Press Release - Date: April 1, 2020 |
Manufacturer of the OmniMax LED replacement lamp, Evluma, curates an accessory line of decorative globes to assist customers converting post top lighting from HID to LED.
Street and area lighting manufacturer Evluma, announces the release of a new globe accessory line, OmniMax Lighting Solutions (OLS) to complement their OmniMax family of LED replacement lamps. OLS is a custom, curated selection of spherical and acorn style globes for decorative streetlights. The OmniMax is a Bluetooth-co
nnected, screw-in replacement lamp for use in decorative post top globe and acorn lights. The release of a globe line to complement the OmniMax is designed to make the HID to LED conversion and maintenance process easier for Evluma customers.
Customers executing a retrofit project can conveniently purchase a replacement globe at the same time they purchase the OmniMax. “The wide variety of styles and materials offered means that we can typically provide a customer with a globe that matches an older style,” said Marketing Director, Cathleen Shattuck. “Customers can refresh globes simultaneously with OmniMax installation to save on labor, or if they suddenly discover damage to individual light fixtures, we can quickly provide them with a solution. Our high level of customer service means we are well-adapted to quick turnaround on orders of any size, keeping the process convenient and low cost.”
Using OmniMax, municipalities, utilities and electric departments converting post top fixtures from HID to LED can do so in under 5 minutes a fixture. The OmniMax is available in both Premium and Standard models. Premium models are Bluetooth-enabled and are compatible with Evluma’s wireless control application, ConnectLED. Both models carry a ten-year warranty and offer Evluma’s signature low-glare illumination.
About Evluma
Formed in 2008, Evluma is committed to developing affordable, long-lasting and environmentally low-impact LED lighting solutions that fundamentally change the landscape of the outdoor utility lighting market. Evluma’s high standard of customer service and background in innovative lighting technologies, automation and software design creatively ideate and inform its utility-grade products. Evluma is located in Renton, WA, USA.
… more…Press Release - Date: March 12, 2020 |
Bellwether Management Solutions has been selected by Central EMC, in Sanford, NC, to provide AMI Meter Installation and Project Management services as part of CEMC's Smart Grid Project. The deployment of approximately 20,000 meters will begin in March of 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in February of 2021.
Press Release - Date: February 11, 2020 |
OMICRON Electronics captures Ben Vincent, a relay Tech with Groton Utilities in Connecticut. He talks about his experiences when using OMICRON's CMC 356 for testing electromechanical and digital overcurrent protection relays. View the video with the below link.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/-M0rewsgNkoMetering Equipment and Services Supplier Article - Date: December 9, 2019 |  |
Weakley County Municipal Electric System used Bellwether Management Solutions as Contractor on our AMI Project. Bellwether installed almost 20,000 meters during our 12-month installation process.
We were very pleased with the quality and quantity of work that Bellwether performed. The employees were easy to work with and managed our project well. I was particularly impressed with how few complaints we received from our customers, even though we had no advance informational campaign. The f
ew complaints we received were very minor and were resolved to the customers' satisfaction in a timely manner by the Bellwether staff.
I am happy to give Bellwether a very favorable reference.
Faron L. Collins
General Manager
Weakley County Municipal Electric System, Martin, TN… more…Hometown Connections & Sagewell To Offer Electrification Growth Consulting And EV Load Management Press Release - Date: September 13, 2019 |
Hometown Connections, Inc., the utility services organization, and Sagewell, Inc., announced a partnership to offer community-owned utilities carbon emissions reducing load growth consulting and electric vehicle (EV) load management.
Helping Community-owned Utilities Increase Revenues through Electrification Programs
Sagewell designs and implements electrification programs that improve utility bottom lines. With Sagewell’s assistance, public power utilities can grow their revenues and
margins, reduce electric rates, reduce costs, and save carbon all at the same time. When residential electric customers switch home heating from fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane or heating oil to high efficiency heat pumps, or from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles utilities are able to grow their business significantly.
Strategic Electrification/Load Growth Consulting
To support electrification growth programs for public power, Sagewell combines advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meter datasets from utilities across the county and data-supported industry best practices to provide unique insights into utility customers—where utility margins are earned and lost, and what actions and technologies can drive revenue growth through beneficial electrification. For utilities with AMI data, Sagewell’s SageSightSM smart-meter data analytics software can analyze data from millions of meters in minutes and can provide highly detailed customer-by-customer analysis results. By analyzing actual energy and capacity costs of utilities in combination with real-world hourly smart-meter data, Sagewell provides recommendations to utilities and joint action agencies on how to achieve growth through evidence-based high-impact electrification programs.
EV Load Management and EV & Heat Pump Sales Growth Programs
The growth of electric vehicles and high-efficiency cold-climate heat pumps will transform the community-owned electric utility businesses. Sagewell’s EV load management and easy-to-implement EV and heat pump marketing programs allow community-owned utilities to accelerate off-peak kWh sales while reducing carbon emissions and minimizing costly peak load increases.
Sagewell’s American Public Power Association award-winning Bring Your Own Charger® (BYOC) EV load management program is an off-peak charging incentive program for utilities with or without advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters. This program does not use any load control hardware allowing it to reach up to record-breaking 80% of EVs in a utility territory. BYOC works with any make or model of EV and any charger type. The program has demonstrated over its three-year operating history that it can shift 95% of EV charging to off-peak hours, and can provide up to four times the total peak load reduction of hardware load control-based solutions at half the cost.
Sagewell’s analysis of heat pump energy use data from smart meters also enables utilities to deliver the most competitive home heating and cooling solutions to residential customers and to maximize load growth for utilities, while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
“To meet the demand for EV load management and other strategic electrification programs, Hometown Connections selected Sagewell as our partner in recognition of its strong track record serving public power utilities and joint action agencies,” said Tim Blodgett, President and CEO. “We look forward to working with the Sagewell team to identify beneficial electrification opportunities and create programs to help public power systems grow utility revenues, lower rates, and reduce emissions.”
“Smart growth is the key to strategic electrification success for public power utilities,” said Pasi Miettinen, Chief Executive Officer for Sagewell. “Our role is to help public power take advantage of new opportunities to grow electric sales while meeting customer demand for EV charging, high-efficiency heat pumps and other electrification solutions.”
About Hometown Connections, Inc.
Hometown Connections, Inc. is a national, non-profit utility services organization specializing in the unique challenges facing community-owned utilities. For more than 20 years, our expert team has helped over 900 utilities to modernize their processes and systems. Hometown Connections works with utilities of all sizes, facilitating access to technology and services from industry-leading companies. Hometown offers solutions to develop each area of the utility business: operations, cybersecurity, business strategy, customer care, finance, and workforce. Visit www.hometownconnections.com.
About Sagewell
Sagewell’s data-driven solutions enable utility customers and partner communities to combine the environmental benefits of strategic electrification with favorable economics that reduce electric rates. In 2018, the American Public Power Association recognized Sagewell’s Bring Your Own Charger® (BYOC) EV load management program with its Energy Innovator of the Year award. The Northeast Public Power Association named Sagewell its 2017 Affiliate Member of the year. Previously, The Boston Globe named Sagewell an energy industry Game Changer company. Sagewell serves utilities that have customers ranging from thousands of customers to several million. www.sagewell.com
For More Information
Gary Smith
Director of Programs
Sagewell, Inc.
gary.smith@sagewell.com
617-963-8141 main office
781-303-4994 direct line
Al Weber
Vice President, Business Planning
Hometown Connections, Inc.
aweber@hometownconnections.com
919-810-5070 mobile and office
… more…Quest Controls Announces that the RSC 1000 HVAC Control System has Successfully been Modeled into MegaSys Telenium Software Press Release - Date: August 26, 2019 |
Contact: Harper Anderton Phone: (617) 901-0955
Director Sales & Marketing, Utilities
handerton@questcontrols.com Quest Controls, Inc.
208 9th Street Drive West
Palmetto, Florida 34221
Palmetto, Florida - Quest Controls, Inc. is pleased to announce that MegaSys® Telenium® users can now add the Quest RSC 1000™ driver to their instance of the software to monitor alarms, input status and trending and make setpoin
t changes. The RSC 1000 is the most sophisticated HVAC control system available today and uses Quest’s patented adaptive economizer control algorithm to optimize the amount of time free cooling can be used thereby reducing the run time required for air conditioning compressors. This increases the effective life span of the HVAC system and reduces energy costs.
The RSC 1000 communicates with Telenium using SNMPv3 and includes a built-in secure web server that uses HTTPS for communications. “Bringing together the premier facilities controller and the premier master network management platform for utilities will allow utilities to deploy the most advanced facilities control” said Ed Goggin, Quest Controls President & CEO.
The RSC 1000’s advanced architecture provides secure Ethernet communications with support for IPv6, IPv4, HTTP, HTTPS, RADIUS Password Authentication, SNMP v1, v2c and v3 and SMTP (Email) as well as Modbus RTU Communications to Modbus RTU enabled equipment such as KW meters, generators and fuel level sensors. RSC also employs a color touch screen with similar graphics to the web server so onsite technicians can easily trouble shoot issues with HVAC or additional devices being monitored at the facility.
“MegaSys is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Quest Controls and to add the RSC 1000 into our extensive suite of supported devices. The RSC 1000 sets a new level for advanced sensor management and we are very excited to be part of the overall solution for our existing and new customers.” said Dave Woronuk, President & CEO of MegaSys.
MegaSys is the provider of Telenium®, Network Management Software for telecommunications, energy, emergency services and government markets. We focus exclusively on telecom network management and provisioning, enabling us to produce powerful Network Management Software that provides complete EML/NML/SML functionality - including full FCAPS capability, auto-population of network architecture and circuit management, high throughput alarm processing and network element backup - integrated in an intelligent, high performance database.
Quest Controls, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets a complete family of remote surveillance products that provide monitoring, control, and energy management solutions for the power utility, telecommunications, cable, and commercial industries. The TELSEC®, OspreyFMS® OspreyDCM™ and BACnet product and server software families provide alarm performance, monitoring, control, energy savings, and test of a facility’s critical operating environment and equipment to maintain and ensure each facility’s smooth and continuous operation. Quest Controls, Inc. also provides installation services as well as 24/7 monitoring and service contracts.
For more information on Quest Controls’ products, call (941) 729-4799 or visit us at www.questcontrols.com.… more…What Is Digital Engineering? White Paper - Date: July 3, 2019 |
Over the past few decades, BIM has revolutionized the engineering, construction and design industries. But as digital engineering continues to evolve, we still haven’t leveraged the full potential of emerging technology.
Most organizations that own and operate assets are aware that they must leverage technology to continue to meet business objectives and industry standards. However, the concept of digital engineering still seems out of reach to most.
For many asset owners, simply digitiz
ing existing asset data and drawings can be the first step in the journey. Once their data is clean, secure and accessible, they can begin to develop and explore other technologies.
This whitepaper introduces the concept of digital engineering, including a glossary of terms, to provide you with the information you need to start your digital transformation journey.
OVERVIEW
Digital Engineering is a multi-dimension model representation of graphical and non-graphical asset data shared in a common data environment. It encompasses the whole of design, construction, operations and maintenance and is commonly comprised of 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D and 6D visualizations. For asset owners and managers, it allows full visibility and control, reducing safety risks and improving productivity.
2D: DOCUMENTS
Considerations might include capital costs (the costs of purchasing and installing a component), its associated running costs and the cost of renewal or replacement down the line. These calculations can be made based on the data and associated information linked to components within the graphical model. This information allows cost managers to create a material or component level take-off on a project, applying rates to those quantities, thereby reaching an overall cost for the development.
Digitizing 2D drawings and documentation, removing duplicates and updating metadata fields in your chosen data management system enables the search, editing and sharing of engineering data and drawings within a single source of truth.
3D: THE SHARED INFORMATION MODEL
Creating graphic and non-graphic information and sharing this information in a Common Data Environment (CDE). As the project lifecycle progresses, this information becomes richer in detail until the point at which the project data is handed over to a client or asset owner at completion. Different Levels of Development (LOD) are nominated at the start of a project to assist the designer with how much data is required to satisfy project deliverables.
4D: TIME (CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCING)
4D adds an extra dimension of information to a project information model in the form of scheduling data. This data is added to components which will build in detail as the project progresses. This information can be used to obtain accurate program information and visualizations showing how the project will develop. Time-related information for an element might include information on lead time, how long it takes to install or construct and the sequence in which components should be installed.
6D includes information to support facilities management and operations to drive better business outcomes. This data might include the manufacturer of a component, its instal¬lation date, required maintenance, energy performance, lifespan and decommissioning data. Where this approach really comes into its own is in allowing managers to pre-plan maintenance activities. This proactive ap¬proach offers significant benefits over a more reactive one.
5D: COST
Considerations might include capital costs (the costs of purchasing and installing a component), its associated running costs and the cost of renewal or replacement down the line. These calculations can be made based on the data and associated information linked to components within the graphical model. This information allows cost managers to create a material or component level take-off on a project, applying rates to those quantities, thereby reaching an overall cost for the development.
6D: ASSET INFORMATION MODEL
6D includes information to support facilities management and operations to drive better business outcomes. This data might include the manufacturer of a component, its instal¬lation date, required maintenance, energy performance, lifespan and decommissioning data. Where this approach really comes into its own is in allowing managers to pre-plan maintenance activities. This proactive ap¬proach offers significant benefits over a more reactive one.
DIGITAL TWIN
A digital twin is a data rich, 3D model of a physical asset such as a turbine, pump or an entire plant. The digital twin represents the physical aspects of the model and the data associated with the asset.
The digital twin captures real-time data from the physical object to represent the asset’s condition. It allows a shift to predictive maintenance, based on both historical and real-time data.
A digital twin is only as good as the data on which it is built and the real-time data that it collects. An effective digital twin strategy requires a comprehensive data set for each asset including engineering data, plant design, specifications, as-built, commissioning and maintenance history.
A strategy must be in place to maintain the data to ensure it remains current and accurate, especially from the point of view of maintenance and upgrades. Lidar, photogrammetry and drone scanning are other sources of data when the original designs are unavailable or if you are dealing with an ‘older’ asset. A series of scans can be completed then ‘stitched’ together to convert physical assets into digital ones.
Want to know more about Digital Twins? Ask us about our current project with a major mining client in collaboration with ALS and Waterline Projects.
THE BENEFITS OF GOING DIGITAL
FOR DESIGN
• Improved design co-ordination and transparency
• Clash detection
• Improved accuracy and drawings
• Early visualization
• Increased confidence and surety of project outcome in terms of cost, program and quality
• Utilise GIS to analyze spatial location and organize layers of information into visualizations using maps and 3D scenes. Access to insights such as data patterns, relationships and situations enables designers to make smarter decisions
FOR OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE (O&M)
• Ability to plan and deliver optimum efficiency in asset operation, maximizing the value of an asset over its entire life
• GIS and digital engineering integration is extremely useful once an asset is built. Rather than oversimplifying the end data provided for management, the digital engineering model - connected to GIS - delivers everything operations need. With digital engineering capabilities, you’re improving operability and eliminating errors. This technology convergence will play an important role in predictive maintenance, too.
FOR CONSTRUCTION
• Improved safety and reduced risk
• Improved cost estimating
• Reduced re-work
• Schedule optimization
• Improved procurement
• Ability to rapidly test different solutions virtually
• Identify, develop and validate Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) opportunities to provide the best possible client solution
• Communicate the impact of construction on the surrounding environment for all project stakeholders, including external interfaces such as planning authorities and neighbouring parties
THE STEPS TO DIGITAL ENGINEERING
Engage a digital engineering partner, such as RedEye, to determine your digital engineering requirements based on your business’ strategy and objectives.
Plan data management for projects including design, construction, commissioning, maintenance and asset management. Develop a Digital Engineering Standard encompassing:
STEP ONE - UNDERSTAND YOUR REQUIREMENTS
To ensure your organisation is always leveraging the latest technology, consider partnerships with leaders in technology that have experience in your industry.
Partnering with you on your digital journey means that organisations like RedEye don’t just hand over a piece of software but work with you to access the latest technology and develop the right solutions as your business needs change and grow.
STEP TWO - DEVELOP A PLAN
• Digital Engineering Plan to be issued to design consultants during the bid phase
• Drafting Standard
• 3D Model Management Standard
• Template folder for engineering solutions (i.e. CAD and engineering documents)
STEP THREE - CONFIGURE A SOLUTION
Enable the integration of 3D models, 2D drawings and other engineering documents in a cloud-based system to ensure a single source of truth from handover through to asset management. Create a digital framework, set workflows and integrate data management systems for visibility and control of assets.… more…Conway Corporation Solar RFP Press Release - Date: June 18, 2019 |
Conway Corporation is dedicated to delivering safe, affordable, reliable, innovative, and environmentally sound utility services. As such, Conway is seeking proposals for solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to meet energy and capacity requirements for 2022 and beyond. Respondents are expected to submit the Intent to Respond form, participate in the Pre-Bid Conference, and submit their proposal in accordance with RFP guidelines. As a trusted affiliate of Conway Corporation, The Energy Authorit
y (TEA) has been chosen to facilitate the RFP process. Interested respondents can gain access to the RFP and associated documents by sending an email to ConwayRFP@teainc.org.… more…Energy New England (ENE) launches EV Awareness Programs for 2019 Press Release - Date: June 4, 2019 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 3, 2109
Contact: Mark Scribner, Program Manager, Electric Vehicles, Energy New England, 508-698-1228 //
mscriber@ene.org Energy New England (ENE) has launched several new EV awareness programs on behalf of municipal utilities in Massachusetts. ENE and their municipal utility clients are uniquely positioned as the trusted and reliable resource for customers for all things EV related. These public
utility programs include Danvers Electric Department, Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant, Middleborough Gas & Electric Department, Middleton Electric Light Department, Rowley Municipal Lighting Plant, and Taunton Municipal Light Plant. In addition, ENE is actively taking over the management of the Braintree Electric Light Department’s existing EV initiative, Braintree Drives Electric, and providing program support to the Concord Municipal Light Plant’s new EV program initiative, Concord Drive Electric.
The core mission of ENE EV programs is to raise awareness among public utility customers on the many benefits of and incentives for choosing an electric vehicle, and to connect existing EV drivers with local incentives for charging an EV off peak at home and for installing Level 2 charging equipment. EV program services include outreach, marketing, events, dealership engagement, workplace charging and EV driver support. Along with the launch of individual municipal EV awareness websites, ENE has launched its own branded EV awareness website at ev.ene.org. A comprehensive online resource for municipal utility customers to all things EV, ENE’s website provides easy access to all resources that EV interested consumers want. These include uncovering the compelling benefits of EVs, answering common consumer questions, interactive buying and charging guides, connecting to local programs and incentives, and information on upcoming local Events where electric vehicles can be seen and test driven with support and guidance from ENE’s own trained EV Specialists.
“The Electric Vehicle sector has become an area of interest and ENE is pleased to be able to offer an array of programs to our municipal utilities clients to fit the utility and their residents desires to participate in electric vehicle education, and all the way up to management of the entire program, including several events in the utility service community”, said John G. Tzimorangas, President and CEO of ENE. “Mark Scribner, with his vast expertise, provides the utilities with an experienced and enthusiastic champion for the EV programs and works hard to give the utilities a program to be proud of in the growing sector”, commented Tzimorangas.
ENE also co-sponsored an innovative Electric Car Showcase at South Shore Plaza in Braintree that ran through March 31st. In addition to multiple plug-in models on display in center court, brand neutral EV Specialists were on hand at every Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and other select days to provide the latest info on charging incentives, vehicle and charger rebates, and special deals available to residents. Additional EVents are scheduled in ENE client municipalities throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall.
Learn more about electric vehicles and their many benefits at ev.ene.org and sign up to receive the latest information about incentives and upcoming events. Consumers and utilities can get more information by filling out the website’s online form, emailing ev@ene.org or by calling 1-833-4-EV-HELP (1.833.443.8363) toll-free to reach a staff of ENE EV program dedicated EV Specialists.
About Energy New England (ENE): ENE is the largest wholesale risk management and energy trading organization serving the needs of municipal utilities in the northeast. ENE works with numerous businesses, residents and utilities to help promote the principles of conservation, efficiency, and environmental stewardship, and advances the many benefits available through integrated sustainability planning. ene.org
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