Integrated Communications for Power Utilities

Power utilities are faced with significant changes in the way power is generated and consumed, in addition to increasing pressure from both regulatory bodies and stakeholders for greener energy and improved energy efficiency, power reliability, asset utilization and security. As a result, power utilities are looking to implementing Smart Grids that will provide improved visibility and control through ICT investment, to better understand and manage new and upcoming dynamics of energy flow within their networks.

Alcatel-Lucent’s Integrated Communications for Power Utilities solution is a proven key enabler for new generation Smart Grids that rely on more pervasive, highly resilient, secure and integrated mission-critical communication networks. The solution also addresses non-operational business requirements of corporate and UTelco services.

The solution is composed of three main service offerings:

• Communications Transformation
• Multivendor Turnkey Integration
• Managed Services

The solution leverages over 10 years of worldwide utility experience and the expertise of more than 800 PMI certified project managers to:

• Delivering next-generation networks designed to support mission-critical utility applications
• Managing complex programs and multivendor implementations.

Today’s power utilities are facing a number of key challenges to their mission-critical power grids, including shifting dynamics of demand, both in duration and volume as well as in energy supply and storage, in the form of distributed generation (DG), renewable energy sources and PHEV’s (Plug-in Electric Hybrid Vehicles).

What’s more, most power grids and their underlying communications networks are an aged infrastructure and therefore struggle to meet the connectivity, capacity, security and reliability requirements of new Smart Grid applications, including smart metering, demand management, substation and distribution automation, and micro-grids. 

Power utilities are also under pressure from other corporate imperatives to reduce operating costs, increase employee productivity, enhance customer service and introduce new unregulated revenue streams.

Alcatel-Lucent’s Integrated Communications for Power Utilities solution is addressing all of these challenges, bridging the two worlds of energy and communication, by leveraging communication technology leadership together with unparalleled experience in building and managing mission-critical communication networks for power utilities

Alcatel-Lucent can be your trusted partner in your evolution to a Smart Grid.

Economic Benefits

Alcatel-Lucent’s Integrated Communications for Power Utilities solution can significantly reduce operating costs and improve asset efficiency by:

• Migrating aging disparate network and leased services to a common multi-service, QoS-enabled infrastructure
• Securely connecting assets and enabling reliable data and device management
• Outsourcing network operations and maintenance to a trusted partner
• Deferring infrastructure CAPEX costs through enabling demand management

Deployment, Management, End-User Benefits

Alcatel-Lucent’s Integrated Communications for Power Utilities solution promotes a managed evolution to Smart grids, safely targeting greater operational reliability, compliance with regulatory requirements and improved productivity and customer service.

Greater Operational Reliability and Regulatory Compliance

• Secure mission-critical, multivendor integrated communications networks and extensions that facilitate smart grid automation and control
• Service assurance of legacy mission-critical services, such as TeleProtection and SCADA
• Multivendor integration with single point of accountability
• Mobile workforce tools and secure remote access
• World-leading Bell-Labs reliability modeling, tools and assurance solutions, including auditing against internal or regulated targets
• Cyber and physical security solutions, including auditing against internal or regulated targets
• End-to-end management of data, network and consumer devices
• Leading communication network management and operations support system (OSS) solutions

Improved Productivity and Customer Service with:

• Mobile workforce tools and secure remote access
• IP contact centers, conferencing and IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
• Collaboration tools, including presence and localization
• Integrated corporate and operational infrastructure