PJM Interconnection Goes Live With World's Most Advanced Grid Management System

ATLANTA, Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PJM Interconnection (PJM) has put into production the world's most advanced energy management system, the PJM Advanced Control Center (AC²) program, based on the Siemens/PJM Shared Architecture integration platform. PJM uses the system to manage North America's largest transmission grid.

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This program includes the Siemens Spectrum Power™ energy management system (EMS) running at two different sites, with each site fully functional and capable of running the grid either independently or as a single virtual control center. A Web-enabled user interface framework provides situational awareness, with capabilities for advanced visualization of data from either site. PJM is the only grid operator in North America, and one of the few worldwide, to have dual primary control centers. The AC² program, through the implementation of two fully staffed primary control centers, better ensures reliability and the uninterrupted operation of markets and grid control if functionality were lost at either center.

"This is a formidable breakthrough for grid operators around the world; we now have proven that innovative IT technology, such as service oriented architecture, can be adapted to high performance mission critical environments for the Smart Grid. It also provides a CIM-compliant and secure model-driven integration platform for PJM's diverse set of EMS, MMS and legacy systems, allowing for improved flexibility, innovation and protection of PJM's IT investment," said Jan Mrosik, chief executive officer of the global Smart Grid Division within the Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector.

"From the beginning of system design, PJM sought to integrate security controls, scalability and flexibility into a new generation of systems to enhance grid reliability and sustain wholesale power market innovations," said Terry Boston, PJM president and chief executive officer. "That led us to the idea of a new shared architecture platform so that our systems could easily grow with our members and adapt to new technologies."

The AC² systems are built on top of the Siemens/PJM Shared Architecture platform. The Shared Architecture is a standards-based, secure integration platform for technologically diverse EMS, market management (MMS) and distribution management (DMS) systems.

This open, modern architecture, built on an enterprise services bus (ESB), enables the rapid integration of traditional utility applications and emerging Smart Grid applications, providing flexibility and choices for utilities that had previously been inhibited by their legacy control center application providers. The proven, innovative approach also promises reduced application migration risk, investment protection and enables faster innovation throughout the energy industry.

Siemens and PJM will be seeking other interested industry participants to further advance modern integration Smart Grid platforms and contribute to the development of integration standards for Smart Grid architectures.

PJM Interconnection is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Acting as a neutral, independent party, PJM operates a competitive wholesale electricity market and manages the high-voltage electricity grid to ensure reliability for more than 58 million people. PJM monitors and coordinates more than 1,365 electric generators, 61,200 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and 6,185 substations. Visit PJM at www.pjm.com .

About Siemens (NYSE: SI)
Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector, with approximately 87,000 employees worldwide, offers sustainable technologies for metropolitan areas and their infrastructures. Its offerings include complete traffic and transportation systems, intelligent logistics, efficient energy supply, environmentally compatible building technologies, modernization of the way power is transmitted and distributed, and smart consumption of electricity.  The sector is comprised of the Rail Systems, Mobility and Logistics, Low and Medium Voltage, Smart Grid and Building Technologies Divisions as well as Osram Sylvania.  For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com/infrastructure-cities

The Siemens Smart Grid Division supplies products and solutions for intelligent and flexible electrical network infrastructures. To meet growing energy needs, the networks of today and tomorrow must integrate all forms of power generation and ensure bi-directional energy and communication flows. Intelligent networks help make it possible to generate and use power efficiently and on demand. They contribute to the electrification of railroads and also supply industrial enterprises, infrastructure elements and entire cities with electricity. For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com/smartgrid .

SOURCE Siemens