LONDON — (Marketwire) — 05/07/12 — CURRENT, a leading global innovator of utility grid infrastructure and software solutions, today announced that UK Power Networks and Western Power Distribution (WPD) have selected the company-s Connected Intelligence® power quality analytic sensors for a pilot initiative in the United Kingdom. CURRENT-s solutions are being trialled as part of the LV sensor evaluation project, which is being funded by the Office of Gas and Electricity Market-s (Ofgem) Low Carbon Networks Fund (LCNF) in support of Great Britain-s transition to a low carbon economy. This is one project of many, which distribution network operators such as UK Power Networks and WPD are running as part of the fund.
Ofgem has allocated up to £500M over five years to fund projects to prepare electricity networks for a low carbon future. The projects at UK Power Networks and WPD will use “smart analytics” to gather and analyse electrical grid information with the aim of better understanding the implications of the growing use of low carbon technologies on network planning. These projects also involve gaining a better understanding of user demand, managing network constraints, and illustrating the benefits of better communications between network operators and commercial customers.
CURRENT-s industry leading Connected Intelligence product portfolio, which encompasses advanced sensing, event management, and communications solutions, is an integral component of the projects at both utilities. The products combine a power quality analytic engine with sensors capable of being installed on live networks providing comprehensive load profiling, power quality analysis, asset monitoring, and event detection at the distribution transformer station. In addition, CURRENT-s OpenGrid® enterprise software will be used for grid and network monitoring.
“CURRENT is committed to providing innovative sensing and event management solutions to distribution network operators looking to increase reliability, integrate renewables, and make strides toward a lower carbon network,” said CURRENT CEO and President Tom Willie. “We are extremely excited that our solutions are being embraced by two of the industry leading DNOs in the UK market for projects which are awarded based on innovation and potential positive impact on the environment.”
CURRENT will be exhibiting its distribution and power quality sensors at IEEE PES T&D 2012 (booth #4384) in Orlando, Florida, May 8-10.
CURRENT provides leading distribution automation solutions, including core infrastructure and software products that enable Connected Intelligence for utilities around the world. CURRENT provides applications that support utilities looking to implement smart metering, improve reliability, and enable grid communication. With over a decade of demonstrated innovation, CURRENT-s products are a foundational component of some of the most advanced grid modernization deployments in the world.
CURRENT has operations around the world including the United States, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Turkey, Romania, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Australia, and China. For more information about CURRENT, please go to .
UK Power Networks distributes power to a quarter of Britain-s population through its electricity networks serving London, the South East and the East of England. The company-s 5,000 employees are dedicated to delivering a safe, secure electricity supply to about eight million homes and businesses via its networks of substations, overhead lines and underground cables. UK Power Networks will be distributing the electricity at many venues for this year-s international sporting events. We are also undertaking trials to ensure our electricity networks support the transition to a low carbon future.
Customers pay their bills to supply companies but UK Power Networks delivers the power across our three areas. The industry regulator Ofgem sets an allowed revenue to distribution companies so that they can maintain safe and reliable electricity supplies. If customers are unfortunate enough to be affected by a power cut or have another issue with the electricity supply to their property, they should contact UK Power Networks.
Western Power Distribution (WPD) is the distribution network operator for the Midlands, South West England and South Wales, and is responsible for delivering electricity to approximately 7.7 million customers in the UK.
WPD is not an electricity supply company and does not bill customers in the UK. Its responsibility is to distribute electricity from the point of generation to homes and businesses.
WPD is owned by Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL). PPL controls or owns about 19,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets, and delivers electricity and natural gas to about 10 million customers in the United States and the United Kingdom.
For further information about the low carbon projects that WPD are involved in, please visit .
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