Silver Spring Networks’ Enhanced Outage Detection Solution Delivers Industry-leading Smart Grid-based Outage Resolution

November 17, 2011

Tools

Standards-based systems integration plus unique simulation tools and services help improve operational efficiency and unlock greater value from the smart grid

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Silver Spring Networks, a leading smart grid networking platform and solutions provider, announced enhancements to its UtilityIQ Outage Detection System (ODS) software to help utilities identify and respond more efficiently, safely, and faster to system outages. The company also introduced the industry’s first solution that enables utilities to model and simulate smart grid behavior in outage scenarios. The offering leverages data from the smart grid network to deliver reliable and actionable information to existing Outage Management Systems (OMS). Together, the combined intelligence designed for both system outages and simulation tools enable utilities to improve service reliability for their customers and reduce operational costs related to outage preparedness and response.

UtilityIQ Outage Detection System addresses the challenges of integrating smart grid data into utilities’ Outage Management Systems. A robust smart grid network provides a tremendous amount of data during an outage that traditional OMS software should leverage. UtilityIQ ODS interprets this data more effectively so that utilities can quickly identify remaining outages, reduce operating costs, and update customers when power has been restored. Read more about this outage detection solution.

Along with the software update, Silver Spring is also delivering new outage simulation tools and services that allow utilities to simulate an outage of any size, from a single customer to a large feeder with thousands of homes and businesses. Unique in the industry, the new outage simulation capabilities enable utilities to understand network operations during an outage, requirements for system integration, and changes needed in business processes before an actual outage event occurs. As a result, utilities can maximize their operational savings and improve reliability while also building closer and more responsive relationships with their customers.

A Silver Spring utility client has leveraged the outage simulation and testing capabilities to better understand smart grid-based outage detection. The collaboration documented the behavior of the utility’s smart grid network during simulated outages and demonstrated that the network delivered outage data very effectively. The utility determined that for each outage scenario, the network delivered more than sufficient outage data to appropriately locate and scope the outage. The testing also highlighted the need for filtering software between the smart grid network and the utility’s OMS.

“Improved outage response is one of the most critical and substantive customer advantages of the smart grid,” said Chris Montgomery, senior director of the AMI business at Silver Spring. “However, up until now, utilities have been unable to take full advantage of outage detection capabilities, because of the complexity of new data streams and the operational changes required by this new technology. Our outage detection software paired with advanced simulation tools enable our utility clients to more quickly realize these latent efficiencies and deliver benefits to their customers.”

Solution Details

The UtilityIQ Outage Detection System upgrade features a new set of web services for simpler and faster integration with a utility’s existing OMS. The new web services leverage the standards-based Common Information Model (CIM) for messaging between back-office systems, reducing integration costs and enabling utilities to realize benefits more quickly. The updated UtilityIQ ODS software also features a “storm mode” that prevents the system from overwhelming the OMS and a redesigned user interface. Improvements in the software’s restoration verification leverage Silver Spring’s patented “fast restore” technique for relaying restoration notices from the smart grid network.

The updated UtilityIQ Outage Detection System software and new outage simulation and testing service are both available now.

About Silver Spring Networks

Silver Spring Networks provides a leading networking platform and solutions that enable utilities to transform the power grid infrastructure into the smart grid, helping utilities to achieve operational efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions and empower their customers with new ways to monitor and manage their energy consumption. Silver Spring provides the hardware, software and services that allow utilities to deploy and run multiple smart grid solutions, including Advanced Metering, Distribution Automation and Demand Side Management, over a single, unified network. Silver Spring's Smart Energy Platform is based on open, Internet Protocol (IPv6) standards, allowing continuous, two-way communication between the utility and devices on the grid. Silver Spring has numerous deployments with leading utilities around the world, including Baltimore Gas & Electric, CitiPower & Powercor, Florida Power & Light, Jemena Electricity Networks Limited, Pacific Gas & Electric, Pepco Holdings, Inc., and United Energy Distribution, among others. For additional information, please www.silverspringnet.com.