Minnesota utility coop. deploys integrated AMI and smart grid solution
June 7, 2018
US utility cooperative Crow Wing Power has selected Tantalus Systems for smart grid and advanced metering infrastructure deployment.
The Minnesota utility has 37,000 members and is the first to adopt the enhanced TUNet platform with integrated demand management.
TUNet, a multi-application smart grid platform, will provide the utility with grid analytics capabilities to enhance load management, a development which will help improve reliability of grid network.
The company’s communication infrastructure will provide connectivity to smart meters. The smart metering system will enable telemetry of consumer usage data after every 15 minutes as opposed to the industry-standard: one to four times a day via batched delivery.
The utility will access smart meter and other grid data via the new TUNet Insight to manage the grid in real time.
TUNet Insights is integrated with outage management functionalities to help Crow Wind Power improve service interruption detection and analysis throughout the utility’s service area.
The utility provides services to consumers in Crow Wing, Cass and Morrison counties in the Brainerd Lakes area of central Minnesota.
The project is expected to help the cooperative simplify utility operations, reduce operational costs and improve customer services.
The initiative forms part of the utility to relocate from using multiple load management applications to a single integrated technology under efforts to optimise distributed computing.
Peter Londa, CEO of Tantalus Systems, said: “We are proud to have Crow Wing Power join our growing user community that now includes over 150 utilities across North America.
“Tantalus welcomes the opportunity to partner with forward-thinking utilities, such as Crow Wing Power, to leverage technology in building a sustainable utility business model. As electric distribution grids become increasingly complex, utilities’ goals and customer service expectations are becoming more challenging. TUNet’s robust computing platform and analytic capabilities enable utilities to adapt to rapidly changing market dynamics and customer requirements.”
Patrick Goff, Power Quality and Metering Manager of Crow Wing Power, added: “With the robust capabilities of Tantalus’ TUNet technology, the Crow Wing Power team will be able to better serve our membership and service territory.
“The ability to rapidly address the changing dynamics of our distribution network will increase the level of service our members receive, while enhancing the reliability and profitability of our operations. We are confident that TUNet is the right solution that combines powerful AMI capabilities and a unique demand management solution.”
From Metering.com
