New smart-grid group sees DA, AMI as keys to efficiency

A new smart-grid industry group aims to promote the benefits using distribution automation and smart meters to improve voltage conservation for utilities.

The Smart Grid Voltage Conservation Alliance (SGVCA) is being launched by charter members Elster, Entergy, ABB and Survalent. Quanta Technologies will work with the alliance to help validate the business benefits of voltage conservation.

The alliance plans to begin its work by promoting voltage conservation for efficient utility operations, as well as for the related business benefits. The results of an initial field study at Entergy Gulf States Louisiana will then be used to drive commercial applications for utilities.

Reducing voltage by as little as 4 to 6 percent can result in a 3- to 5-percent increase in energy conservation, but most utilities can’t currently manage voltage variations effectively because of the lack of visibility in the distribution area network. Through the use of both distribution automation (DA) and smart meters (also known as advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI),  utilities should be able to gain better insights into the networks, from substation to customer. That could help increase operational efficiencies through voltage conservation while also enabling utilities to reap greater benefits from their AMI deployments.

“Conservation and efficiency through voltage monitoring and management have very practical implications that will benefit consumers and utilities alike,” said Mark Munday, CEO and president of Elster Solutions. Elster currently has a range of solutions that are already in deployment for DA and AMI convergence, including load control of agricultural rice wells at Entergy Arkansas and transformer monitoring with Toronto Hydro.