Under the deal, the utility will add Sensus’s FlexNet solution to create a smart grid for power and natural gas in Iowa
Power company Alliant Energy Corp. has signed an agreement with Sensus to add the latter’s FlexNet communication system to Alliant Energy’s power and natural gas system in Iowa over a three-year period. Smart grid solutions are seen as a key internet of things (IoT) application given the foundational importance of sustainable resource consumption.
Sensus said that this new smart grid project represents one of the company’s largest communication system deployments in the U.S. and includes network deployment, electric and gas meter equipment and installation, and software installation. The project will also update the software for Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin energy company, which already has the FlexNet system.
“The Sensus communication system is foundational to building a smarter power grid in Iowa,” said Linda Mattes, vice president of customer operations, said communications systems are “foundational” to building a smart grid. “The technology will improve service to our customers, provide better data to operate our system and position us for future customer options.”
“We’re very pleased to expand our relationship with Alliant Energy, bringing the benefits that our advanced metering and communication technologies provide to more customers. Our Sensus FlexNet communication system continues to be the network of choice because of its proven ability to connect multiple applications in a secure, reliable and cost-effective environment,” said Xylem President and CEO Patrick Decker.
The two-way FlexNet network enables smart grid operators to collect, deliver, manage and analyze data in near real time, according to Sensus.
Alliant Energy Corp. provides regulated electric and natural gas service to 960,000 electric and 410,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin.
Sensus is owned by Xylem, a global water technology company which focuses on products and services to move, treat, analyze, monitor and return water to the environment in public utility, industrial, residential and commercial building services. With its October 2016 acquisition of Sensus, Xylem added smart metering, network technologies and advanced data analytics to its portfolio of solutions.
