Broadband Energy Networks Announces Demand Response Project in New York

UPPER DARBY, PA. – Broadband Energy Networks (BEN), a privately held developer of networked energy information and control systems, today announced that NYSERDA had selected its time sensitive electric pricing demand response project with ECONnergy for a funded demonstration. In this project, BEN will install monitoring and control networks in homes and businesses to monitor energy consumption, and to control air conditioning, pool pumps, electric hot water heaters and other energy consuming devices, varying their operation in response to changing electricity price and demand, and user schedules.

The purpose of the project is to confirm customer acceptance and satisfaction with systems for homes and businesses that will automatically vary the temperature of the space, and the operating pattern of other electrical devices, in response to information about electricity price and demand. BEN and ECONnergy are working together to provide new technologies that will expand demand response acceptance among end-use customers. A robust Demand Response Market can moderate wide fluctuations in wholesale electric prices - enabling homes and businesses to curtail electric usage when prices rise, and to shift their use from peak hours to off-peak periods.

The two-year project will introduce new broadband applications clustered around energy and building & home automation, information and messaging. Customers will be recruited in the service territories of Con Edison and Orange and Rockland Electric will include small commercial and multi-family residential customers, as well as single-family residences. The total committed project budget to date is $1.8-million.

Energy Management and Information services will be delivered via a broadband network to each customer location. Initial applications include remote facility monitoring, energy usage analysis, bill presentation and equipment control and automation. Selected customers will also receive security and access control, life safety monitoring, outage reporting, and air quality monitoring.

Initial deployment is scheduled for Q1-Q2 2005 and the project will operate over a two year period. BEN will seek partnerships with selected broadband connectivity providers in the pilot area, which include Time Warner Cable and Cablevision, as well as regional DSL providers.

About Broadband Energy Networks

Based in Philadelphia PA, Broadband Energy Networks (BEN) develops advanced broadband and internet-enabled technology, monitoring and control systems and applications for utilities and their customers. BEN’s LightMedia affiliate developed energy management software used successfully by utility DSM trials in 1995-99, including over 2,500 homes and businesses with CSW, Southern, Detroit Edison and EPRI. In Jan. 2003, BEN acquired the assets of Coactive Networks, a venture-backed company that successfully produced innovative networking software and gateway technology to connect electrical devices and their utility-provided electric infrastructure to the Internet.

During 2003-2004, Broadband Energy will provide scalable, open-standard systems, incorporating all elements of hardware and software as well as end-user services and support, for a series of trials and deployments with selected energy, broadband and communications partners.

About ECONnergy

Based in Rockland County, New York, ECONnergy is a leading energy service company, providing electric and natural gas supply to residential and business customers through the Northeast. A privately held company, active in deregulated energy markets for over five years, ECONnergy seeks to capitalize on the opportunities created by the ongoing restructuring of the utility industry in the United States.