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AEP RESCo and Cooper Power Systems Offer Distribution Substation Automation
Feb. 18, 1999•News Release
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 16, 1999 -- AEP Resources Service Company (AEP RESCo), a subsidiary of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), has teamed with Cooper Power Systems to offer a distribution automation substation to municipals, co-ops and large industrial companies in the United States and Canada.
The AEP-engineered substation integrates Cooper's Edison®-Pro relay to provide supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), fault protection, statistical metering and monitoring, load control and oscillography features in one powerful, compact 10' by 15' unit. The unit, built off-site to the customers' specifications, can be installed, tested and running in a short time period.
The Edison-Pro protection and control system eliminates the need for many discreet components used in yesterday's automation architecture. It is the first microprocessor relay station that allows its settings, logic and most other programming to be customized graphically to meet the requirements of almost any application. Also, ease of operation and setup means that most users can configure and maintain the system themselves, even on minimal budgets. The system is Windows 95, 98 and NT compatible.
AEP RESCo's package incorporates many of the traditional advantages of substation automation, such as enhanced control and monitoring, with the economic and technical efficiencies of system integration.
"Because the system obviates the need for components including RTUs, associated wiring, interposing relays and transducers, PLCs, demand meters, several control switches and stand-alone panels, it reduces station space requirements, cuts construction time, lowers operation and maintenance costs and improves overall reliability of the power supply," said John Provanzana, general manager, AEP RESCo. "It's ideal for the company looking for an advanced, pre-packaged, cost-effective automation system."
Jack McCall, director of Protective Relays and Integrated Systems, Cooper Power Systems, said, "Cooper's Edison-Pro relay is 'next-generation' architecture, which means the streamlined substation automation system cuts up-front costs, monitoring time and maintenance. This is a highly flexible, powerful, more compact protection and control system."
Provanzana added that AEP, which has been in the power generation business for more than 90 years with strengths in transmission, distribution and generation, currently uses the automation system at many of its own company substations in seven states and will, over time, implement this system into all-new distribution stations and existing stations as appropriate.
Cooper Power Systems is a leading supplier of electrical distribution equipment. Headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Cooper manufactures a broad line of high voltage electric power distribution equipment used worldwide by electric utilities, industrial and commercial organizations.
AEP RESCo, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, provides customized engineering, procurement and construction services -- including substation, transmission line, energy conversion and power generation projects -- for domestic and international customers. A variety of additional services, such as system infrastructure planning, testing, training and financing, can be bundled with each project. AEP RESCo has extensive project experience in the United States, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Krgyzstan, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Pakistan and Venezuela. AEP RESCo is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP).
AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.
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