New Jersey-based Comverge Inc. (Nasdaq: COMV) and smart meter company Itron (Nasdaq: ITRI) announced the successful integration of Comverge’s Web-based demand management platform, Apollo(TM), and OpenWay(R), the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solution from Itron, enabling interactive, two-way communication between utilities and customers.
This integration will enable utilities investing in AMI to expand energy efficiency and demand response programs, the companies said.
Leveraging the OpenWay infrastructure, Apollo allows utilities to communicate with energy management devices to perform demand response events and send and receive price and rate signals. The integration will aid in reducing strain on the electric grid during times of peak demand and help customers manage their energy costs.
Comverge Chief Technology Officer Bud Vos said, "The combination of these smart grid technologies enables a true two-way dialogue that will engage the consumer and utility and provide them with the necessary tools to use energy more efficiently."
The Comverge/Itron integration operates with the ZigBee(R) Smart Energy Profile within the home area network (HAN), allowing for seamless communication between utility and any in-home device in real-time, without the need for a broadband connection.
Comverge, with over 3000 megawatts of clean energy capacity under management, is a provider of clean energy solutions that improve grid reliability and supply electric capacity on a more cost-effective basis than conventional alternatives by reducing base load and peak load energy consumption.
Itron Inc. is a technology provider to the global energy and water industries. The company is a leading provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on its technology.
ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 300 member companies driving development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer electronics, energy, health care, home, commercial and industrial areas.
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