Networked Energy Services Extends Automation and Control Features

San Jose, CA, May 01, 2018: Networked Energy Services Corporation (NES), a global smart grid solution provider with the industry’s leading Energy Applications Platform (EAP^TM), announced today the launch of its embedded high current latching dual relay option for its Gen 4 meters. This continues NES' strategy of providing highly sophisticated, feature rich meters, to be deployed in a wide variety of markets and address widening roles, as smart grids become more intelligent, interact more closely with the end consumer and become enablers for smart city.

The NES dual relay solution is unique. Each relay provides its own independent switching circuit, which can drive loads directly, or switch heavy loads such as EV chargers and storage heaters. Control of these relays is through the highly reliable and inherently secure OSGP protocol and provides scheduling and broadcast control from the head-end with integration into other business systems for increased automation and management. 

The dual relay feature supports utility load management program initiatives without the need of installing any external remote controllers. The functionality offers complete, configurable schedules to shut off/turn on loads according to specific utility load programs. By deploying meters with these features, the DSO can launch more sophisticated tariffs, better balance supply and demand, and quickly shed load if required for short-term operational reasons. The broadcast features allow load to be controlled across selected segments or the whole network in less than one minute.

As with all NES solutions, security is central. The control of the relays is protected from malicious tampering by the native and “always on” AES128 encryption, key management, intrusion detection and other security features of the OSGP protocol, protecting the DSO from both fraudulent energy use and denial of service attacks. In addition, this solution can be used to replace the more vulnerable Ripple Control Systems, which have been historically used for such applications.

Ease of deployment, maintenance, reliability and operations have also been key considerations in designing the solution. Rather than deploying and maintaining separate relay units with their own controlling infrastructure, NES embeds the relay control seamlessly into existing head-end management tools, removing any need for additional installation and back-end systems integration points. Reliability is improved through use of the OSGP PLC protocol which achieves 99.8+% meter communications.

When combined with the sophisticated low-voltage sensors and remotely configurable on-board processing power on the NES Gen 4 meter, and micro-computer capabilities in the NES data concentrator, this new feature provides the basis for increasingly automated energy regulation features at the consumer’s premise. When coupled with NES Patagonia Energy Applications Platform, including low-voltage grid performance and energy flow analytic tools, the DSO gains visibility of demand and supply, visibility of bottle-necks and potential problem areas, and can better influence energy consumption to accommodate short-term issues.

Two DSOs in Switzerland have already ordered these new meters, and will begin installations this quarter. NES is working along with its partner, Goerlitz, Switzerland in these first two projects. Ingo Schmitt, CEO, from Goerlitz Switzerland stated, “The NES System has been the benchmark for reliable, feature rich smart grid / metering systems in the industry, and this additional functionality will further its leadership position.” 

"This new meter feature allows our customers to play a more active role in managing demand, as part of tariffs and as part of wider capacity management activities”, said David Thomson, President and CEO of NES. "We are excited about how our Gen 4 meters will play a foundational role in the latest generation of demand response solutions and smart city projects. Our continued investment enables the latest generation of smart grid applications to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability objectives."

About Networked Energy Services Corporation (NES)

Networked Energy Services Corporation is a global smart energy leader in the worldwide transformation of the electricity grid into an energy control network, enabling utilities to provide their customers with a more efficient and reliable service, to protect their systems from current and emerging cybersecurity threats, and to offer innovative new services that enable active, intelligent use of energy. NES was formed as a result of the spinoff of Echelon Corporation’s Grid Modernization Division in October 2014. NES is headquartered in the US with R&D centers located in Silicon Valley, North Dakota and Poland, and sales offices throughout the world. NES’ smart grid technology is used in nearly 40 million smart meters and other smart end devices around the world. NES is a member of the OSGP Alliance, a global association of utilities and smart grid companies, which promotes the Open Smart Grid Protocol and cooperates to provide utilities greater value by enabling true, independently-certified, multi-vendor interoperability based upon open international specifications and standards.  You can find out more information about NES, its Patagonia Energy Applications Platform^TM (including grid management software, distributed control nodes, and smart meters) and services at: www.networkedenergy.com.