Voltage optimization drumbeat continues: Cooper wins significant AEP demo

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Quick Take:The noise about voltage optimization continues to get louder and louder. S&C Electric just purchased a volt/VAR suite from the Current Group. Elster has formed a voltage optimization alliance with Entergy, Survalent, ABB and others. And earlier this year, the Blue Grass Energy cooperative published a presentation detailing its voltage optimization approach.

Now Cooper Power Systems has been selected to provide advanced volt/VAR control for Public Service Company of Oklahoma, part of American Electric Power. I think it will become harder and harder for utilities to ignore voltage optimization as the trend gains visibility and as regulators come to believe it is a viable way to save energy. - By Jesse Berst

Cooper Power Systems will deploy its Integrated Volt/VAR Controls products in a demonstration project for Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), according to the terms of an agreement announced today.

PSO, an American Electric Power company, is conducting its gridSMART® Demonstration Project in Owasso, Oklahoma. The first pilot will be the deployment of Cooper's Volt/VAR Control solution products, including voltage regulators, capacitor bank controls and the Yukon™ Integrated VoltVAR Control (IVVC) application.

They will be installed in three substations and on 11 distribution feeders. The Yukon Control application will monitor and control 40 distribution capacitor banks and 24 voltage regulators, and will be integrated into AEP's Distribution Dispatch Center for remote supervision and control without operator intervention. The automation application will result in lower average voltages for substantial energy savings while managing power to minimize technical losses. The Yukon system is designed to solve the challenges of distribution system automation and features easy integration into external systems since it supports industry protocols and standards. It also is easy to maintain.

"Cooper Power Systems is pleased to have executed an overall technology alliance with AEP that should result in AEP deploying a number of solutions to modernize existing grid infrastructure," said Mike Stoessi, Cooper Power president. "This first release is an important step to further enhance and share our knowledge of smart grid technologies. Our IVVC solution is uniquely positioned because of its ease of use and its multiple maintenance, administration and reporting functionalities.

Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com. He consults to smart grid companies seeking market entry advice and M&A advisory. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the US and abroad, he also serves on the Advisory Council of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Energy & Environment directorate.

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