CenterPoint Energy Inc.'s electric transmission and distribution subsidiary, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, will follow a Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) pilot program completed in 2005 with a limited deployment of Intelligent Grid technology, which will focus on enhancing the efficiency and reliability of CenterPoint Energy's utility operations. IBM has been selected as the technology and implementation partner for the project.

The limited deployment of Intelligent Grid technology will involve CenterPoint Energy installing, testing and monitoring automated meter reading (AMR) of electric and natural gas meters, remote connection and disconnection of electric service, and automated outage detection and restoration. BPL technology will be used for the data communications network.  

"An Intelligent Grid would provide us with on-demand data and information that would enhance service to our customers and improve electric power line grid planning, operations and maintenance," said Don Cortez, Vice President of Distribution Support for CenterPoint Energy's electric operations. "This would contribute to fewer and shorter outages, better customer service, improved operating costs and security, and higher productivity."

IBM will act as CenterPoint Energy's technology partner in the deployment, for which IBM has tapped its wide range of energy industry business consultants and technology experts to provide overall project management and system integration services. IBM Global Services will also design and build the BPL network for the project, aid CenterPoint Energy in the design of the automated meter management (AMM) system, develop associated interfaces with existing systems, and provide technical operations support. 

During 2006, CenterPoint Energy will deploy the new technology in three separate areas of Houston covering a diverse mix of electric (44,500) and gas (22,500) customers, as well as multi- and single-family homes and commercial customers.

To date, CenterPoint Energy has taken a disciplined approach in its evaluation of BPL and distribution automation opportunities. In this new deployment, a key objective will be to validate the projected benefits, cost and performance metrics, and installation and operational processes. In addition, the company will work with IBM to establish overall benchmarks for a potential full deployment. Internet and other consumer applications are not a part of the 2006 limited deployment of the Intelligent Grid, but may be considered in the future.

In preparation for the limited deployment of the Intelligent Grid technology, CenterPoint Energy selected IBM as its technology partner and opened a BPL Technology Center in May 2005 for testing distribution automation applications and to serve as a demonstration site to show the capabilities of BPL for the utility industry. ?
CenterPoint Energy, with consulting assistance from IBM, also completed a pilot program in 2005, which demonstrated the capabilities of BPL in the home with Internet access, Internet phone service and advanced gas and electric metering. The pilot involved a 250 home area in Houston.