National Grid “Dream Team’’ for Northeast’s Largest, Most Comprehensive Smart Grid Pilot
What does the energy system of the future look like? A smart grid pilot project in Massachusetts may help show us the way.
National Grid has tapped Verizon to be part of a 'dream team' of technology and business companies that will help test and deliver the energy system of the future for more than 15,000 customers in Worcester, Mass. National Grid characterized the deployment as "Northeast's largest, most comprehensive smart grid pilot.''
"This assembly of organizations is our smart grid 'dream team'," Cheri Warren, vice president, Asset Management for National Grid, said in a company news release. "They are the best and brightest in their respective disciplines and share our vision for delivering exceptional benefits for customers. We are excited to have them on board as we make progress toward full deployment of the pilot."
National Grid's smart grid pilot -- which was developed together with customers, the city of Worcester and other key parties -- is designed to provide participating customers a new level of choice and control over their energy use through advanced technology, with the goals of empowering customers to save energy, increasing electric service reliability and improving response to power outages.
Verizon will work with National Grid and the other vendors to construct and deliver an end-to-end smart grid solution that includes smart meters, advanced communications technologies, in-home energy management tools, devices for electric system automation, as well as customer outreach and education, project management, integration and evaluation.
"Working with National Grid, we hope to contribute to a blueprint for smart grid adoption on a wide scale," said Mike Brander, vice president of Verizon's energy and utility practice. "Our world-class networks provide the foundation for end-to-end Internet protocol-based smart energy solutions, and we will apply our enterprise cloud and managed security capabilities to the project, working with our technology ecosystem to advance smart energy solutions for our customers."
The pilot calls for installation of advanced metering systems that provide the very latest in technology and security. National Grid's pilot was approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities in August 2012. Since then, the company has been communicating with customers about the program and recently completed early installation of approximately 5,000 advanced meters to help test system communications and allow for equipment adjustments before full pilot launch, which is planned for early in 2014.
Verizon has a long relationship with National Grid, which delivers gas and electricity to customers across Great Britain and the Northeastern United States. Verizon in 2010 entered into an agreement with National Grid, an international electricity and gas company, to develop to design, implement and manage a new global communications platform to support future innovation. The Verizon team worked with National Grid to develop the company's new fully managed communications capability, encompassing wide and local area networks, telecommunications services, voice services, selected security services, as well as video conferencing.
The 2010 initiative with Verizon was part of companywide transformation of National Grid's information services, a $27 million initiative to modernize its networks and telecommunications infrastructure.
Verizon is a leader delivering innovative energy solutions for utility companies to develop and deliver smart grid services that create sustainable energy services to consumers.
