GridPoint Joins Silver Spring Networks Technology Alliance Partner Program
ARLINGTON, VA − April 30, 2008 − GridPoint Inc., a leading clean tech company whose smart grid platform benefits electric utilities, consumers and the environment, announced today that it has joined Silver Spring Networks Technology Alliance Partner Program as a founding member. Silver Spring Networks provides reliable, real-time, in-band connectivity to support communication across GridPoint’s smart grid platform.
GridPoint is the pioneer of an innovative smart grid platform that applies information technology to the electric grid. The intelligent platform enables utilities to aggregate and control distributed energy resources at the point of consumption – the home or business. Utilities efficiently balance supply and demand, leverage clean technologies and reduce the need to build new power plants.
GridPoint’s platform enables utilities to control loads, store energy and produce power in a manner that provides the same central control of traditional generation (power plants). During peak periods, utilities efficiently balance supply and demand by discharging stored power from distributed energy storage assets (e.g. advanced batteries) or by reducing customers’ non-essential loads through advanced demand management (i.e. the ability to measure, control and verify loads by type).
Additionally, GridPoint’s smart charging capability enables utilities to control the charging of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) regardless of when consumers plug in their PHEVs, which is anticipated to be in the early evening when peak demand is high. Utilities can limit peak load growth as well as offer customers significantly reduced charging costs by billing lower rates for off-peak charging.
“We are pleased to become a member of the Silver Spring Networks alliance program,” said Louis Szablya, Executive Vice President of GridPoint. “We look forward to working together to bring intelligence and efficiency to the electric power system.”
Silver Spring Networks creates the critical networking infrastructure for the Smart Grid, known as a Smart Energy Network. Based on the Internet Protocol (IP) suite, it addresses the challenges of running multiple applications and devices on a common networking infrastructure using multiple transport technologies, dramatically improving efficiency, lowering costs and ensuring the reliable delivery of services.
“We are delighted to have GridPoint as a founding member of our Technology Alliance Program,” said John O’Farrell, Executive Vice President of Silver Spring Networks. “Working together, we have a tremendous opportunity to create new Smart Grid solutions that enable utilities to achieve operational efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions and offer their customers exciting new ways to monitor and manage their energy consumption.”
About GridPoint
GridPoint Inc., a leading clean tech company, is the pioneer of an innovative smart grid platform that aligns the interests of electric utilities, consumers and the environment through an intelligent network of distributed energy resources that controls load, stores energy and produces power. The platform applies information technology to the electric grid to enable distributed energy resources to perform the same as central-station generation. During peak periods, utilities efficiently balance supply and demand by discharging stored power from distributed generation assets or reducing customers’ non-essential loads through demand response programs. Additionally, utilities effectively optimize baseload generation assets and relieve stress on T&D assets. The platform’s modular, scaleable and upgradeable architecture enables utilities to deploy proven technologies, (e.g., load control devices and advanced batteries) while creating a practical path for integrating new technologies (e.g., plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and fuel cells). For consumers, the platform provides protection from power outages, increases energy efficiency through online energy management and integrates renewable energy, paving the way for the commercial success of solar and wind energy sources.
On the Net: www.gridpoint.com
About Silver Spring Networks
Silver Spring Networks creates the critical networking infrastructure for the Smart Grid, known as a Smart Energy Network. Based on the Internet Protocol (IP) suite, it addresses the challenges of running multiple applications and devices on a common networking infrastructure using multiple transport technologies, dramatically improving efficiency, lowering costs and ensuring the reliable delivery of services. This smarter, more efficient grid could cut the growth rate of worldwide energy consumption by more than half over the next 15 years and drastically reduce carbon emissions. Silver Spring Networks was named a Technology Pioneer at the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and was a recipient of the GoingGreen and Brilliant Innovation Awards in 2007. For additional information, visit www.silverspringnetworks.com.
Contacts:
GridPoint
Suzanne Lauer
703.862.3137
slauer@gridpoint.com
Silver Spring Networks
Lisa Magnuson
415-531-9199
lisamag@silverspringnet.com
Media Contact
Suzanne Lauer
(703) 862-3137 or
slauer@gridpoint.com


