News

In the news

Top 10 Trends for the Smart Grid in 2010, Courtesy of Ray Bell

December 22, 2009 — Predicting the next 12 months is both unavoidable and irresistible at this time of year, so here are my best guesses for what’s in store for the Smart Grid in 2010.

Motorola, GE Are Part of WiMax-Based Smart Grid Program

Motorola, GE and Grid Net are part of a group of companies looking to bring a WiMax 4G-based smart grid program to Australia. Officials with the companies say the initiative will be the first smart grid based on the WiMax wireless platform. The program includes the installation of smart meters in almost 700,000 households and businesses in Australia by 2013.

SP AusNet Selects GE for World’s First 4G Communications Smart Grid Solution, Delivering Revolutionary Security and Reliability Benefits

October 22, 2009 — GE Energy Services announced today that SP AusNet, one of Australia’s largest utilities, will be the first in the world to implement GE’s WiMAX fourth-generation (4G) smart grid solution. Working with other top-tier technology and telecommunications companies, GE is introducing a game-changing smart grid solution to deliver revolutionary security and reliability benefits to nearly 700,000 Australian households, while helping SP AusNet prepare for the future of smart grid innovation—from plug-in cars to solar on rooftops.

GE, Grid Net Win WiMAX Smart Grid Project in Australia

October 22, 2009 — General Electric and Grid Net have landed the first big WiMax smart meter deployment with utility SP AusNet in Australia. Could more WiMAX smart meters be on the horizon?

The WiMAX Smart Grid Is Here, Brought to You By Grid Net

October 22, 2009 — This morning Grid Net, a startup that has developed smart grid software based on WiMAX, is officially launching itself, unveiling its software product and announcing Australian utility customer SP AusNet, as well as a whole host of partners including GE, Motorola, Cisco, Intel, and WiMAX service provider Clearwire.

SP AusNet Implementing Smart Grid Tech From GE, Motorola, GridNet

October 22, 2009 — GE is providing the meter communications technology across the network and supplying half of the project’s smart meters. GridNet is providing its PolicyNet SmartGrid network management system software suite to manage the meters, controllers, switches and other devices. Motorola is providing the communications infrastructure.

Where Can WiMAX Catch a Break? The Smart Grid

October 22, 2009 — SP AusNet’s John Steel said the utility chose WiMAX in general and Grid Net’s technology in particular because it wanted to build a network based on open standards, one that’s interoperable with a wide range of technologies.

Utility Interest in WiMAX for Smart Grid Growing

September 11, 2009 — [A]nother reason to use WiMAX on the smart grid is that WiMAX is an open standard that can benefit from the economies of scale created by participating companies like GE, Intel and Motorola. That means the price point of WiMAX gear is expected to come down dramatically if the technology gains traction. Ray Bell, CEO of smart-grid software maker Grid Net, told us that WiMAX chipsets currently cost around $36, but in a year they’ll be closer to $12, and in another six months they could hit $8 or even $6.

OASIS Members Form Committee to Define Transaction Standards for Smart Grid

August 25, 2009 — The international open standards consortium, OASIS, has formed a new group to enable the collaborative and transactive use of energy. The new OASIS Energy Interoperation Technical Committee will develop Web services-based information and communication models for exchanging dynamic pricing, reliability, and emergency signals.

Six Reasons to Start Considering WiMax Today

May 15, 2008 — Newcomer Grid Net has allied with General Electric and Intel to bring a new generation of electrical power meters to homes and businesses. These meters come with mobile WiMax built in. The resulting Smart Grid communications and networking platform promises to allow both the utility company and customers to be able to actively manage and control their electrical use and costs, and to make WiMax as ubiquitous as electrical power. American Electric Power and EnergyAustralia are already deploying these smart power meters.

Sprint and Clearwire Seal $14.5 Billion WiMax Deal

May 7, 2008 — Sprint Nextel and Clearwire will form a joint venture worth US$14.5 billion to deploy the first nationwide mobile WiMax network, they said Wednesday. The new company, which will be called Clearwire, is also backed by Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Brightcove Networks.

A Smarter, Greener Grid

May 7, 2008 — The clunky, brownout-prone electricity distribution system is about to enter the Computer Age, and Grid Net’s smart meter could be the key.

Press contacts

Judith McGarry, Grid Net
(415) 971-2900
jhmcgarry@grid-net.com

Aida Causevic, Cohn & Wolfe
(415) 365-8637
aida.causevic@cohnwolfe.com