New York’s Consolidated Edison utility has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ambient Corp’s PLTSolutions Inc subsidiary. The alliance, which also sees ConEd appointing an Ambient board member, will use ConEd powerlines to develop powerline communications technologies through a phased testing programme. In addition to communications access, PLTSolutions’ systems will enable demand-side management and remote meter reading.
In other powerline communications news, Enel, one of Europe’s largest utilities, has signed an agreement with Echelon Corp that aims to integrate Echelon’s LonWorks system into the Enel remote metering project known as Contratore Elttronico. Over the next three years Enel intends to install some 27 million digital meters, starting in mid-2001. The meters will allow remote readings, connections and disconnections, but will also enable other facilities similar to those envisaged with the ConEd system.
