NRTC and Efacec ACS Partner for Integrated Utility Smart Grid Solutions

Distribution Agreement to Benefit Rural Electric Cooperatives Seeking SCADA, Distribution Automation and Outage Management

For Immediate Release
DATE: March 7, 2011

NRTC Contact:
Chris Martin
703-787-7288   
cmartin@nrtc.coop

March 7, 2011 [Herndon, VA] — The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) has signed an agreement with Efacec Advanced Control Systems, Inc. (Efacec ACS), a leading provider of smart grid automation and system solutions to utilities worldwide, to provide next-generation Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) products to NRTC’s rural electric cooperative members.

“NRTC’s rural electric members lead the industry in deployment of advanced smart grid technologies,” said NRTC Utility Solutions Vice President Ed Drew. “NRTC selected Efacec ACS because of the company’s 35-year history developing and deploying advanced automation solutions for utilities. The company’s SCADA platform is easy to install, flexible and representative of next-generation technology that rural electric cooperatives are demanding.”

NRTC’s electric members can benefit from Efacec ACS’s PRISMTM SCADA platform, now in its tenth major release, and a number of other advanced utility automation technologies, including Volt/VAR control, feeder automation, and fully integrated DMS/OMS.

“The entire electric utility industry is looking to deploy advanced technologies to support a smart grid, including rural electric cooperatives,” said José Barbosa, CEO of Efacec ACS. “We’re pleased that through our partnership with NRTC, we can continue to help rural utilities achieve that goal and improve the efficiency and control of their systems.”

In addition to the technologies now available through Efacec ACS, NRTC offers other solutions for rural utilities looking to modernize their distribution systems, including geographic information systems (GIS), advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), workforce management (WFM) solutions and communications systems.

About NRTC
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) represents the advanced telecommunications and information technology interests of more than 1,500 rural utilities and affiliates in 48 states.  Founded in 1986, NRTC provides products and services developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, such as high-speed Internet access via satellite, full service Internet access and support, advanced metering infrastructure, wireless technologies, power quality products, long distance programs, mobile phone service, IP backbone services, direct broadcast satellite service (DBS) with DIRECTV and programming distribution rights for video providers. For more information, visit www.nrtc.coop.

About Efacec ACS
Efacec Advanced Control Systems is a provider of smart grid solutions to the global electric power industry. The Efacec ACS software suite provides integrated distribution and outage management, simulation, optimization, and enterprise business intelligence. Our automation product lines include a wide range of flexible and cost-effective substation, distribution, and feeder automation solutions. Efacec ACS is powering the utility of the future – today. For more information, visit www.efacec-acs.com.

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