Comverge Intelligent Energy Management Solutions Maintain Grid Reliability During Brutal East Coast Heat Wave
Company Delivers More Than 250 Megawatts of Reduced Demand to C+I and Residential Customers Across 13 Eastern States
NORCROSS, GA., July 8, 2010 Comverge, Inc. (Nasdaq:COMV), the leading provider of Intelligent Energy Management solutions for Residential and Commercial + Industrial customers, today announced it delivered more than 250 megawatts (MW) of reduced electricity demand in response to the heat wave gripping the Eastern United States. With grid instability threatening all or parts of 13 eastern states, several local grid operators and utilities -- including PJM Interconnection, the electric grid operator for over 51 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia -- are leveraging Comverge intelligent energy management solutions to reduce strain on the grid by executing mandatory curtailment programs.
"Our ability to execute these multiple emergency curtailment events helped prevent blackouts and saved our residential and commercial and industrial customers along the eastern seaboard millions of dollars," said R. Blake Young, President and CEO, Comverge. "Scenarios like these underscore the importance of proven and enterprise-class intelligent energy management solutions that can improve overall grid reliability. These events show that the success of our nation's infrastructure is dependent on reliable energy management solutions that deliver measurable benefit during times of crisis."
This week's dispatches covered 2 grid operators and more than 10 electric utilities in the Eastern United States, making it one of the most complex curtailment programs executed in 2010. Yet, even with the strain of multiple requests on a scorching hot day, the Comverge Network Operations Center seamlessly managed hundreds of data transactions without any interruptions in service. The ability to manage these requests was aided by Comverge's Apollo(R) Demand Response Management System (DRMS), an operating platform that empowers the delivery of myriad energy management applications to customers.
The heat wave has led to record temperatures and is likely to continue. New York City surpassed 100 degrees two days in a row, the first back-to- back readings that high since 1999. In addition, temperatures have reached above 100 degrees in Washington D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA, which has resulted in near record electricity use. For instance, U.S. nuclear production rose to 98,740 MW, the highest level in at least 17 years. In addition, ISO-New England reported an overall demand for electricity of 27,154 megawatts, the fourth-highest ever and the highest in four years.
Young continued, "It is sure to be a hot summer across the country so we are likely to see many more of these events. Our proven and comprehensive intelligent energy management technology, with Apollo DRMS as the backbone, is highly capable of ensuring grid reliability even under these extreme conditions."
About Comverge
With more than 500 utility and 2,100 commercial customers, as well as five million deployed residential devices, Comverge brings unparalleled industry knowledge and experience to offer the most reliable, easy-to-use, and cost-effective intelligent energy management programs. We deliver the insight and control that enables energy providers and consumers to optimize their power usage through the industry's only proven, comprehensive set of technology, services and information management solutions. For more information, visit www.comverge.com.
For Additional Information
Kristin Mastrandrea
Communications Manager
Comverge, Inc.
973-434-7157
