Challenges Building out a Smart Grid Communications Infrastructure

http://www.bluebonnetelectric.coop/default.aspx

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative serves over 81,000 meters and owns and maintains about 11,000 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 southeastern Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County and from Milam County down to Gonzales County.

* Average: 7 meters per mile of line

•Harris Microwave system

•Licensed MDS 900 Mhz radio system communicating to 42 substations

•Mobile Data in 65 trucks (using cellular)

•AVL in all Bluebonnet vehicles (LCRA EDACS Radio system)

•AVL in all Contractor vehicles (using cellular)