Electrical utility information solutions over optical fibre

Hitachi Telecom has partnered with Carina Technology in the US to offer the complementary advantages of reduced operational expense and increased revenue potential to utility companies that provide FTTP services using gigabit passive optical network (GPON) technology. The solution was demonstrated at the Home Networking Zone at the 2008 FTTH conference in September in Tennessee.

The combination of fibre-optic communications with the advanced management functions of power utility operations is a cornerstone of the ‘Smart Grid’ concept, which is becoming increasingly critical as utilities prepare for the power grid of the future.

In this application, an ethernet metering device (EMD) is mounted between the residential electric socket and the electric meter at a consumer’s premises. The EMD is connected to the GPON via ethernet. Meter and management data is exchanged in real time via the GPON network between the meter and the utility's information systems.

Utility companies can realise operational savings through the real-time ability to read customers’ electric meters automatically, manage in-home devices for efficient management, manage pre-paid electricity service and conduct peak demand power management functions over the FTTP infrastructure. Revenue can be generated from triple-play services, including video, data and voice, and other applications that can be transported by the GPON network.

“As we move toward new and more efficient energy solutions, broadband will be essential for utilities to provide the sophisticated distribution and management capabilities that will be needed”, said Jay Newkirk, Carina CEO. “Because of the bandwidth capability of FTTH, we can bring this sophisticated digital grid to life today rather than 5–10 years from now.”