Together with IBM, which will be responsible for the technology and implementation of the project, CenterPoint intends to use the Intelligent Grid to automatically monitor electric and natural gas meters, remote connection and disconnection of electric service, and outage detection and restoration.
Don Cortez, vice president of CenterPoint’s electric operations said, An Intelligent Grid would provide us with on-demand data and information that would enhance service to our customers and improve electric power line grid planning, operations and maintenance,
This would contribute to fewer and shorter outages, better customer service, improved operating costs and security, and higher productivity. He added.
CenterPoint, with consulting assistance from IBM, also completed a pilot program in 2005, which demonstrated the capabilities of BPL in the home with Internet access, Internet phone service and advanced gas and electric metering all supplied by the one network.
