GridPoint

Silver Spring Gets Into Demand Response

nextupresearch1 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:55:00 +0000

Silver Spring today unfurled two new applications — UtilityIQ Demand Response Manager 1.0 and CustomerIQ Web Portal 1.5 — that will effectively allow it to create demand management and power curtailment programs for utilities and thus to compete for the sizeable contracts in these markets that currently go to power management vendors like EnerNoc, Comverge, and even OPower.

Silver Spring’s applications will not be sold to utilities that do not already use, or plan to use, the company’s networked meters. Thus, it won’t compete against these companies in the broad open market. Nonetheless, Silver Spring already has a large footprint, so it will be a formidable competitor to all of the above. Pacific Gas & Electric, Oklahoma Gas & Electric and others are currently installing Silver Spring meters that now number in the millions. The company will host these applications and charge utilities a fee for using them just like a software-as-a-service provider.

Sprint’s Delivers Smart Grid Promise with Itron and Ambient Corp

nextupresearch1 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:02:51 +0000

In an effort to transform and upgrade nation’s electric utility infrastructure, Sprint is building a smart grid portfolio of solutions that optimizes grid performance by overlaying a communications system linking generators, distributors and consumers. To deliver on the smart grid promise, Sprint has partnered with Itron and Ambient Corporation to leverage Itron’s advanced utility solutions such as OpenWay smart metering and data management solution along with Ambient’s flexible smart grid communication architecture.

Layoffs Start at GridPoint

nextupresearch1 — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:51:00 +0000

Greentech Media reports that GridPoint has started to layoff personnel. A large round of layoffs began at the smart grid/retrofit/software company last Friday, according to sources close to the company who have been in contact with employees. Further layoffs are expected this week.

Where will the layoffs occur? GridPoint may coalesce around ADMMicro, a energy management company specializing in large government, retail and industrial customers. ADM helped GridPoint land the $28.7 million deal with the US Postal Service. In fact, the Postal Service was an ADM customer, along with DSW Shoes and others, when GridPoint bought the company late last year. As a result, layoffs may come to Standard Renewable Energy, a retrofit company acquired by GridPoint earlier this year, and V2Green, a software company that lets utilities communicate with electric cars. In Standard Renewable’s case, the company can replace employees with local contractors and electricians. In V2Green’s case, layoffs might be possible because of inactivity.

Begins CEO Transition to Guide the Next Phase of Growth

nextupresearch1 — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:21:22 +0000

The Board of Directors of GridPoint announced that it has appointed John B. Spirtos as interim Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Peter L. Corsell, who will remain involved as non-executive Chairman of the Board. Mr. Spirtos will assume the role of interim Chief Executive Officer while the Board conducts an internal and external search for the company’s next Chief Executive Officer.

Gridpoint Begins Ceo Transition To Guide The Next Phase Of Growth

nextupresearch1 — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:59:40 +0000

Accent Raises $7M to Expand Smart Grid Technology Offerings

nextupresearch1 — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:40:49 +0000

Accent announced that it has closed a new round of financing of $7M from Silicon Valley investor Tallwood Venture Capital. The funding will be used to accelerate development and productization of key communication technologies for system-on-chip solutions required by Smart Meter as well as emerging Smart Home applications.

Grid Net Partners With Sprint for Utility Market

nextupresearch1 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:30:14 +0000

Grid Net will partner with Sprint for communication and grid services for utilities. Grid Net has been promoting WiMax and other broadband technologies for the grid for some time. General Electric licenses its software and hardware reference designs, while Landis+Gyr inked a pact with Grid Net recently. So far, most of Grid Net’s deals have been for Australian grids.

Moves Closer To Possible IPO

nextupresearch1 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:27:28 +0000

GridPoint is positioning itself for what could be the region’s next big initial public offering, possibly as soon as 2011. The smart-grid company has taken on increasingly lucrative contracts — most recently a $28.7 million deal with the Postal Service — and made at least four acquisitions in the last three years. Over the past year, it has also beefed up its management team with executives who have experience taking companies public.

Grid Net Software To Complement Landis+Gyr Smart Grid Offerings

nextupresearch1 — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:31:18 +0000

Landis+Gyr says it is offering software products from Grid Net as components of its smart grid application for utility customers in Australia and New Zealand. This software-reseller agreement, which contains an option for worldwide distribution, includes Grid Net’s PolicyNet SmartGrid Network Management System (NMS), as well as the Smart Network Operating System (SmartNOS) and PolicyNet SmartAgent firmware.

Smart-grid companies feel growing pains

nextupresearch1 — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:54:30 +0000

Despite being only seven years old, the high-profile energy start-up has adjusted its strategy a few times and made a string of acquisitions. At first, it planned on selling home energy management systems and batteries to consumers, then shifted its focus to selling smart-grid equipment to utilities, such as software to manage home energy or charge electric cars.