Wabash Valley Power Goes Live with the First Implementation of Siemens Demand Response Management System (DRMS)

ATLANTA, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Smart Grid division (NYSE: SI) announced today that Wabash Valley Power Association (WVPA) is the first customer to go live with the Siemens Demand Response Management System (DRMS) solution. Siemens DRMS provides WVPA the ability to shed load across multiple distribution systems utilizing several different demand response programs, verify load shed, calculate baselines, and automate customer billing and settlement without cumbersome processes that previously required multiple spreadsheets for calculation. Siemens also implemented eMeter® EnergyIP® meter data management system (MDMS) platform for WVPA in 2011. The systems are successfully integrated, allowing for all data to be passed to and from both systems. 

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WVPA's previous software solution employed several legacy technologies involving a one-way communications technology that sent load reduction commands to residential water heaters, air conditioners and field irrigators with no way of verifying actual load reduction. The Siemens DRMS platform allows WVPA to utilize the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) networks deployed at their Member distribution cooperatives with eMeter EnergyIP to create a solution that uses bi-directional communication for real-time load reductions and timely measurement and verification of demand response events. The robust Validation, Estimation and Editing (VEE) functionality in the MDMS ensures the data shared between the systems is current and accurate, which is essential for customer billing, settlements and managing operations.

"For WVPA, demand response provides us the ability to avoid the need to purchase future peaking power plants thus reducing costs. The Siemens DRMS allows WVPA to create, manage and enroll end-use consumers into demand response programs," said Andrew Horstman, Manager of Load Response at WVPA. "Because demand response has value in the MISO and PJM market it can offset the need for new peaking power generation and can be a cost-effective way to reduce the need to purchase expensive power from the market. Our demand response programs and systems will help to avoid higher costs for our Members and will be utilized as another asset in our power supply portfolio."

Siemens DRMS will calculate baseline load curves via data collected from roughly 400 substations across 26 Member distribution cooperatives. This will allow WVPA to schedule load shed events in several ways and validate that the load shed has occurred, while tracking actual kW of load shed from a granular level of a single program participant to distribution substations and up to as many substations as necessary.

"This successful implementation and launch of the Siemens DRMS at WVPA strongly positions Siemens in the utility demand response marketplace," said Thierry Godart, president of Siemens Smart Grid division. "This project is an example of how Siemens successfully partners with utilities to create innovative and practical demand response solutions."

About Wabash Valley Power Association

As a generation and transmission cooperative, Wabash Valley Power Association (WVPA) meets the wholesale power supply needs of electric distribution cooperatives in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio.  A non-profit corporation, Wabash Valley operates under the cooperative business model as a democratic organization owned and controlled by its members, and motivated not by profit or stockholders, but by meeting the need for competitive and reliable power supply. Founded in 1963, Wabash Valley has grown to include 26 member cooperatives that ultimately provide electricity to approximately 750,000 people at home and in the workplace. For more information, visit www.wvpa.com.

Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector, with approximately 87,000 employees worldwide, offers sustainable technologies for metropolitan areas and their infrastructures. Its offerings include integrated mobility solutions, building and security technology, power distribution, Smart Grid applications, and low- and medium-voltage products. The sector comprises the Rail Systems, Mobility and Logistics, Low and Medium Voltage, Smart Grid and Building Technologies Divisions and 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