Efacec ACS to Deliver Advanced Distribution Management System to Long Island Power Authority

ATLANTA, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Efacec Advanced Control Systems (Efacec ACS), a leading provider of smart grid solutions to the electric industry, will supply an integrated real-time distribution and outage management system (DMS/OMS) and establish standards-based advanced automation solutions for the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA).

Following a thorough assessment of commercially available OMS solutions, LIPA has contracted with Efacec ACS to implement PRISM DMS/OMS as the platform of choice for operation of the Distribution System. The primary objectives of this effort are to replace enhanced features of LIPA's legacy OMS with a modern interoperable platform that also provides an electronic operating model for the foundation of advanced DMS applications. The Efacec ACS system, while supporting the goals and objectives of LIPA's ARRA-funded Smart Grid Corridor Project, will be internally funded, and will be deployed in parallel with and independently of LIPA's DOE efforts.

"We selected Efacec ACS for this crucial project due to their superior tools and commitment to standards-based solutions in the area of advanced distribution management," said LIPA Chief Operating Officer Michael D. Hervey. "We see Efacec ACS as a proven and respected leader in creating and delivering global automation solutions that are reliable and customer-focused."

Elements of the project, which will deploy in five phases over the next year, include:

• Advanced visualization techniques, including integrated dynamic map and switching details for optimum situational awareness
• Smart Grid applications for power optimization and self-healing feeders
• PRISM Real-time OMS™ and StormDAM™ (storm damage & assessment management application)
• The industry's first integrated T&D model
• Distribution System Simulator at SUNY-Stony Brook for research and analysis

"Each element of the system for LIPA will be developed, delivered, and fully integrated to drive system operation improvements and build standards–based Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) for OMS/DMS and future smart grid systems," said Efacec ACS CEO Jose Barbosa. "We are extremely pleased to add to our user community a utility as forward-thinking and customer-focused as the Long Island Power Authority."

The SOA will be deployed through a central Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) that supports the LIPA business model throughout the organization. The PRISM DMS/OMS and third–party applications will support the ESB using existing industry standards, such as IEC 61970/61968. Efacec ACS will also provide a Network Model Management (NMM) subsystem which will manage past, present, and future versions of the transmission and distribution integrated network model. LIPA corporate users and other applications will have the ability to subscribe to the Common Information Model (CIM)/XML-compliant model.

The LIPA Smart Grid DMS/OMS project is a partnership between Efacec ACS and LIPA, and will be executed through LIPA's designated service provider, National Grid, in concert with LIPA's consultants for standards-based data modeling and SOA development. Each project phase will follow LIPA SDLC process standards for implementation, reviews, and approvals.

About Efacec Advanced Control Systems
Efacec Advanced Control Systems 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. Our 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.  

About LIPA
LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric provider, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA is the 2nd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of electric revenues, 3rd largest in terms of customers served and the 7th largest in terms of electricity delivered. In 2008, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State for frequency of service interruptions, and ranked second for duration of service interruptions. LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: http://www.lipower.org.

SOURCE Efacec ACS