City of Leesburg Launches Grid Modernization Project to Better Manage Electricity Loads and Empower Consumers PDF
City of Leesburg will implement GE's new integrated grid modernization solution specifically designed for small to mid-sized utilities to power projects
LEESBURG, FL.- December 19, 2011 - The city of Leesburg is modernizing the city's electric grid with a new set of advanced technologies designed to power 21st-century economic growth, increase energy efficiency, improve power reliability and empower its consumers. GE's new Grid IQ™: Solutions as a Service offering, an integrated grid modernization solution specifically designed for small to mid-sized utilities, that will enable the City to expand its current capabilities to deliver an array of energy services to better meet residents' energy needs.
These expanded capabilities offer new services and benefits for the residents of Leesburg:
• Access to more energy usage information
• Pre-payment options to better understand and control energy usage
• Online portal access to an array of information, including home energy
usage, patterns and billing
• Faster response to power outages
• Automated meter reading
"We're excited to bring advanced technologies to our electric grid and be a shining example throughout the United States," Paul Kalv, Electric Director & Chief Smart Grid Systems Architect, City of Leesburg. "Digital technology is driving energy demand, and we want to offer our residents more efficient, reliable and sustainable electricity. The usage data we collect from the smart meters, combined with the secure online portals we'll offer our residents, will give consumers information to help them better manage their energy usage and costs."
For the city of Leesburg, GE's offering will include an Advanced Metering Infrastructure network, which will allow the City to wirelessly transmit metering data from residents' home to the utility; a Meter Data Management System, which will store the vast amounts of data that will now be available through the metering infrastructure; and a Demand Response Optimization System, which will allow the City to better manage its electricity loads, especially during peak times in Leesburg (3-6PM). As the technology provider, GE will be responsible for managing and maintaining the applications for the City of Leesburg at its Data Center. However, Leesburg will continue to own the data and manage its operations.
The City will begin deploying the first phase of technology to 24,000 customers during the spring of 2012, with Leesburg residents beginning to receive some of the new services in the latter part of 2012. The entire project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2013.
"GE designed our Grid IQ™: Solutions as a Service offering specifically to meet the needs of community-owned utilities, like Leesburg," said Mike Carlson, general manager, smart grid solutions for GE's Digital Energy business. "We understand these types of utilities face the same challenges as the rest of the world with rising costs, an aging infrastructure and environmental concerns – and need options that can help solve these challenges efficiently and quickly. We are excited to launch this new technology solution for small to mid-sized utilities, and we commend the city of Leesburg for embracing advanced technology to more efficiently meet its consumers' growing energy needs."
GE's Grid IQ™: Solutions as a Service features three different delivery models: implemented solutions, GE-hosted data service and service-based offerings, all of which can include advanced metering infrastructure, meter data management systems, demand response management system, geospatial information services and outage management system. The solution also will integrate with existing utility systems, such as customer information systems, integrated voice response and customer billing.
More information about GE's Grid IQ Solutions as a Service.
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