Looking at a Smart and Cooperative Broadband Future
Posted by Josh Seidemann on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 · 
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I have my Camp NARUC coffee mug; two August weeks in Lansing, Michigan, are not easily forgotten. And, perhaps as an outgrowth of that experience, as well as my time on the state-agency side of the industry, I enjoy the semi-annual gathering of regulators and the determined academic-types who attend the meetings. While many of the rest of us in Washington hover in the ether that fills the space between policy and law, NARUC is often populated by the ladies and the guys who crunch the numbers and deliver locally-focused policy projections with numbing dedication. And, as a trade-show junkie, I also have a soft spot for vendor pens and foam sumo wrestlers, and conversations with people who are ready to deliver the next great step in telecom or energy technology. Read more
AT&T Partners with Digi on Smart Grid Applications
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, August 22, 2011 · (1) ·
AT&T announced last week that it will partner with Digi International to develop a suite of products and services designed to bring connectivity to energy-oriented devices in homes and businesses. The applications, called Digi X-Grid Solutions, will be used for the 13 million smart meters that connect to AT&T’s wireless network. (This figure includes both meters directly connected to AT&T’s network and meters that use AT&T as backhaul.) In addition, utilities and software providers that develop offerings for the smart grid industry will be able to use the solutions. Read more
Vermont Utilities Collaborate on 4G Smart Grid Network
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, July 25, 2011 · ·
Last week, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin announced a collaborative agreement between Green Mountain Power, Central Vermont Public Service Corp. (CVPS), and Vermont Telephone Co. (VTel) to establish a broadband-enabled smart grid for the state.
Shulmin said that the new pact between the state’s two electric companies and its local telco will not only provide Vermont’s citizens with more control over their energy consumption, but it also will expand access to broadband and telecommunications services, and boost job creation and economic development. Read more
Cincinnati Bell to Offer Energy Services
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, June 27, 2011 · ·
Cincinnati Bell sees a big future in the convergence of telecom and energy. The company announced last week that it will sell electric services to its residential customers through its new subsidiary Cincinnati Bell Energy.
Bell Energy has entered into a partnership with Viridian Energy, a Connecticut-based supplier of electricity from renewable sources. Together they’ll offer 100% green electric service to Bell’s residential customers in its southwest Ohio territory.
The service is possible thanks to a new state electric deregulation law that separates generation charges from distribution charges on a customer’s bill. Under the law, the incumbent provider Duke Energy continues to provide the electric service connection and it will handle billing and service issues. However, the customer now can chose what company he wants to provide the electricity. This cost makes up the generation portion of the customer’s bill, typically about two-thirds of the total. Read more
Verizon, eMeter Partner on Smart Grid Data Management
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, February 7, 2011 · (1) ·
As we’ve discussed in the past, in order to deploy the smart grid utilities will need last-mile and middle-mile telecom infrastructure; but they also may need assistance managing the data collected from the widespread installation of smart meters.
In an attempt to address the evolving needs of the utility industry, Verizon has joined forces with eMeter, a smart grid software provider. The two companies are working on a new service that will provide utilities with eMeter’s meter data management software as a managed service in a cloud-based format, accessible via Verizon’s IP network.
Both parties said the partnership will help meet utility needs for advanced, smart grid solutions with built-in security, reliability and new capabilities. Further, since the new service will be cloud-based, utilities will be able to pay for it on a per-user basis, without the need for large capital investment. The service is expected to be available in the spring. Read more
Telco/Utility Partner for Rural Indiana Smart Grid Network
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 6, 2010 · ·
During the past few months the New Edge has reported on the emerging smart grid network and suggested that there might be an opportunity for rural telcos and electric providers to work collaboratively to build out the broadband infrastructure. Central Indiana Power (CIP) and Hancock Telecom are putting this idea into action.
Under the terms of the new agreement, CIP will leverage Hancock’s FTTH network for smart metering as well as prepare for the demand response initiatives proposed by Wabash Valley Power Association, which provides power to CIP and other utilities in the region. Read more
Wi-Fi Alliance and HomePlug Powerline Alliance Collaborate on Smart Grid
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, November 8, 2010 · ·
The Wi-Fi Alliance and the HomePlug Powerline Alliance have entered into an agreement to facilitate and promote the adoption of both technologies in smart grid applications. The agreement enables cooperative efforts for joint technical review of Wi-Fi Alliance and HomePlug specifications and standards that facilitate interoperability of smart grid applications. The organizations also will engage in joint outreach to promote the adoption of wireless and powerline technologies for smart grid applications. Read more