ATLANTA, GEORGIA (February 10, 2003) --- The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) in Oklahoma has selected GE Network Solutions' XA/21 Energy Management System software to monitor, control and optimize the day-to-day operation of its generation and transmission grid.
Like GRDA's existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and Energy Management System, GE Network Solutions' XA/21 software will permit GRDA staff to continue to remotely operate GRDA's 16 hydro generators. However, the Energy Management System function will now manage the balance of system electrical load with GRDA generation resources. The new system will also accommodate the integration of other GRDA systems, as needed.
"The GRDA is pleased to select GE Network Solutions as the manufacturer of our third-generation SCADA system. The Grand River Dam Authority first purchased Radiation supervisory equipment in the early 1970s, and in 1978 we purchased our first SCADA system," said Mark Roberts, assistant general manager of Hydro, Transmission and SCADA Communications at GRDA. "Over the years, GE Network Solutions has provided friendly, prompt and excellent technical support beyond what was expected. In 2002, continuing the history of this great working relationship, the GRDA was again pleased to be able to select GE Network Solutions as the vendor for our next system. We are looking forward to extending this good relationship for years in the future."
Mike Pendleton, SCADA supervisor at GRDA, explains, "In our (vendor) evaluation process, we took into account all the factors we could think of such as price, contractual compliance, technical compliance, company history, corporate backing, references and ease of transition from our current system, both for the operations and SCADA personnel. After several hundred man-hours of evaluation, clarification, research and discussion, we believe that GE Network Solutions is the most responsive, compliant bidder. They most closely filled the need GRDA has for a new SCADA/EMS."
Henry Stueber, president of GE Network Solutions, commented, "Our XA/21 product will help GRDA to improve the way they do business with their customers, other utilities and meet the changing requirements of a deregulated industry. We've provided leading edge products and services to GRDA for more than 20 years. Needless to say, we value that relationship and are pleased that GRDA has chosen to implement our next generation, real-time energy management products."
Transmitting and delivering electricity across its 24-county service area in northeastern Oklahoma, GRDA is responsible for the construction and operation of dams along the Grand River for the purpose of hydroelectricity production and flood control. GRDA is a non-profit Oklahoma state agency that sells wholesale power to municipalities, electric cooperatives and industrial customers.
GE Network Solutions, a business unit of GE Power Systems, provides software products that design and manage the world's networks. It offers network software solutions to utility, communication and public systems organizations and has more than 900 customers in 44 countries around the world.
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