Silver Spring Networks has announced the availability of an advanced faulted circuit indicator integrated into its standards-based Smart Energy Platform.

The company’s Smart Energy Platform incorporates standards-based network infrastructure, software and services -- all tailored to a utility’s particular project goals, service territory and terrain requirements, regulatory model and operational structure.

Company officials said the new distribution automation (DA) solution provides utilities with deeper insight into the operational conditions of their smart grid. It provides real-time, location-aware intelligence on the integrity of their distribution lines.

Thanks to these ongoing operational alerts and data, utilities can reduce overall costs, improve operational efficiency, and speed response times when power outages occur, according to company officials.

“This is a great example of how one networking platform can serve the needs of DA, in addition to AMI and DR, and provide huge leverage to our customers because of that unified, proven, and extensible platform,” said Anil Gadre, executive vice president of products at Silver Spring Networks.

Additionally, in order to support configuration and management of the Silver Spring Communications Module, which is embedded within the advanced grid sensor, the company has updated its GridScape network management application.

The device, called Master Monitor 2 (MM2), installs easily on overhead power lines.

Company officials said that Sentient Energy has designed it and integrated the device with Silver Spring’s technology. Silver Spring and Sentient Energy worked together as part of the Silver Spring Partner Program.

Silver Spring Networks is a networking platform technology and solutions provider for smart energy networks. “The company continues to deliver even more value to our utility customers with this unique DA solution integrated into our open networking platform,” Gadre said.

Recently, CPFL Energia selected Silver Spring for a foundational smart grid networking project across the company’s distribution area in Brazil, including parts of the states of Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Minas Gerais.

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