PCS and the utility industry
Utilities today suddenly are facing competitive pressures not only from outside sources such as cogenerators but also from within our own community through wholesale wheeling. Other factors such as flat demand, regulatory oversight and non-utility competition are putting pressure, as never before, on utilities to lower costs and increase services. Additional pressure from a new breed of customer who will not tolerate estimated bills, poor service quality and high rates also pose additional challenges. Utilities with vision, resources and an entrepreneurial spirit are reaching beyond traditional utility thinking in search of solutions to these new business challenges. We at BG&E feel improved customer service is the key to a successful future and communications will be the cornerstone of that success. Once that goal has been achieved, we then have to provide sound business and technical solutions to his problems. If utilities are going to achieve this higher service level we must change the way we think and act. We must become a valuable resource for our customers. Telecommunications will play a key role in helping us to achieve this new level of service. I want to concentrate on the enabling platform, the telecommunication infrastructure that will support new customer communications initiatives. Prices too have improved to the point where an integrated AMR, DA and DSM solution are within reach. BG&E has just completed contract negotiations for the first phase of a two-way 900 MHz integrated customer communications system. Milestones include the testing of real time gas and electric meter readings, distribution system monitoring and control and enhanced I&C customer communications. Upon successful completion and evaluation of this initial phase we will begin a rollout of the system to include 500,000 residential metering points located within the city of Baltimore as well as industrial areas and new residential developments in the surrounding counties.
- OSTI ID:
- 192084
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940129-; TRN: 96:001037-0023
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International symposium on distribution, automation and demand-side management, Orlando, FL (United States), 17-20 Jan 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Fourth international symposium on distribution automation and demand side management (DA/DSM 94); PB: 747 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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