NEW YORK – January 6, 2009 – Runestone Electric Association of Alexandria, Minnesota is the latest member of a rapidly growing community of utilities updating distribution system communications with Smart Grid ready, 700 MHz licensed wireless IP communication networks from Arcadian Networks. Runestone Electric Association has deployed the Arcadian solution to link all their substations across a wide rural territory. The system is managed in partnership with the cooperative’s wholesale power supplier, Great River Energy.
Like many rural electrical cooperatives, Runestone faced significant challenges in communicating with widely dispersed assets. “Our substation communications fell under the jurisdiction of five different telephone companies,” noted Dave Blom, IT Manager at Runestone. “By tying in with the private licensed spectrum broadband network which GRE built, we were able to streamline our systems into a single wireless platform that will support our communications needs for years to come,” Blom said.
The Arcadian solution, installed in only a few days at all 16 substations, has cut costs and increased the speed and security of data delivery. Runestone no longer needs to spend time or money engineering “work around” solutions to a patchwork of legacy phone lines.
Arcadian network allowed Runestone to build the communications system tailored to the needs of the co-operative and its members.
“Meter data download times have been reduced from an hour to just minutes (for all 16 substations),” said Blom. “We’ve also saved money by eliminating monthly phone company charges for telephones.”
The new system also paves the way for increased remote distribution switching, relaying data from truck-based mobile units, and adapting to future smart grid technologies, which build on the two-way communication established through the Arcadian network.
About Runestone Electric Association Runestone Electric Association of Alexandria, Minnesota provides member-owners with superior quality electric and customer services at competitive prices while supporting local communities. Runestone Electric Association is a distribution member of Great River Energy.
About Arcadian Networks Arcadian Networks provides “last mile” wireless carrier services to the energy sector (electric, water, and gas utilities and oil and gas companies). The company’s 700 MHz licensed spectrum delivers a converged IP network with voice and data communications for fixed and mobile applications. The real-time broadband communications platform reduces operational costs, improves resiliency, and transforms electric grids into efficient “smart grids” and oil fields into optimized “smart fields.” For more information, please visit www.arcadiannetworks.com