SmartSynch has been selected by Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) to supply its IP-enabled SmartMeters and in-home energy management solutions for a three year smart grid demonstration project launched earlier in 2010. The trial will extend smart grid benefits to 1,000 participating households. The demonstration is the first step in a planned wide-scale deployment for more than 430,000 customers.

SmartSynch will also provide in-home energy displays to half of the participants to monitor real-time energy use and cost information. The remaining half will be able to monitor their usage information online via a special MLGW website. MLGW will install hardware for the 1,000 participants later this year.

The demonstration serves two purposes for MLGW: the first is to initiate consumer education that informs and motivates customers to better control their electricity usage – in 2008, MLGW households used 36 percent more electricity than the U.S. average; the second is to amass a significant amount of results and participant feedback to develop a business case for the future deployment of smart grid solutions throughout its entire service territory. 

Stephen Johnston, SmartSynch’s chief executive officer, says “We are pleased that our smart grid solution will play a role in helping MLGW bring their electricity grid into the 21st century. This is yet another testament to the value of smart grid solutions utilizing existing cellular networks in lieu of a multi-million dollar private network build-out.  Without existing cellular networks, it would be economically impossible for MLGW to strategically deploy this depth of remote functionality in increments of one to two thousand households.”

Memphis Light, Gas and Water is the largest three-service public utility in the United States

SmartSynch is a Smart Grid technology company that utilizes standard IP communications via cellular networks. For more information, visit www.smartsynch.com.

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