Fiber Optics

FIBER OPTICS ť ť THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE

The District completed a sophisticated fiber optic network in Pend Oreille County, Washington. You may wonder what an electric and water utility district might need with such a sophisticated communication network. Following are a few examples of the unique cost saving and safety benefits, which being able to access information instantaneously via fiber optics provides.

Presently, all of the District’s substations are monitored and can be remotely operated by the District’s dispatch center. The analysis of actual electric loads and energy requirements helps to defer capital expenditures. Prior to this remote monitoring capability, energy needs and loads were estimated, and resulted in the substation equipment being worked harder than necessary, which caused premature failure of expensive equipment.

Data transfer functions between the District’s headquarters in Newport and the Box Canyon Dam Hydroelectric Project can now be accomplished about 400 times faster, with the capability of 40,000 times faster with minimal modifications.

The District has implemented an advanced telecommunication system for its customers to contact all of its operation centers.

Many customers who live in remote and/or hard to access areas now have automated meters. Information from the Automated Meter Reading System is accessed via the fiber optic system by the main office for data transfer to the customer billing system.

The District is studying options to bring this high-speed communication system right to the customer’s home in partnership with a Retail Service Provider. By implementing this system, all would benefit. The customer benefits in that there is potential to provide services such as energy conservation, security, data service, on-line metering and a myriad of other services, some of which are unimaginable today. The District benefits by further refining the real time control of the power system for optimum performance.

Pend Oreille PUD completed the installation of its fiber optic line in 2000 from Newport to Spokane, the final leg of its 125-mile fiber optic route between the Canadian border and Spokane. Currently, the optical equipment necessary to lite the fiber has been installed in two of the four substations.

The Newport to Spokane Fiber Optic Line will allow significant cost savings for the District. Accurate real time data needed to forecast electric load requirements is accessed via the fiber optics line and provided to Avista Utilities, the District’s control area provider. By being able to accurately forecast electric load requirements, the District will save hundreds of thousands per year.

Washington state laws currently limit the usage of fiber optic lines by public utility districts (PUDs) generally to their internal communication and control purposes. Slated for future needs, excess capacity can be leased to wholesalers (telephone, cable and Retail Service Providers).

Service to the community would be to offer wholesale access to the Internet Service Providers (ISPs), local and long distance dial tone providers, and cable television systems. This capability would provide opportunities for telecommuting, distance learning, video conferencing, remote provision of health care services, and access to worldwide markets.

Pend Oreille PUD believes that having the authority to provide high-speed services to Retail Service Providers would promote the establishment of new businesses and enhance existing businesses, which would create additional jobs and significantly increase the county’s economy.

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