Part of EnergyBiz® Network »
Customer Care Group
This special interest group is where customer care professionals share tactics on how utilities are improving interactions with their customers.
Post
Xcel touts customer perks as it deploys private LTE network
image credit: Credit: Wikipedia
Xcel Energy said it will use a new wireless telecommunications tool to help respond more quickly to local electric outages and support advanced grid smart meters that will provide more information to customers about their energy use.
The 900 MHz private wireless broadband network will be installed at two existing Xcel Energy sites in Minneapolis. The network will allow Xcel Energy to provide cyber protection to critical infrastructure and could eventually be expanded to support automated technology throughout metro and remote rural locations.
The network will be developed by Motorola Solutions using Anterix's 900 MHz spectrum.
Your access to Member Features is limited.
Already Member? Sign In.
New to Energy Central?
Applying for membership with Energy Central allows you to connect with a network of more than 200,000 global power industry professionals.
Tim Peterson, Xcel CIO and senior vice president, said the telecommunications technology will “provide a basis for new solutions, which can improve grid operations, enhance system security, and ultimately deliver a better experience for our customers."
The availability of wireless broadband spectrum in the 900 MHz band resulting from the FCC's recent actions now allows critical infrastructure providers to deploy private networks that enable secure and resilient electric grids. Motorola’s LTE 900 MHz infrastructure, along with its Citizens Broadband Radio Service-based Nitro network, are expected to enhance the exchange of voice and data across private LTE broadband and existing LMR networks.
A future roll-out of a broader private LTE deployment could be accelerated by leveraging Xcel Energy's existing investments in LMR site locations and infrastructure to support existing and new grid-of-the-future applications.
Thank DW for the Post!
Energy Central contributors share their experience and insights for the benefit of other Members (like you). Please show them your appreciation by leaving a comment, 'liking' this post, or following this Member.
More posts from this member
Discussions
Spell checking: Press the CTRL or COMMAND key then click on the underlined misspelled word.
No discussions yet. Start a discussion below.
Get Published - Build a Following
The Energy Central Power Industry Network is based on one core idea - power industry professionals helping each other and advancing the industry by sharing and learning from each other.
If you have an experience or insight to share or have learned something from a conference or seminar, your peers and colleagues on Energy Central want to hear about it. It's also easy to share a link to an article you've liked or an industry resource that you think would be helpful.
Your access to Member Features is limited.
Sign in to Participate