Country Energy partners with IBM for smart network

Country Energy, manager of Australia’s largest power network, is joining forces with IBM to develop an Intelligent Network in Australia...

As part of the announcement, Country Energy has become the first utility outside of the US to join the Intelligent Utility Network Coalition, a global group of companies working with IBM to accelerate the adoption of ‘smart grid’ technologies and solutions.

An Intelligent Utility Network is a digital, open standards-based network of sensors, metering, communications, computer processors, and analytics which connects an entire utility company - from power plant to plug.

These connected systems provide a utility with near real-time information to better manage the grid infrastructure, enabling fewer and shorter power outages, improved customer service, and the ability to source and deliver power more efficiently. Country Energy is pursuing the Intelligent Network concept to improve reliability, support the growth of renewables like solar and wind, and make energy efficiency simpler for customers.

"Australia’s power grids are beginning to show their age" says Country Energy MD Craig Murray, “so we need a blueprint to renew those grids as more efficient and responsive Intelligent Networks. By 2020, Intelligent Networks need to do for essential services what the internet has done for information.”

Country Energy will announce the location for an ‘Intelligent Network community’ to practically demonstrate day-to-day Intelligent Network applications for around 10,000 customers in regional New South Wales by the end of this year.

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