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The Guam Power Authority (GPA) has selected Tropos as the network communications vendor for its smart grid rollout across the island and is implementing the Tropos GridCom network to support GPA’s smart grid rollout in 2012.

Electricity North West (ENW) is planning to install GridKey’s low voltage (LV) network monitoring system in one hundred substations as part of a Low Carbon Network Fund project. GridKey is a low voltage substation monitoring system created from a collaboration between Sentec and SELEX Galileo. The technology provides continuous remote monitoring of the substations and can be quickly fitted without interrupting supply to customers. As a result, Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) can expect significantly increased knowledge of the state of their LV grid and better management of network and maintenance.

Itron has signed what the company calls “a significant contract” with the National Company of Measurement and Control Instruments (ENAMC), which is based in Algeria. Under terms of the agreement, the two companies will deploy the large-scale, commercial and industrial (C&I) advanced data collection system over the next 18-months to support the modernization of the electricity network and enable commercial and industrial clients to better manage their electricity consumption.

Itron has announced the availability of its CENTRON II meter integrated with Cooper Power Systems Radio Frequency (RF) communications technology. The combined offering increases metering platform options and gives greater flexibility to utilities implementing large-scale metering systems.

The Danish Intelligent Energy Alliance (DIEA) has joined the Global Smart Grid Federation (GSGF) Federation. DIEA, an initiative of the Danish Energy Association (DEA), was established to support the industrial foundation for a smart grid-based society.

Ambient Corporation is conducting a trial of its Power Quality Monitoring application and energy sensing equipment under the Low Carbon Networks Fund, which is overseen by the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) and run by UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), Western Power Distribution, and UK Power Networks. The purpose of the trila is to evaluat Low Voltage Current Sensor Technologies to determine how they can assist the network operators in running their grids.

Metadigm Services is once again investing in its popular meter reprogramming practice, previously known as Meter Lab Services. Matt Heath, Area Vice President at Metadigm’s testing and warehouse operations facility in Covington, Georgia explains, “Most of today’s early generation smart meters can be upgraded if you have the right systems in place. What we do in our meter reprogramming practice is technical, precise and critical. We are investing in making technical meter upgrades easier for our customers across the country.”

The OpenADR Alliance has welcomed several new members including AutoGrid Systems and EnerNOC at the Sponsor level; Alstom Grid, Cisco, Comverge, REGEN Energy, Wireless Glue, Universal Devices, and Ventyx at the Contributor level; and Duke Energy, Hawaiian Electric Company, Institute for Information Industry, and Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute as Adopters. The alliance’s total membership is now 71 members.

Landis+Gyr reports increased year-over-year sales levels in financial year 2011 despite the challenging economic environment. The company reports significant growth of 26 percent in the Asia-Pacific. That number, combined with seven percent growth in Europe, Middle East, Asia (EMEA), comfortable offset the four percent decline in the Americas region. Total sales increased four percent reaching a record $1.55 million, compared to $1.53 million in 2010.

Kamstrup is collaborating with Tekla Corporation to increase the data utilities receive on their distribution networks by using Kamstrup Kamstrup’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)  and Tekla Tekla’s distribution management system (DMS).

Twenty six members of the Smart Energy Collective have approved the second phase of its smart grid initiative, involving the development of five large-scale smart grid demonstration projects in the Netherlands.

Recent research indicates Asia is quickly emerging as the center of global smart grid activity. According to  The Smart Grid in Asia, 2012-2016: Markets, Technologies and Strategies report by GTM Research, the cumulative smart grid market in China, Japan, and South Korea is currently valued at US$8.5 billion, an amount expected to reach $19 billion by 2016.

Las Vegas has deployed nearly 6,600 GE Evolve LED Roadway fixtures to replace mercury vapor and high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights on arterial streets and residential thoroughfares throughout Las Vegas. The new lights are expected to save approximately 2.2 million annually, for a $175,000 energy savings.

New research from E.ON estimates that 37 million Brits, representing 76 percent, are missing out as much as four percent savings on their energy bills because they are ignoring the benefits of smart meter.

At a day-long workshop and showcase exhibition in Brussels, which demonstrated and explained the benefits of Smart Metering technology, the European Smart Metering Industry Group (ESMIG) told attendees that consumer awareness and involvement are essential for the coming Smart Meter deployments to be successful.

Kamstrup has successfully completed field testing of UtiliKeeper, a smart grid component that detects critical substation situations and sends alarms to operators in close to real time, and is ready to deliver the solution in all its markets.

The China Southern Power Grid Co. (CSG) visited Glendale Water & Power’s (GWP) administrative offices to see the processes used GWP in simultaneously deploying electric and water Smart Meters. CSG, which constructs and operates power networks in the Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou and Hainan provinces and regions of China, is preparing for a large scale installation.

Locamation is conducting a pilot with Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) Western Power Distribution and UK Power Networks, which will equip several secondary substations with Locamation’s SASensor MLV that enables measurement and monitoring of grid patterns at a low voltage level. The pilot is being run under the Low Carbon Networks Fund (LCNF) Tier 1.

KPMG partner Ron Clanton suggests that utility executives often overlook data when making a smart grid business. “Leveraging data as a source of value is the key to establishing and realizing a strong smart grid business case.”

S&C Electric Company has announced it has entered into an agreement to bundle application control software from McAfee into S&C’s PC-based control platforms. This new bundling enables the utility to enhance the security and protection of its control platforms that utilize commercial, off-the-shelf operating systems.