'Off-the-Shelf' fault circuit indicator software to improve smart-grid performance

GRIDiant, a leading provider of Advanced Grid Management (AGM) software applications for electric utilities, and Baltimore Gas and Electric, Maryland's largest gas and electric utility, announced a joint technology agreement to commercialize a software application that could improve the reliability of smart grid and lower distribution line crew costs for utilities. The new GRIDplan Fault Circuit Indicator (FCI) software, which will be sold and marketed by GRIDiant, will assist utilities in determining the optimal placement of fault circuit sensing devices, reducing the time it takes a line crew to locate a fault. As a result, the duration of potential power outages could be reduced. The partnership leverages a patent pending methodology and algorithm developed and piloted by BGE as well as GRIDiant's GRIDfast(TM) patented optimization engine. It also capitalizes on GRIDiant's 10-year history in the development, testing, and commercialization of advanced distribution network optimization applications to deliver the industry's first commercial FCI software. GRIDplan FCI will soon be available to other utilities interested in maximizing the benefits of their FCI deployments as well as FCI vendors wanting to provide enhanced value to their customers. "We were very encouraged by the savings realized during our pilot project using GRIDplan's FCI prototype," said Paul Frey, manager of BGE's Smart Grid Distribution System Pilot. "With these planning and analysis capabilities, our combined technologies will enable us to continue to improve the reliability of our network." "Our partnership with BGE will help the Smart Grid industry take a big step forward in improving the reliability of distributed power through much better fault detection and faster problem resolution," said Andy Colman, CEO of GRIDiant. "The commercial availability of GRIDplan FCI leverages the extensive knowledge of our power analytics software team, our patented GRIDfast engine and BGE's proven methodology to optimize the placement of fault circuit indicators throughout their distribution system. We are excited to partner with BGE in order to bring the GRIDplan FCI application to market." GRIDiant