BPL Global Advances Demand Management Systems for Broader Use

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BPL Global®, Ltd. (BPLG), a smart grid technology company, announced today nearly 3 GWh of successful operating experience for its next generation Demand Management system. BPLG's turnkey solution moves demand management from basic peak load reduction to an operational asset that supports broader electric utility distribution automation initiatives. Our implementation strategy creates additional value for utilities by targeting load on congested substations and circuits which defers costly infrastructure upgrades. The Connected Energy™ Demand Management solution includes Predictive Analytics and Monitoring, Measurement and Verification (M&V) capabilities not previously available in traditional residential demand management systems. Utilities, consumers, market operators and regulators are all key stakeholders that benefit from these new capabilities.

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Near-real time M&V information of individual managed loads means load curtailment is no longer an estimate. Precise load reductions can be measured and verified by location on the grid supporting market operator settlement and regulatory reporting requirements. This precision optimizes utility metering revenue, protects distribution system assets and helps participating customers save on their electric bills. Individual managed loads can be profiled to understand duty cycles relative to dependent factors such as time-of-day, day-of-the-week, ambient temperature and program offering. The learned behavior of managed loads enables Predictive Analytics that are used to forecast load reduction capacity based on program rules and weather forecasts. Utility planners and operators benefit by coordinating demand management with other distribution system operations.

"Our ground-breaking demand management system has been used extensively by utilities in the United States with nearly 3 GWh of successful load reduction experience," said Pete Londa, CEO of BPLG. "This solution expands the scope of demand management from traditional capacity market initiatives to an operational asset for electric utilities, creating a broader business case and higher ROI."

BPLG's Demand Management solution supports the full spectrum of demand management models including temperature rise and load cycling. In addition to peak load reduction, the solution enables a broader set of use cases including operational emergency curtailment, ancillary services and peak load shifting. M&V and Predictive Analytics enable connected loads to generate a higher load yield. With more yield per load, fewer program participants are required for the same load reduction capacity, improving the cost/kW ratio. Long term system performance can now be better sustained since detailed information on system status and individual components is readily available. This allows cost-effective maintenance for the entire system and, as a result, both program participants and the utility receive higher value from the program.

A single system can manage the multiple classes of demand resources that drive peak demand such as air conditioning, electric heating and hot water heating. The high degree of flexibility designed into the solution allows utilities to adjust to evolving regulatory requirements, operational needs and customer expectations.

About BPL Global
BPL Global® (BPLG) provides electric utilities with a suite of smart grid solutions for advanced distribution automation from substations through customer premises. Our solutions collaborate across the grid, helping utilities increase efficiency and reliability to improve their financial, operational and environmental performance. BPLG combines our experience in applying smart grid solutions with our market-leading technology to successfully serve leading utilities around the world. www.bplglobal.net

SOURCE BPL Global, Ltd.