Detectent, the leading provider of Customer Intelligence Solutions for North American utilities, recently unveiled new software that focuses on Smart Grid implementations. The software, CustomerIP, is ideal to be used in Smart Grid projects to enable a rapid deployment of cutting-edge business intelligence and analytics for electric, gas and water utilities.
Available as a hosted or delivered system, and in the form of a software lease or license, CustomerIP delivers a combined set of software, tools and best practices. Detectent expects to deploy six instances of CustomerIP in the latter part of 2011 and spring of 2012.
"Our technology can help utilities obtain the smart grid post-implementation benefits, often referred to as day-two benefits, much faster and at a much lower investment," explained Michael Madrazo, Detectent's CEO, in a statement. "CustomerIP can assist the utility through the implementation of the smart meter, starting with pre-deployment analytics that ensure customer meter issues are resolved prior to smart meter deployment, thereby mitigating risk and exposure to the utility." The novel solution includes analytical tools that can be applied to monthly, daily, hourly and sub-hourly reads from any collection method--manual, Automated Meter Read (AMR) and Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI). "Templates of Smart Grid best practice analytics and out-of-the box adapters for integration to AMI systems are available to enable rapid deployment," Madrazo added.
"Demands placed on the utility by regulators and shareholders to deliver quantifiable benefits to its rate payers have been increasing at a rapid pace," observed Madrazo. "If the utility cannot demonstrate a clear path forward then their deployment strategy is scrutinized. Our software solution makes day-two benefits a reality in a very short time frame, ensuring that the utility can satisfy the demands of regulators and shareholders, as well as deliver tangible benefits to its ratepayers." Governments around the world are allocating stimulus money to revamp energy systems--the United States alone has assigned $4.3 billion to the effort--but many local jurisdictions are challenging the benefits, thereby pushing the utilities' smart grid deployment plans further along the value chain.
"By implementing CustomerIP, our utility clients will be able to rapidly achieve greater value from their Advance Metering Infrastructure projects," explained Todd Thayer, Chief Operating Officer for Detectent, adding, "We were a pioneer in utility-facing analytics in 2004 because we listened to our customers and this is a further evolution of that--our customers were asking for help in getting to the day-two benefits and we responded."
Rahul Arora is a TMCnet contributor. He has worked as an editor and freelance writer for several reputed organizations in India. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Rich Steeves