Alden's Notify™ Approved by UTAH PSC As State's Electronic Pole Notification System (ENS)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The UTAH Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved Alden Systems' Notify™ software as the state's electronic notification system (ENS) to manage sharing of utility poles. This decision was made in response to a joint petition by Rocky Mountain Power and CenturyLink, the two predominant pole owners in the state.

The current system of communications between pole owners and attaching entities "…is a haphazard, manual process," with attachment requests being submitted "…via telephone, fax, or even a scrap of paper," as stated in the PSC filings. Having successfully implemented Notify™ in other jurisdictions, Rocky Mountain Power and CenturyLink requested the Utah PSC approve Notify™ as the state's ENS.

The request was made pursuant to the state's "safe harbor" agreements, which "…contemplate that the Commission can approve the use of an electronic notification system with respect to pole attachments." The agreements dictate that "When adopted, the Parties must utilize ENS to submit applications for permission to attach, relocate, or remove Equipment […] and respond to request for work to be performed."

When submitting the petition, Rocky Mountain Power and CenturyLink cited what they felt were several key benefits of Notify™ over the existing system: "Notify™ is a simple to use, web-based, electronic notification system that can be used to submit applications for permission to attach, relocate, or remove pole attachment equipment, and can be used for other communications between pole owners and pole attachers. Pole attachers do not need any additional computer software or hardware to utilize Notify™."

In response to this request, the UTAH PSC held a technical and scheduling conference on February 23, 2012 during which March 26, 2012 was set as the cut-off date for comments, etc. As no comments opposing the approval of Notify™ had been entered by the agreed-upon cut-off dates, Rocky Mountain Power and CenturyLink entered a joint petition to vacate the remaining schedule and approve Notify™ as the state's ENS. On April 27, 2012, an administrative law judge vacated the scheduling order and the UTAH PSC approved Notify™ for use as Utah's electronic notification system.

ABOUT ALDEN
Alden specializes in collecting, communicating and managing data for Utilities, Telecommunications, CATV & Municipalities. Our end-to-end solutions for joint use management include field inventories and audits, inspections, asset record keeping and ownership reconciliation. Alden launched Notify™, the electronic notification system for pole attachments, in 2010.

RESOURCES
http://www.psc.utah.gov/utilities/electric/elecindx/2011/11035199indx.html
http://www.aldensys.com/notify
http://www.notifyweb.com

SOURCE Alden Systems, Inc.