Two Triangle-based companies well known in the power industry are teaming up to gain an edge in the fast-emerging market for Smart Grid technology.
Raleigh-based Sensus and Cary-based ABB announced their business partnership this morning in Tampa, Fla., at the annual DistribuTech conference for the electricity transmission and distribution industry.
The partnership will combine ABB's strength in power transmission and distribution systems with Sensus' expertise with advanced utility meters. The two companies plan to develop technologies and applications to help power companies improve fault detection, outage location, power restoration, among other benefits.
The Smart Grid is an automated digital power network that is expected to one day replace the nation's aging electro-magnetic grid. Last fall the Obama administration announced $3.4 billion in stimulus money to support smart grid development.
For customers, Smart Grids, coupled with smart meters, will enable monitoring of real-time household energy usage, adjusting thermostats over the Internet, and selecting the most economical rates based on detailed home energy usage patterns.
ABB used to make utility meters but sold that business to Raleigh-based Elster several years ago.
ABB and its subsidiaries employ about 120,000 worldwide and about 150 in Raleigh. Sensus employs about 4,000 worldwide and 200 in Cary.
