Smarter Grid: IBEC Acquires Grid2020 Bolstering Energy Management and Empowering the World's Smart Grid

FAJARDO, Puerto Rico, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of the Rural Smart Grid Summit, International Broadband Electric Communications, Inc. (IBEC), the nation's leader of Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) products and solutions, announced today it has acquired Grid2020, a leading energy management, control, and communications solution company.

"With Grid2020, IBEC has the capability now of offering utilities the ability to manage their energy demands in real time while at the same time allowing consumers to manage and control consumption at their homes or businesses," announced Scott E. Lee, Chief Executive Officer of IBEC. "Today, IBEC not only offers the foundation of an electric Smart Grid—a high speed real-time BPL communications network—but the tools to control the energy consumption on the Smart Grid, creating a Smarter Grid."

IBEC is the nation's leader of BPL technology, holding a number of industry leading patents. BPL utilizes existing power lines and infrastructure to establish a communications network and device management system throughout a utility's electric grid.

"Power operators utilizing Grid2020 are able to manage demand, and make curtailment decisions based on real-time information on customer discretionary loads under control," noted Dan Hermes, President and GM of Grid2020.

Grid2020 provides true virtual power plant capabilities to grid operators, manages load reduction triggered by events or price, and controls demand which is as important as maintaining a stable power supply. Grid2020 uses a cutting-edge monitoring hub, wireless thermostat, and load meter to monitor and control energy consumption in real-time.  Operators of the system interact via a secure web browser interface.

"Consumers can literally use the Internet, their iPhone, or any mobile web-enabled device to control their thermostat and manage their energy usage to save money while improving the quality of life for themselves and their families," noted Lee.

Regarding BPL, the cost to install BPL is a fraction of installing other types of communications networks because BPL relies on long-established and existing electric power lines and infrastructure. With BPL, IBEC can provide high-speed Internet services to consumers. Residents in a BPL area literally plug into an electric outlet in their home to get broadband service.  

Grid2020, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of IBEC, was formally known as WattShifters.

SOURCE IBEC