Two Triangle companies well-known in the power industry are teaming up to gain an edge in the fast-emerging market for smart-grid technology.
Sensus of Raleigh and ABB in Cary announced their partnership Tuesday in Tampa, Fla., at a 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 and power restoration, among other benefits.
A 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.
Smart grids, coupled with smart meters, will let utility customers monitor real-time household energy usage, adjust thermostats over the Internet, and select 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 is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and employs about 120,000 worldwide and 15,000 in North America. The company's North American headquarters in Cary employs about 250, and its Raleigh office has 300. Sensus employs about 4,000 worldwide, 350 in Raleigh and Morrisville.
