Philly utility upgrades grid ahead of state deadline

PECO, a Pennsylvania-based electric and gas distribution company that provides energy to the greater Philadelphia area, has selected Telvent’s smart-grid solutions to upgrade its electrical network, reduce power losses and operational costs, and improve power quality and reliability.

PECO plans to implement Telvent’s advanced distribution management system (ADMS) to monitor and control its electric network using one integrated system. With this system, the utility will have access to real-time information to control load management, fault analysis and network optimization.

The utility also plans to use Telvent’s OASyS Dynamic Network of Applications (DNA) supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system to immediately pinpoint potential trouble spots within the network.

PECO is working to upgrade metering technology for its 1.6 million electric customers over the next 10 years. The upgrade is set to be completed five years earlier than required under Pennsylvania law, thanks to a $200 million stimulus grant awarded by the US Department of Energy.

The project began in May 2011 and is scheduled for completion in 2013. PECO also uses Telvent’s OASyS DNA SCADA solution to optimize operational efficiencies and cut costs for its gas distribution network.