Opelika Partners With The Motive Group for Deployment of First Smart Grid and Broadband Services

OPELIKA, Ala., Apri 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric utilities across North America are deploying Smart Grid for purposes of enhancing their utility operations.  The city of Opelika has chosen to partner with The Motive Group to build the most advanced and future proof infrastructure by deploying an all fiber network.  This will enable very low latency for Smart Grid applications now, and in the future, and will benefit Opelika Power Services electric customers beyond the foreseeable future.

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"The utility industry is challenged with solving a critical national problem where supply cannot meet demand for energy without a major network transformation that enables more efficient use of our energy resources," says Jennifer McCain, co-founder of The Motive Group.  "Smart Grid technology is an opportunity to modernize the electric system and can enable the delivery of modern broadband/triple play services to communities using the same network infrastructure."

This partnership will enable the city of Opelika to deploy advanced meter reading over fiber to each home and business in their service area, which reduces cost for truck rolls and provides real-time data energy usage.  This allows for cost savings in how the city manages its utility going forward. 

The City of Opelika recognized the positive impact adding broadband services to their community could have on economic development and also understands the importance of implementing operational efficiencies when adding new competitive services.  To accelerate the deployment of the network, The Motive Group will help with the operational and organizational transformation necessary to ensure success.  Some of the responsibilities of The Motive Group include construction management, overall project management,  system Integration, public relations and marketing  and development of cost allocation methodology.

"Fiber Optic infrastructure is a key component to Opelika's ability to deliver next generation electric, voice, video and ultra-high-speed data services to the citizens and businesses of Opelika," says Gary Fuller, Mayor of Opelika.  "The data services alone are desperately needed to foster economic growth, generate revenues that pay for the advanced Smart Grid over time and enhance our education and healthcare systems.   I'm very confident The Motive Group has all the expertise we need to help Opelika build and fully deploy our fiber network.  We're excited about the future and what Fiber to the Home is going to mean for the future of our community." 

About The Motive Group

With more than 100 years of combined experience in planning, funding and deploying critical advanced network infrastructure, the founders of The Motive Group are dedicated to helping communities move forward in the areas of Smart Grid and Broadband deployment.  The Motive Group helps communities chart the path through efficient use of fiber optic systems.  Our financial, technical, organizational and leadership expertise are unique and provide value to those wishing to prepare their organization and community for the future.  To learn more, visit www.themotivegroup.com.

About Smart Grid and Broadband

A Smart Grid is a digitally enabled electrical grid that gathers, distributes and acts on information about the behavior of all participants (suppliers and consumers) in order to improve the efficiency, importance, reliability, economics and sustainability of electricity services.  Roll-out of Smart Grid technology also implies a fundamental re-engineering of the electricity services industry, although typical usage of the term is focused on the technical infrastructure.

Contact: Jennifer McCain 205.876.5588

SOURCE The Motive Group

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