Critical step in Evolution to Sustainable Grid(TM) NORWALK, Conn., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the nation's most progressive utilities is one step closer to achieving a truly sustainable energy grid, with the recent delivery of a successful meter-to-bill test by Siemens IT Solutions and Services, Inc. The Siemens' Proof of Concept fully integrates smart meters to be deployed by Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative into the operational infrastructure of the utility. In doing so, Siemens proved that their Smart Meter Integration and Enablement (SMIE) solution can successfully utilize a utility's real-time data to run a Sustainable Grid(TM). (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO ) "This is a big step forward in achieving Bluebonnet's goal of a fully Sustainable Grid(TM)," said Paul Maier, General Manager for the Energy Vertical of Siemens IT Solutions and Services. "The Proof of Concept we've delivered validates the important connection between a smart meter at a member's home or business with the entire SAP-driven operational infrastructure of the utility. This technology will have a profound impact on energy consumption by enabling the consumer to dynamically alter their usage of electricity. In the future, it has the potential to deliver dramatic energy and operational savings throughout the grid." Technically, the Siemens SMIE solution integrates eMeter's Meter Data Management System (MDMS) into SAP's ECC 6.0 and Enhancement Pack 4 in order to create a true "Meter-to-Bill" solution for Bluebonnet. Siemens and eMeter have a global, strategic partnership for the sale and implementation of eMeter's EnergyIP software. The partnership enables utilities to purchase the leading Meter Data Management (MDM) solution that leverages SAP, providing the most advanced, navigable and proven path to the utility smart grid of the future. "This solution from Siemens allows us to fully realize the significant investment we've already made with our Smart Meters," said Mark Rose, CEO of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. "Smart meters realize their full benefits when the data generated through them is able to be used to optimize energy usage and increase customer satisfaction. This solution allows the smart meters to send energy usage data directly to our operational infrastructure and securely share that information between us and our members. The result is a far better informed consumer and a far more efficient use of energy. "This," said Rose, "will allow us to offer off-peak consumption discounts, empower our members to generate their own energy through solar or wind technology and sell it back to us, and help our members make better decisions about their own energy usage. It's a major step forward in our implementation of smart grid technologies. Bluebonnet will be one of the first utilities in the nation to fully implement the smart grid, which we call the Sustainable Grid(TM)." A major advantage of the Siemens solution is that it takes a "meter-agnostic" approach. Utilities can purchase smart meters from the supplier of their choice and use this solution to integrate it into the rest of their operations. Siemens undertook this Proof of Concept test using their own resources to both validate the effectiveness of the Bluebonnet Sustainable Grid(TM) approach and to impress upon federal funding agencies that this approach can and does work today. The Siemens Proof of Concept used sample, anonymous Bluebonnet customer and performance data and integrated it with SAP and MDMS over a six week period. "It was a very impressive demonstration," said Rose of Bluebonnet, "and completely re-enforces our belief in the functionality and importance of the entire system." Some of the most important elements of this system include: -- Comprehensive and real-time energy consumption monitoring -- Remote connection and disconnection -- Peak usage and time of use billing -- Highly automated business functions -- End-to-end functionality With this type of solution, utilities and customers can benefit in a number of very important ways: -- Utilities can offer their customers better service and transparency into their active energy usage, allowing them the ability to manage their environments in a way that makes the most sense for their own energy consumption and economic needs. Such individual choice and transparency should translate into greater energy savings and improve customer satisfaction. -- Utilities themselves also benefit from improved cost-efficiencies throughout their operational infrastructure. -- Billing structures can be developed to offer greater incentives to consumer energy during off-peak usage times and can be based on accurate, actual consumption patterns. "This is an important step in helping to achieve energy efficiency here and around the world," said Maier of Siemens. "This test is a classic example of how Siemens combines strong industry knowledge and high-performance IT capabilities to answer some of the toughest questions of our time. The real value of this technology is that it benefits both the consumer and the utility. We will replicate this solution in a wide variety of environments and bring the potential of the smart grid to reality." About Siemens IT Solutions and Services Siemens IT Solutions and Services is an internationally leading provider of IT solutions and services. It covers the entire IT service chain from a single source, from consulting to system integration, right through to the management of IT infrastructures. In addition, Siemens IT Solutions and Services complements the portfolio offerings of the Siemens Sectors with IT solutions. With its comprehensive know-how and industry-specific knowledge, the IT provider creates measurable added value for its customers. Siemens IT Solutions and Services employs more than 35,000 people and posts annual sales of about $6.3 billion, of which over 75 percent are generated outside of the Siemens Sectors. More information at: http://www.usa.siemens.com/it-solutions. About Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative serves nearly 80,000 meters and owns and maintains about 11,000 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 southeastern Texas counties. Bluebonnet's service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County and from Milam County down to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative go to http://www.bluebonnetelectric.coop/ . http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Siemens IT Solutions and Services CONTACT: Scott Smith, Senior Director of Marketing, +1-678-327-9864, Web Site: http://www.usa.siemens.com/it-solutions

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