Tollgrade Launches Distribution Grid Monitoring Product Line at Power Industry Event in Tampa January 22 - 24
LightHouse(TM) Sensor Technology Applies Tollgrade's Centralized Test Expertise Continuous Grid Intelligence to Improve Reliability and Increase Efficiency for Utilities
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 15 / -- Tollgrade Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLGD) today announced the launch of a new centralized remote monitoring system, called LightHouse(TM), as an innovative means for electric power utilities to deploy technology to provide real-time grid intelligence, immediately detect faults, help to minimize the impact of outages and optimize utilization of assets, with a goal to improve overall efficiency of energy delivery.
A LightHouse sensor, mounted directly on the electrical conductor, will continuously monitor key circuit parameters and transmit data over a wireless network to a central location, reducing time of detecting a problem on the grid, identifying its location and restoring service. The new LightHouse system will be introduced by Tollgrade officials at the DistribuTECH Conference & Exhibition, a national trade show for the power distribution industry, which will be held in Tampa, Florida, January 22 - 24, 2008, at Booth # 323.
"Today, utilities face unprecedented challenges from regulators and customers to improve reliability and quality, and to increase efficiency," said Joseph Ferrara, Tollgrade's President and CEO. "Our core competency and expertise in centralized test and measurement is a real solution for new markets, such as the power distribution industry, to better drive operational efficiency and improve customer satisfaction," added Ferrara.
"For many years, the distribution grid relied on visual observation from field crews or calls from customers to alert the power company to a problem," said Steven Day, Tollgrade's Executive Director of Marketing.
"We recognized a compelling need for robust and flexible sensor technology in a marketplace that requires continuous performance and in an industry that is seeking ways to optimize the performance of distribution grids," added Day.
"Advanced sensors are an essential element for the intelligent grid. Sensor technology provides utilities with a snapshot of the grid's current status for fault and equipment problem location and historical data to enable better economic decisions about asset operations and maintenance, plus more accurate load research and forecasting," said H. Christine Richards, Senior Research Analyst of Intelligent Grid Strategies at Energy Insights (an IDC Company).
The new LightHouse product line is a system of components that includes a wireless sensor, an aggregator device that collects data, and software that will enable viewing, maintenance and reporting functions in real-time. Several LightHouse pilot deployments are already underway or planned for 2008. The product line has been in development for more than a year and is now available as a beta product for utility evaluation pilot programs. The product is expected to be commercially available during the second half of 2008.
For more information about Tollgrade's new LightHouse product line for the electric power industry, please visit www.tollgrade.com/lighthouse, or call 1-800-878-3399.
About Tollgrade
Tollgrade Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of network service assurance products and services for centralized test systems around the world. Tollgrade designs, engineers, markets and supports centralized test systems, test access and status monitoring products, and next generation network assurance technologies for the broadband marketplace. Tollgrade's customers range from the top RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies) and Cable providers, to numerous independent telecom, cable and broadband providers around the world. Tollgrade's network testing, measurement and monitoring solutions support the infrastructure of cable and telecom companies offering current and emerging triple play services, as well as for new markets requiring centralized testing and monitoring. Tollgrade, headquartered near Pittsburgh in Cheswick, Pa., and its products and customer reach span over 300 million embedded access lines, more than any other test and measurement supplier. For more information, visit Tollgrade's web site at www.tollgrade.com
Source: Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
CONTACT:
Bob Butter
Corporate Communications of Tollgrade Communications
Office, +1-412-820-1347
Cell, +1-412-736-6186
bbutter@tollgrade.com
Web site: www.tollgrade.com/
http://www.tollgrade.com/lighthouse
