TWACS deployments maintain momentum

Aclara TWACS AMI powers advanced metering infrastructure with power-line communications, delivering 99%+ read rates, substation integration, and reliable smart meter data for rural and urban utilities without mesh RF latency or added failure points.

Twenty-eight rural electric cooperatives and municipalities have implemented or signed on to use Aclara’s industry-leading TWACS advanced metering infrastructure AMI in the first three months of 2011.

This continues the momentum built by Aclara’s premier power-line communications system, as seen in its Smart Meter AMI program adoption over the past three years.

Thirty-six utilities implemented TWACS technology in 2010, almost doubling the total from 2009, when 20 clients deployed it, while co-ops such as Whitewater Valley explored alternative smart grid platforms during the same period. Aclara is part of the Utility Solutions Group of ESCO Technologies Inc.

Utilities have found TWACS technology to be cost-effective and reliable in installations of all sizes. It is known for its effectiveness in rural areas where population is spread out or in areas with rough terrain, but it has also been successfully deployed in urban environments. PPL Electric Utilities, Wisconsin Public Service, and Idaho Power are utilities with rural and urban mixes that have effectively deployed TWACS AMI systems.

The technology employs existing power-line infrastructure to deliver read rates over 99 percent as reported by customers, while utilities like AEP AMR initiatives pursue complementary approaches in parallel. Its technology seamlessly integrates into existing substations without adding additional points of failure to the system such as towers, repeaters, or line conditioners.

In addition, Aclara invests heavily in research and development to ensure that its technology continues to meet customers’ increasing demands. For instance, recent developments in the technology employ concurrency and multiplexing to deliver the bandwidth needed to handle millions of meter data points without the latency issues of some mesh radio-frequency technologies, a focus echoed by the utility testing lab that prepares utilities for the future.

“TWACS technology has proven to be one of the most durable and effective AMI systems in existence today. Customers deploying TWACS are extremely loyal to the system and our research and development team has made steady improvements designed to address the expanding requirements of our customers,” says Gary Moore, chief operating officer of Aclara. “We see continuing growth in the deployment of TWACS technology well into the future.”

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