Silver Spring Networks has launched a new application that lets utilities monitor power quality across the grid and gain insights into potential problems before they can affect service.

UtilityIQ Power Monitor uses the distributed intelligence in Silver Spring networking devices to help utility companies keep an eye on key power quality metrics throughout their service territory.  Silver Spring clients can use smart grid devices already deployed, combined with distributed polling, to improve vital grid efficiency applications such as Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) and Volt/VAR Optimisation (VVO).

The new application provides Silver Spring clients with proactive notification of meter locations where voltage levels exceed or fall below expected levels. UtilityIQ Power Monitor works with Silver Spring’s UtilOS firmware to expand the capabilities of meters and other devices distributed throughout the grid, without requiring modification to any hardware or a field visit.

While some devices collect voltage data today, UtilityIQ Power Monitor augments these capabilities by allowing the utility to work only with the exception cases and to avoid sifting through data from all meters. The application also features flexible configuration options that provide utilities with complete control over the boundaries at which they receive exception notifications. According to Silver Spring, consumers will benefit from improved quality of service through tightly maintained voltage levels and improved grid efficiency.

“Real-time, actionable data is at the heart of the value of the smart grid,” said Raj Vaswani, CTO of Silver Spring. “Leveraging distributed intelligence already deployed in our devices to deliver this kind of critical information extends the value of our smart grid platform for our utility customers. This kind of pervasive end-of-line monitoring makes CVR a reality and greatly enhances accuracy for VVO applications.”

The new offering:

• Requires no additional grid devices, relying on Silver Spring communications modules already deployed in the field;
• Creates actionable, specific alarms to point utilities to places where a problem exists;
• Delivers data much closer to real time, immediately reporting voltage alerts rather than sending them at the next scheduled meter read; and
• Provides a comprehensive view of voltage levels throughout the entire service territory, and it lets utilities include any set of meters to deliver voltage alerting.

The Silver Spring communications module locally polls the meter, avoiding unnecessary network traffic and allowing utilities to configure the polling frequency. Any voltage reading above or below the utility-set threshold is immediately reported, giving grid-efficiency applications real-time information they can use to adjust voltage levels. Early testing of voltage reading with a Silver Spring utility client highlighted a number of meters with voltage levels below acceptable levels. The utility was able to quickly remedy distribution system issues the data pinpointed and improve its customers’ voltage levels, Silver Spring reported.

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