Unison Networks Gains International Recognition for Leading Smart Grid roll out

DC Systems - 08.30.2010

One of New Zealand’s most progressive electricity lines companies Unison Networks is gaining international recognition for leading the industry in rolling out new Smart Grid technologies.

These new smart grid applications are designed to provide Unison’s customers with enhanced electrical delivery reliability by reducing the number of, and duration of outages.

United States smart grid developer DC Systems commended Unison’s move and applauded the New Zealand company’s vision and willingness to research, test and implement the technology and information systems that will help make smart grids a reality today

Unison Group, which is based in Hawke’s Bay, on the east coast of the North Island, recently announced it would roll out a smart grid across its three network regions in Hawke’s Bay, Taupo and Rotorua.

The move will see Unison’s customers among the first in New Zealand to gain the benefits of a smart grid which provide greater network quality and performance at a lower cost to consumers.

President of Californian based DC Systems Douglass Campbell said Unison is taking a leading role amongst network organisations around the world with its new smart grid programmes to increase both the service reliability to customers and improve the robustness of the network.

“Unison has been very forward thinking and created a Smart Grid model well in advance of most other utilities worldwide,” Mr Campbell said.

Unison has implemented the first stage of its state of the art self-healing network working with the world’s largest smart meter service provider Landis+Gyr.

Combining Auto-Sectionalizing & Restoration or ASR, (advanced distribution automation and the Gridstream Radio communication network builds an intelligent and robust foundation for advanced smart grid applications, Mr Campbell said.

Unison Group Chief Executive Ken Sutherland said the company was setting the foundations for a smart grid.

The investment is part of Unison’s long-term strategic direction from simply being an electricity distribution business through traditional network infrastructure to managing a smart grid, set to deliver greater value, choice and reliability to the customer, he said.

Unison general Manager Network and Operations Jaun Park said Union’s self healing integrates a wireless mesh radio network, distributed intelligence and automated switches to enhance network reliability.

“If we have a fault this intelligence will isolate the faulted area automatically and reroute power and restore supply to as many businesses and customer’s homes as quickly as possible.

“It’s an example of a powerful smart grid application that benefits both Unison and our customers. It enhances the customers experience by providing improved network reliability and also provides benefits to the network by reducing cost associated with fault finding and fault repair time.

The substation is now becoming a central location and heart of the Smart Grid with advanced, intelligence that link several network areas and provides auto-sectionalizing and auto restoration functionality to quickly isolate faults and restore power.

Already Unison has seen early rewards, said Mr Park.

Earlier this year, smart technology came into its own on Unison’s network, after a fault on a low voltage cable between a substation transformer and breaker could have caused a major outage.

Through the operation of ultra fast protection the fault was contained to the cable and the broken cable was replaced and the system was returned to normal operation saving the transformer from critical damage. Without ultra fast protection this could have left Unison facing a $1 million replacement cost and waiting several months to procure and install a new transformer.

With the successful completion of its first stage Unison is now looking at a wider deployment of this technology and is also exploring adding further smart capability through additional network equipment monitoring devices.

For more information please contact

Unison Networks and Operations General Manager
Jaun Park
021 739 387

Unison Communications Manager
Anna Lorck
021 273 9491

DC Systems Media Contact
John Roeser
925-485-0200

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