Public Power - November/December 2007 - (Page 54)

COMMUNITY BROADBAND the fiber network is available. The call center has been served by T-1 lines but will soon need to switch to fiber to transport massive amounts of data. Building the network has brought several retail providers to the area, which has benefited customers by keeping prices down for services, which include direct fiber access, wireless or DSL, McCollum said. The two utilities are finding additional ways to use the network. They are linking substations and facilities. Additional utility benefits, such as using the network for smart grid functions, automatic meter reading and advanced metering infrastructure, are being researched. This infrastructure could include hardware, software, communications, customer associated systems and data management software. Franklin PUD is looking into a project that would connect every meter in Pasco to the PUD’s fiber optic network to support automated meter reading, load management and smart home technologies. “It is a very exciting project,” said Doug Gould, Franklin PUD’s information systems manager. Several other utilities are monitoring the utility’s progress on the innovative project. Benton PUD works with the city and port of Kennewick and Benton County in providing broadband solutions for their needs. For example, Benton County has a fiber link between the courthouse in Prosser and the justice center 30 miles away in Kennewick. They have improved efficiencies and reduced costs by doing this. Franklin PUD also works with local agencies to link facilities such as the courthouse, emergency management, public works, hospitals and schools. “It really is the true meaning of public benefit,” Gould said. tially invested $9 million in its network, limits network expansion to customer connections that provide a minimum threeyear payback. When payback is longer, customers have the option of paying remaining construction costs. Franklin conducted a feasibility study before embarking on the fiber project and the initial payback projections were good, Gould said. But when the Washington state attorney general ruled that public utility districts could not sell retail, that changed revenue projections, he said. The utility revised its business plan around a wholesale model. connects to our fiber network, which connects to the rest of the world. It’s how the wholesale model is suppose to work.” Franklin PUD enabled its fiber network to start paying for itself by cutting expenses using a new business plan beginning in 2005. The plan calls for the utility to outsource some of its functions and requires new commercial and business customers to meet the three-year payback model. The plan helped the utility reduce operating expenses to $110,000 in 2007. The projected 2007 revenue is $300,000, which is nearly double the revenue generated three years ago. Franklin PUD is looking into a project that would connect every meter in Pasco to the PUD’s fiber optic network to support automated meter reading, load management and smart home technologies. Benton PUD is expanding its fiber network to serve the port of Kennewick’s newly designed Spaulding Business Park in Richland. This will help the park attract businesses and provide more customers for the local Internet service providers. Franklin PUD, which ini“I’m not sure we would want to sell retail now even if we could,” Gould said. “Things are going well with our network and we have good relationships with our ISPs. Although we did not expand to the rural communities, those customers are served by one of our wireless ISPs. Their wireless network The public utility districts entered into the broadband business to serve the public need, McCollum said. “That’s what public power is all about. If we keep that in mind, it will make our decisions on how to position ourselves for the future a little easier,” McCollum said. ❚ Complete Billing Solutions for Utilities o Order Entry, Work Order and Billing for Video, Data and Voice Services o Automated Provisioning of FTTH Network and All Other Technologies o Use Your Existing Utility Billing System or ETI’s Optional Module o Proven Technology in over 100 Satisfied Customers 54 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2007 PUBLIC POWER

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - November/December 2007

Public Power - November/December 2007 Contents Washington Focus 10 Questions Connecting with the Customer Through Automation AMR or AMI? The High Court’s Antitrust Thunderbolts California’s Push for Demand-Response Plug-In Partners Get Plugged In Wiring Up for Double-Digit Growth For Engineers Safety Community Broadband For Governing Boards DEED Customer Service Hometown Connections Index to Advertisers Parting shot

Public Power - November/December 2007

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