NV Energy Delivers Reliable Power Distribution with Sensus

Nevada Utility builds on AMI investment with Distribution Automation

RALEIGH, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Sensusnews–The lights along the Las Vegas strip are so bright they can be seen
clearly from space. Imagine the amount of energy it takes to run this
city full of 24/7 entertainment. That’s a task that falls to NV
Energy, which provides power for customers in Las Vegas and the
rural communities of northern Nevada. With such a large and
geographically diverse service territory, this electric utility handles
a wide range of customer needs.

“We’re always trying to do things to improve the lives of our
customers,” said Dan Zaccagnino, senior engineer, NV Energy. “That means
proactively undertaking initiatives that will result in lower rates and
more efficient service.”

In 2009, NV Energy worked with Sensus, a Xylem brand, to install an
advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system and automate the process
of meter data collection. The solution would provide a faster and more
accurate view of their customers’ electricity consumption. They deployed
the Sensus
AMI solution, using the FlexNet^®
Communication Network to connect more than 1.3 million smart
electricity meters and won
accolades in the process.

“With a coverage area that includes mountains, deserts and cities like
Las Vegas, we needed a versatile network that could communicate with
meters across varied terrain,” said Zaccagnino. “We believed the Sensus
FlexNet system would provide us with a secure and reliable network to
give us a clearer view of our customers’ usage, and that’s proven to be
the case.”

NV Energy went a step further to anticipate their customers’ needs. The
team explored other applications that could benefit their customers
focused on Distribution Automation (DA).

DA uses Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) placed strategically
across the electric grid to collect and analyze data. A utility can put
the data to good use by optimizing power distribution across the smart
grid. Data from DA devices can save money and lower rates for customers
by allowing the utility to operate devices in real time to improve
reliability and efficiency.

The service provider’s FlexNet DA effort began in 2016 with a pilot
deployment of 10 base stations concentrated primarily in the southern
part of the state. The initial results were so promising that NV Energy
immediately moved forward with a full deployment across their entire
service area.

“We put together a business case and, after reviewing power quality
before and after the Distribution Capacitor Automation Project (DCAP),
we determined that we could deliver an average savings of $1.75 million
per year, which we transfer to our customers through a reduction in fuel
and purchased power,” said Zaccagnino.

NV Energy expects to completely deploy its DA solution in 2019. The
utility will also look for ways to leverage the DA solution for
initiatives such as conservation
voltage reduction (CVR) and phase
detection to deliver further value to customers.

“We want to deploy new technology to improve reliability and service to
our customers, and we see DA as an opportunity to do that,” said
Zaccagnino.

Read the case
study to learn more about NV Energy’s smart grid network.

About Sensus

Sensus helps a wide range of public service providers—from utilities to
cities to industrial complexes and campuses—do more with their
infrastructure to improve quality of life in their communities. We
enable our customers to reach farther through the application of
technology and data-driven insights that deliver efficiency and
responsiveness. We partner with them to anticipate and respond to
evolving business needs with innovation in sensing and communications
technologies, data analytics and services. Learn more at sensus.com
and follow @SensusGlobal on Facebook,
LinkedIn,
Twitter
and Instagram.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to
developing innovative technology solutions to the world’s water
challenges. The Company’s products and services move, treat, analyze,
monitor and return water to the environment in public utility,
industrial, residential and commercial building services settings. Xylem
also provides a leading portfolio of smart metering, network
technologies and advanced infrastructure analytics solutions for water,
electric and gas utilities. The Company’s more than 16,500 employees
bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on identifying
comprehensive, sustainable solutions. Headquartered in Rye Brook, New
York with 2017 revenue of $4.7 billion, Xylem does business in more than
150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that
transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of
our water-centric business by linking it with the best water
transportation of all – that which occurs in nature. For more
information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.

Contacts

Kim Genardo
Kim.genardo@xyleminc.com
+1.919.376.2566

Mark Van Hook
mark@largemouthpr.com
+1.919.459.6481