Landis+Gyr, Central Lincoln PUD sign agreement for dynamic voltage management project

Thursday, Dec 20, 2012

ATLANTA, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TheCentral Lincoln People's Utility District, a leading Oregon electric utility, has signed an agreement with Landis+Gyr to deploy a voltage management solution designed to deliver improved grid-side energy efficiency.

The agreement establishes a demonstration project with Central Lincoln using EDGE(SM) CVR software, from DVI, in conjunction with Landis+Gyr's Gridstream^® RF advanced metering network to monitor and adjust distribution circuit voltage. Using detailed voltage information from Landis+Gyr meters, the EDGE software will allow the utility to reduce voltage levels, targeting the most efficient band of the required voltage range, thereby conserving electricity.

"After recently completing our Gridstream advanced meter deployment, we've been investigating ways to extend the value of our smart grid systems. Voltage management has a number of benefits as both a way to increase energy efficiency and improve power quality," said Bruce Lovelin, Chief Engineer/Systems Engineering Manager at Central Lincoln. "We look forward to demonstrating real energy and cost savings with this project."

This voltage management solution allows utilities to automate control of voltage at the substation level using a SCADA system to control voltage regulators, load tap changers and capacitor banks via the Gridstream network. The EDGE software package also provides validation of energy savings using statistical analysis of baseline voltage data compared to voltage data for a managed voltage period under similar operating conditions.

The demonstration project was approved for funding by the Bonneville Power Administration, a federal nonprofit agency that markets wholesale hydroelectric power, operates high voltage transmission lines, and promotes energy efficiency in the Pacific Northwest. Central Lincoln is working with BPA to certify Central Lincoln's proposed method for validating voltage savings with the Gridstream-enabled EDGE solution.

"With Gridstream, Central Lincoln has the ability to monitor premise-level voltage data within minutes from every Landis+Gyr meter," said Kent Hedrick, Director of Distribution Grid Management at Landis+Gyr.

"Combining that information with the analytical controls in the EDGE product provides a leading-edge solution for significant energy savings from precision managed voltage reduction, as well as the ability to improve power factor and overall power quality."

Central Lincoln People's Utility District is Oregon's fourth-largest electric utility, serving approximately 55,000 people in portions of Douglas, Coos, Lane, and Lincoln counties.

About Landis+Gyr

Landis+Gyr is the leading global provider of integrated energy management products tailored to energy company needs and unique in its ability to deliver true end-to-end advanced metering solutions. Today, the Company offers the broadest portfolio of products and services in the electricity metering industry, and is paving the way for the next generation of smart grid.  With annualized sales of more than US$1.5 billion, Landis+Gyr, an independent growth platform of the Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502) and 40% owned by the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, operates in 30 countries across five continents, and employs 5,000 people with the sole mission of helping the world manage energy better. More information is available at landisgyr.com.

SOURCE Landis+Gyr