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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Kathy E.M. Yonamine, information technology project manager for Hawaiian Electric Co., sits at a computer outfitted with new broadband equipment.
HECO slowly
bringing high-speed
broadband to HawaiiHawaiian Electric Co. is testing broadband-over-power-line, or BPL, technology that could make its operations more efficient and cost effective.
It could also give you, the rate payers, more ways to manage electricity usage, get high-speed Internet access, eliminate phone bills and order video on demand, all through the power outlets in your home.
"BPL is a technology we think is tremendously promising, but we have to make sure the promise is true," said Karl Stahlkopf, HECO senior vice president for energy solutions and chief technology officer.
Devices with an Internet Protocol address -- such as computers, phones and eventually water heaters and electric meters -- can use BPL to communicate with HECO's servers.
IP-enabled electric meters could be read automatically, saving wear and tear on meter-readers who travel the island monthly, dealing with dogs and poor visibility.
Such meters can be told to shut off the power or to fire it up, saving the $100 cost of rolling out a technician.
HECO senior vice president for energy solutions and chief technology officer
It sounds like a way to ax a whole bunch of jobs, but Stahlkopf says employees could be moved into other positions.
HECO could use the technology for monitoring power quality and equipment as well as detecting outages, their locations and causes.
The benefits also interest Consolidated Edison of New York Inc. The two companies have consulted about the technology several times, said Tim Frost, ConEdison director of corporate planning.
It is a big step toward the "smart grid," Frost said.
BPL-spawned communications advances could make your whole house a so-called wireless Internet "hot spot" and residential testing is under way.
In a McCully house, HECO has demonstrated BPL-enabled high-speed Internet, an Internet-based phone service, real-time meter monitoring and video on demand for several audiences including the military, state officials, Verizon Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, other Internet service providers and TheBuzz.
Oceanic and Road Runner officials did not run screaming from the demonstrations, smiled Rick Stuller, HECO chief information officer for information technology and services department.
Nate Smith, Oceanic president, said he understands HECO isn't necessarily trying to become a full-on competitor.
"If they can prove the model, if they can figure out that they can get a good return by building this architecture and, as Karl said, selling off some of the needed bandwidth to third parties, why wouldn't you?" he said.
Verizon's response was more guarded.
"We've watched this development with interest and will continue to follow its progress," said Ann Nishida, media relations manager.
Broadband-over-power-line technology could put HECO on a path to crush its competition, but it doesn't appear to be heading that way, said President Yasuo Ogawa said. "HECO's being very good, politically," he said.
"I think this product is really going to change how people view utility companies," said Ogawa. "They're no longer utility companies; they're technology providers," he added, citing advances by Oceanic's Road Runner and Verizon's DSL.
HECO will continue its residential testing through the end of the year and will launch a larger pilot project in 2005 testing different utility applications.
"As we evolve our business model, we want to know, 'how can we fit in?' which is why we're reaching out to folks," Stahlkopf said.
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com
