Eletrobras Uses Cisco Technology for Smart Grid Project in Brazil

São Paulo, Brazil, May 4, 2015 – Cisco will provide communications infrastructure to “Energy+”, the smart metering program of Eletrobras, a major Brazilian electric utility that will serve the states of Amazonas, Alagoas, Acre, Piaui, Rondonia and Roraima. With World Bank’s funding of R$ 1,2 billion, Energia+ project will enable operational efficiency by improving service quality and control of non-technical losses, which reach 22% in the North and 10% in the Northeast of Brazil compared to required energy, according to the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL).

The meters use the Cisco® FAN architecture (Field Area Network) that works with an Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) that will be used in 80,000 meters at the first stage of the project. Cisco’s standards based IPv6 solution is flexible, highly secure, and resilient, and it allows the implementation of different solutions, with automation in the distribution of energy, management of team at the field, and integration with legacy system.

With the AMI, the gathered data will be transmitted in real time by the wireless network directly to Eletrobras Metering Intelligence Center. With that, it’s possible to better monitor and control the energy meters and in the future the power grid, allowing the identification and correction of gaps in the distribution structure faster.

In addition, the solution will also facilitate a reduction in operational costs, since it will decrease the displacement of technical teams to places located at remote areas. For the customer, in return, it means a way to monitor and control their own consumption.

“This is an innovative project that will help us optimize our service and the way we work. With smart meters, information of consumption will be sent directly to our Metering Intelligence Center, decreasing displacement of technical teams and increasing the accuracy of measurements,” says Paulo Lucena at Eletrobras .

“The biggest benefit for this project is more visibility and more control over the energy network. For Cisco, to be chosen as part of this project reinforces our expertise in Smart Grid and our commitment to contribute to innovation in the country,” said Marcus Luz, Operations Director, Enterprise at Cisco Brazil.

The implementation of the AMI project, as part of Energy+ Program, will be held by the consortium that includes Siemens, Itron, Telefonica and Telemont, a Cisco partner, to provide Smart Grid in cities attended by Distribution Companies of Eletrobras. Full implementation of the project is expected to be completed in 2017.

At the next stage, the Smart Grid will allow companies to sell their surplus energy quota and enable prepaid offers and dynamic pricing. Cisco FAN architecture is based on an open technology platform that uses industry standards, thus ensuring the development of new applications and services and constant innovation.

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