RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tantalus, a leading provider of Smart Grid communication systems, announced the commercial availability of the factory-integrated, TUNet-compatible Itron SENTINEL® C&I (Commercial & Industrial) meter, newly equipped with Tantalus communication modules. This development marks the first major milestone of the partnership and follows within months of Itron and Tantalus announcing a joint effort to deliver a powerful smart grid communications and metering solution to the public power market.
The TUNet®-enabled SENTINEL meter will allow utilities to immediately provide real-time interval data, advanced demand measurements, real-time power quality monitoring, and flexible demand reset capabilities to their high-use C&I customers. This expanded functionality positions the utility to offer a significantly greater level of customer support while simultaneously enabling C&I customers to manage costs and complex pricing schedules more quickly and effectively.
Jackson Energy Authority (JEA), located in Tennessee, will be the first utility to receive the C&I meter for installation, leveraging the Tantalus Homerun™ fiber network it deployed last year. “The SENTINEL’s ease of configuration, factory integration, and rich set of data-intensive features were key criteria for JEA in selecting the Itron/Tantalus SENTINEL solution for our C&I deployment,” said Jim Ferrell, JEA CEO.
“The ability of Tantalus and Itron to deliver the TUNet-enabled SENTINEL meter within months of the initial announcement clearly illustrates the strength of the partnership and we are pleased that utilities like JEA have responded positively,” said Tantalus CEO Eric Murray. “We commit to continue working with strong partners like Itron to deliver the most high-performance solutions to support the needs of the nation’s power providers.”
“JEA’s decision to deploy Itron’s SENTINEL meter to leverage our partnership with Tantalus illustrates the value in joining together to deliver a complete, integrated smart C&I solution,” stated Mark deVere-White, senior vice president of Itron Energy Group in North America and Latin America. “Together, we are actualizing the promise of smart grid by delivering flexible, scalable and economically justifiable solutions to utilities.”
Itron and Tantalus announced a strategic partnership in September of last year that will expand the offering of TUNet-enabled SENTINEL and CENTRON metering products with an integrated network for multi-service public utilities across North and Central America and the Caribbean. The companies are collaborating to unite Itron’s installed base of millions of ERT modules with TUNet’s two-way advanced communication platform, providing a unique strategic overlay smart grid solution for utilities to leverage existing infrastructure investments in their grid modernization strategies.
About Tantalus
Tantalus provides two-way, real-time data communications networks to monitor and control electric, gas and water utilities. TUNet® – the Tantalus Utility Network – is an end-to-end WAN/LAN/HAN communications system that operates with 220 MHz RF, 900 MHz, and IP-based networks including Fiber, WiMAX and GPRS/cellular, either individually or in combination. TUNet’s patented and patents pending technologies are purpose built for the Smart Grid. The Tantalus network unites a utility’s applications, making advanced metering, outage management, power quality monitoring, load control, and distribution automation cost-effective and practical throughout both urban and rural service areas. For more information, please visit www.tantalus.com.
About Itron
Itron is the leading provider of energy and water resource management solutions for nearly 8,000 utilities around the world. We offer end-to-end solutions that include electricity, gas, water and heat measurement and control technology; communications systems; software; and professional services. With nearly 9,000 employees doing business in more than 130 countries, Itron empowers utilities to responsibly and efficiently manage energy and water resources. To realize a sustainable future, start here: www.itron.com.