Cobb EMC Takes Automated Approach to Shorten Power Outages

ATLANTA, Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Efacec ACS' fault detection, isolation and restoration (FDIR) technology went live this morning on Cobb EMC's distribution system serving over 195,000 meters. This proven technology enhances the reliability of electric service to consumers through intelligent automation. With FDIR, faults are automatically isolated within a smaller section of the distribution system, dramatically reducing the number of customers experiencing a power outage. Many outages that occur due to a fault can often be quickly restored by automatically re-routing power from another portion of the system. Primary benefits of FDIR include:

• Shorter outage durations
• Fewer sustained outages
• Improved network performance
• Greater operational efficiency
• Improved service delivery

"The ability to automatically isolate and restore faults on distribution feeders is an advanced technology that we're excited to be able to provide for Cobb EMC members," said Bhaji Dhillon, manager of power system technologies and planning at Cobb EMC. "Over the years we have aggressively deployed automation on our system to improve the reliability of service to our members, with over 650 SCADA-controlled switches installed. Deployment of FDIR on our distribution management system (DMS) from Efacec ACS is the next step in leveraging this installed infrastructure." Before activating FDIR, Cobb EMC carefully evaluated the technology and tuned the network model while operating the system in a manual mode.

"Cobb EMC has been a valuable partner and customer from the inception of our company over 37 years ago," Efacec ACS' CEO Jose Barbosa noted. "We are pleased to be able to continue working with them to deploy advanced DMS applications like FDIR to help them provide excellent service and reliability to their members."

About Cobb EMC  
Formed in 1938, Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (Cobb EMC) serves 175,093 members across approximately 1,087 square miles in nine Georgia counties. As a not-for-profit, member-owned corporation, Cobb EMC is dedicated to providing its member/consumers with reliable electric energy at the lowest possible price as well as providing helpful safety information and ways help conserve energy. Learn more at www.cobbemc.com.

About Efacec ACS
Efacec ACS is a provider of smart grid solutions to the global electric power industry. The Efacec ACS software suite provides integrated distribution and outage management, simulation, optimization, and enterprise business intelligence. Efacec ACS automation product lines include a wide range of flexible and cost-effective substation, distribution, and feeder automation solutions. Efacec ACS is powering the utility of the future – today. For more information, visit www.efacec-acs.com.

SOURCE Efacec ACS