Tracking management solution, allows utility companies to leverage real-time information about the location, status and environmental conditions of their assets. This includes the deployment of teams to remote locations during network outages, as well as efficient selection, retrieval and redirection of assets.

The disaster recovery solution provides an active communication channel between critical mission command and control systems and teams and assets in the field through bi-directional messaging capabilities. The SkyBitz satellite-based solution has a ubiquitous coverage and operates in remote areas that lack terrestrial coverage.

The solution can be used to comply with FEMA cost recovery requirements.

According to the company, the SkyBitz solution is available and compliant with the objectives of the recently signed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Title XIII funding for smart grid and improvements for reliability and recovery from disruptions and integration of renewable generation.

The company believes that initiatives like smart grid, automated metering infrastructure and demand response can all benefit substantially from investments in remote asset management, condition monitoring and metering.

Related links: Utilities, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Smart Meters

Pepco Holdings opts for GE’s smart meters

Electric utility Pepco Holdings, Inc., (PHI) has chosen GE’s smart meters for use in the deployment of its advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in the state of Delaware.

Installation of the GE meters is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009 in Delaware.

PHI has chosen to work with GE at a stage when the utility is working on its vision of changing the relationship with its customers.

Joseph M. Rigby, president and chief executive officer of PHI, said with new digital smart meters and the smart grid, PHI’s utilities will be able to provide up-to-date energy information and tools that will help its customers manage their energy use and costs.

Communications technologies within GE’s smart meters will also help PHI detect and better respond to power outages, further improving the energy experience for PHI consumers.

Related links: Utilities, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Smart Meters

Accenture to forge connection between utilities and city authorities

Accenture has taken an initiative to accelerate the introduction of smart grids by connecting utilities and city authorities that are committed to deploying the same.

Called The Accenture Intelligent City Network, the initiative connects utility executives and metropolitan leaders to exchange knowledge and practical experience related to planning, challenges and advantages of smart-grid technology.

The focus will be on creation of blueprints for the deployment of smart grids, including the integration of smart grids with broader investments in intelligent infrastructures, such as smart buildings and transportation, as well as new technologies and emerging standards.

Accenture believes that city authorities are in the best position to coordinate with the public- and private-sector stakeholders to transform the energy consumption habits of local communities.

Initial members of the Accenture Intelligent City Network include Xcel Energy, East China Grid Co., a Chinese transmission company; Russian Interregional Distribution Grid Company of Centre (MRSK of Centre), which will be creating an “intelligent” city in Belgorod in collaboration with the regional government; Dutch utility Alliander N.V. and the City of Amsterdam.

Mike Carlson, Xcel Energy’s vice president & chief information officer, said that energy management, customer service and environmental management strategies can all be enhanced with smart-grid technologies and through a partnership between utilities and city and state regulatory leaders.

Related links: Accenture, Utilities, Intelligent infrastructure, Xcel Energy, energy management

Smart grid industry should adopt Security Development Lifecycle: study

A study has highlighted that smart grid technology is susceptible to common security vulnerabilities such as protocol tampering, buffer overflows, persistent, and non-persistent rootkits, and code propagation.

These vulnerabilities, according to IOActive, a provider of application and smart grid security services, could result in attacks to the smart grid platform, causing utilities to lose momentary system control of their advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) smart meter devices to unauthorised third parties. This would expose utility companies to possible fraud, extortion attempts, lawsuits or wide spread system interruption.

Joshua Pennell, president and CEO, IOActive, recommended that the smart grid industry should follow a proven formal Security Development Lifecycle, as exemplified by Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing initiative of 2001, to guide and govern the future development of smart grid technologies.

IOActive, which verified significant security issues within multiple smart grid platforms, emphasised that if security is not addressed in the design and implementation of these emerging technologies, it may prove cost prohibitive to address them once the devices are fully deployed in the field.

In terms of deployments, it shared that over two million smart meters are being used currently in the US and it is estimated that the more than 73 participating utilities have ordered 17 million additional smart meter devices.

Related links: Security, Utilities, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Smart Meters

FERC steps up smart grid development

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has come with a proposed policy statement and action plan that would help set the “rules of the road” of a modern grid.

The proposed policy statement seeks public comment on standards for four priority issues critical to the smooth functioning and operation of the Smart Grid.

After weighing public comments, FERC plans to adopt a final policy statement providing guidance to the electric power industry on standards for:

· Cyber security;
· Communications among regional market operators, utilities, service providers and consumers;
· Ensuring that the bulk power system operators have “wide-area situational awareness” with equipment that allows them to monitor and operate their systems; and
· Coordinating operation of the bulk power system with new and emerging technologies for renewable resources, demand resources, electricity storage and electric transportation systems.

Prioritising the development of key standards will speed up the process of achieving an interoperable smart grid, said Commissioner Suedeen Kelly.

Kelly said the proposed policy will require the sharing of information associated with smart grid deployments with the Smart Grid Clearinghouse being developed by the Department of Energy.

“This will help to demonstrate the real benefits that investing in a smart grid can bring to the public,” said Kelly.

As per the plan, smart grid advancements will apply digital technologies to the grid, and enable real-time coordination of information from both generating plants and demand-side resources.

Related links: FERC