IBM, NV Energy Partner on Smart-Grid Deployment

IBM has been selected as the lead systems integrator for NV Energy’s Advanced Service Delivery (ASD) project in Nevada that includes smart-grid technology, advanced meter infrastructure and meter data management.

NV Energy is leading a large-scale deployment of smart-grid technologies with support from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) $138 million stimulus grant.

NV Energy is ranked as one of the top five scoring “intelligent” utilities, according to the annual UtiliQ survey of U.S. electric utilities. The utility, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, jumped 50 positions from its ranking in last year’s report to claim the fifth spot in the 2010 ranking of intelligent utilities.

The electric and gas utility will leverage IBM’s expertise in smart metering, systems integration, large meter data management, system architecture, business process design and development and business analytics.

NV Energy also will use WebSphere and Data Power products to integrate new advanced metering, meter data management, and demand response systems with existing applications including customer and geographic information systems.

NV Energy’s ASD project is aimed at improving demand response to manage power load from the electric grid in order to maintain system reliability and improve energy efficiency. The project also will provide customer service improvements including new digital meters, enhanced self-service options and access to a customer portal to manage energy use.

IBM recently launched CityOne, a Smarter Planet interactive simulation game that is designed to help business and civic leaders make their cities and industries smarter by solving real-world business, environmental, and logistical problems. Players also will learn how to adopt technologies such as business process management, service reuse, cloud computing and collaborative technologies to help make organizations in city systems more intelligent.

IBM’s Smarter Planet strategy is aimed at helping cities and utilities become smarter with new technologies and tools.