Comverge, a provider of smart grid, demand management and energy efficiency solutions, announced the latest version of their first generation demand response management system, Apollo Version 1.2.

 

The company’s Apollo gives utilities the flexibility to fully realize the benefits of the smart grid at their own pace and based on their own unique needs, company officials said.

 

Version 1.2 is a more extensive and feature-rich demand response platform for utilities and their customers, say Comverge officials. It empowers them to better understand their energy usage, control costs and promote grid reliability.

 

“This upgrade is another part of our overall plan to achieve the highest level of interoperability for all customer classes as we move toward a smarter grid,” Bud Vos, Comverge chief technology officer, said.

 

According to Vos, Apollo Version 1.2 will include advanced features that allow utilities to develop their smart grid according to their needs and timeline and based on a specific customer profile. At the same time, the solution will offer the same features and enterprise-grade security and reliability as its predecessor, Vos added.

 

“This is yet another milestone for Apollo and our efforts to bring a unified solution to the market that will make the smart grid vision a reality for our utility partners and their customers,” Michael D. Picchi, Comverge interim president & CEO, said.

 

An important feature of Apollo Version 1.2 is the improved Demand Response functionality including customer recruitment tracking and analysis tools, customer notification tools and customer performance analysis for commercial & industrial, or “C&I,” customers.

 

These features give utilities further insight into customer performance and operations by providing the ability to measure energy usage and efficiency savings in real-time.

 

Version 1.2 also includes a new C&I portal for multi-location customers, an improved residential portal with additional programming features for smart thermostats, improved reporting functionality for operations on 2-way communications networks, tighter integration with communication network solutions from Digi International (News - Alert) and the Dia Platform, and extended customer service functionality to show status and operational history of 2-way devices, said company officials.

Back in August, Comverge signed a multi-faceted deal with a Virginia-based energy provider for a comprehensive five-year program. The agreement includes: 117 mega watt commercial and industrial virtual peaking capacity contract; an agreement to supply more than 150,000 advanced metering infrastructure enabled energy management devices for a residential demand response program; and, a license to utilize Comverge’s Apollo Demand Response Management System software to manage both the C&I and residential demand response programs

 

Recently Comverge also announced that it has been chosen by Puget Sound Energy for the utility's Bainbridge Island, Wash., residential demand response pilot program.