MANILA, Philippines - As the effects of nature on infrastructure increasingly take its toll on the power industry and the electric utilities in particular, the operation, maintenance and risk mitigation of the grid becomes even more complex. Fortunately GE Smart Grid, or the integration of cutting-edge IT and telecommunications technologies with traditional transmission and distribution equipment, provides electric utilities with the tools to manage the storm toward a more robust and reliable system for consumers.
GE Energy has always been in the forefront of providing power-generation and energy-delivery technologies. Its expanding portfolio of innovative products and services continue to create a positive impact on industries and the general public as well.
“Managing the inconvenience and danger of power outages caused by storms is a great challenge for the utility industry,” said Luke Clemente, general manager, Metering and Sensing Systems-Digital Energy for GE Energy Services. “As Mother Nature turns out the lights acrossthe country, we are reminded of the broader impact that a smarter grid can have on consumers. Today’s smart grid solutions can reduce the number of customers affected by power outages and minimize the impact of outages that do occur by getting power online quicker than ever before.”
John Alcordo, GE Energy country executive for Philippines/Guam, adds, “It was always the case in the past that utilities were not aware of power outages until a customer called to report them. Smart grid technologies automatically notify utilities of outages and provide visibility into all grid assets, allowing operators to isolate damaged portions of the grid and re-distribute power around damages-thus keeping more lines energized. These smart grid systems merge communications and IT with utility operations to better locate damaged assets and expediterepair time. These technology enhancements also improve transformer protection and contain potential hazards in the event of a failure due to storm damage.” With the current global concern on energy efficiency and management, GE’s Smart Grid can be a powerful tool into making the lives of millions of Filipinos more comfortable. GE Energy’s commitment to introducing new energy services is an integral part of the company’s ecomagination initiative that provides integrated solutions to today’s environmental challenges.
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With more than 90,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, GE Energy “http://www.ge.com/energy” www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies.