Changing times. New solutions.
Customer expectations are changing. The digital age, with its increased use of information technologies, computers, and consumer electronics, has lowered the tolerance for outages, fluctuations in voltages and frequency levels, and other power quality disturbances. To address these changes, CenterPoint Energy is looking at transforming the way it operates with the use of "Intelligent Grid" technology.

Creating a smart power delivery system
CenterPoint Energy, in collaboration with IBM^®, has developed a Distribution Grid Automation Strategy involving implementation of an "Intelligent Grid," which will provide on demand data to enable a "step change" to improve grid planning, operations and maintenance. This will lead to fewer and shorter outages, better customer service, reduced operations costs, improved security and more effective use of the workforce.

Current Status
Following a pilot in 2005, CenterPoint Energy began a limited deployment of Intelligent Grid technology in Houston, installing 10,000 advanced electric meters and 500 advanced natural gas meters by the summer of 2007. In December 2008, the company received approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to deploy 2 million advanced electric meters over five years, beginning in 2009.

This new metering technology is the first step in moving the electric grid into the digital age.