San Diego, Calif.-DistribuTECH 2009-February 3, 2009-AscentIQ Inc. and KORE Telematics, the world's largest digital wireless services provider specializing in machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, announced today they will jointly demonstrate a product offering designed to wirelessly control the energy use of major home and commercial appliances via digital GSM network services. Combining AscentIQs Demand Control solution with KORE Telematics powerful M2M network, utility companies and their customers can selectively control electrical appliances to reduce peak loads and improve energy usage.
This solution also helps utility companies meet conservation targets mandated by recent initiatives, and postpone or eliminate expensive infrastructure build outs, while supporting the nation's focus on moving toward a smarter power grid.
"Our demand control product needed a flexible and cost-effective wireless solution that would allow us to send small packets in a low-use scenario, and larger files on demand. The KORE team worked with us to create a mixed-mode GPRS/SMS solution that met our needs," said Fred Barrett, Managing Partner of AscentIQ, Inc. "We have used KORE Telematics in other applications, so we know the network is solid, but Energy Utility applications have specific needs, and KORE was able to address them well."
AscentIQ's DCM product combines appliance-control hardware with a software management suite that allows electric utilities to selectively control high-wattage appliances by cycling power in preset patterns, or turning them on or off wirelessly. This allows a utility to mitigate peak demand loads during times when electricity prices are at their premium. The DCM has on-board voltage and current measurements that also help utilities analyze usage and locate trouble spots early.
AscentIQ has developed a truly innovative appliance-control application to advance the bar for Demand Response, said Alex Brisbourne, president and COO, KORE Telematics.
"We believe our unique network infrastructure, designed to deliver highly economical connectivity even in ultra low-use situations, naturally complements AscentIQs network needs," Brisbourne said. "We are confident that utility customers will be able to implement reliable Peak Load Shedding applications more rapidly than ever in response to evolving national initiatives."
The hardware device also provides for orderly recovery of neighborhoods and power grids after extended power-loss events by smoothing out when each controlled appliance gets power. By reducing the in-rush current, and through peak-load cycling, utilities can reduce or significantly delay infrastructure build out costs to neighborhoods.
Unlike other Smart Meter initiatives, the DCMsolution does not require expensive infrastructure to be effective - installation is easy for a qualified electrician, and savings can begin immediately.
Many utilities can't afford the expensive infrastructure required by typical Smart Meter solutions, but they are still required to meet their conservation and smart-grid initiative targets, said Barrett.
"Our solution provides excellent capabilities with very small start-up costs and almost no infrastructure overhead," he said.
About KORE Telematics
KORE Telematics is the world's largest fully digital wireless network provider focused exclusively on the rapidly-expanding machine-to-machine (M2M) communications market. Companies in fields as diverse as security, utilities, health care and fleet management, as well as government agencies, are implementing M2M solutions to achieve productivity gains, cost management, environmental improvement and to expand customer services. Through its extensive network of application and hardware partners, KORE enables complete solutions for vehicle tracking, homeland security, automated metering and dozens of other M2M applications. KOREs long-term, direct agreements with Tier 1 wireless operator partners allow it to offer a range of technologies-including GSM, HSPA, CDMA and EV-DO-that ensures the greatest possible reliability and coverage. For more information, please visit www.koretelematics.com.
About AscentIQ
AscentIQ is an international provider of intelligent data management tools and solutions specially suited for fast changing business environments. AscentIQ automates the real-time collection, processing, analysis, and distribution of critical business information to the enterprise applications and devices that need it - in minutes and hours, not weeks or months. AscentIQ has solutions for the M2M, Transportation, and Medical Industries, with specific emphasis on Supply Chain Event Monitoring, Asset Management Tracking and Visibility, Energy Monitoring, Governance, Risk and Compliance, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), and Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL). www.ascentIQ.com
Contact:
Robert L. Skinner
Schwartz Communications, Inc.
Main: 781-684-0770
Direct: 781-684-6227
