Itron, a technology services provider for water and energy sectors, has signed a contract with Entergy to expand Entergy’s network to provide advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to support 33,000 distribution automation (DA) endpoints.
Image: Itron to support Entergy in distribution automation. Photo: Courtesy of Peter Mathijssen/FreeImages.com.
Entergy’s network expansion for DA will build on its existing Itron Gen5 network, which is being deployed to enable two-way meter communications and near-real time telemetry to support AMI applications.
Entergy serves nearly 2.9 million customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
Itron claims that its high bandwidth and low latency network has been designed to support multiple applications such as AMI, DA and other smart utility and smart city applications on a single network platform. By adding DA, utilities will be equipped to re-route power around problems to reduce impact on customers, improve system reliability, improve power quality and provide proactive customer service.
Itron networked solutions senior vice president Sharelynn Moore said: “Using the Itron network to support distribution automation demonstrates the value of its multi-application capabilities both today and in the future.
“Our network is purpose-built to exceed distribution automation requirements, including high bandwidth and low latency, and enables utilities to improve grid reliability and lower operating costs.”
In September, NV Energy had implemented Itron’s cloud-based solution, IntelliSOURCE Express demand response management system (DRMS).
With this technology, NV Energy can manage its agricultural demand response program that is designed to help ensure a stable grid and energy supply.
According to the company, IntelliSOURCE Express is a software platform that has latest cybersecurity protections for both the software and the devices it controls for the utility, which serves 1.3 million customers and more than 40 million tourists visiting the state every year.
Itron vice president of distributed energy management Steve Hambric said: “With IntelliSOURCE Express, NV Energy benefits immediately by using a powerful and secure software platform.
“Now, they have an extensible solution that enables the utility to incorporate two-way communications to devices, bring your own thermostat customer programs and integration of other distributed energy resources.”