Progress Energy Implements Intergraph®'s Vegetation Management Solution

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Progress Energy, a leading electric utility provider in the Carolinas and Florida, has implemented Intergraph®'s Field Automation solution for Vegetation Management to improve the efficiency and management of all vegetation workflows.

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Progress Energy has a units-based vegetation management process that includes planning and oversight by foresters, needs assessment inventories conducted by Progress inspectors, field work performed by contractors, and post-trim inspections. Progress previously managed vegetation workflows with a paper- based process, which involved multiple spreadsheets and databases.

With Intergraph's Vegetation Management solution, Progress can save significant time and money with an integrated geospatial system that automates field operations and workflows – from managing facility inspections to capturing work done in the field. The utility leveraged its existing geographic information system (GIS) investment, while reducing manual labor required for paperwork and data entry. Intergraph's solution will help Progress maintain 52,000 miles of primary wire.

Vegetation management and tree trimming is an increasingly important issue in the electric transmission and distribution industries. Regulatory mandates require that electric utilities eliminate all power outages caused by vegetation interference with power lines. Companies failing to meet the requirements face penalties and fines of up to $1 million per occurrence per day.

Progress expects to gain payback for the system within one year and to realize hard-dollar cost savings of $1,000 per day – more than $350,000 per year – when the system is fully implemented. The utility plans to use the Intergraph solution in both Florida and the Carolinas.

Intergraph provides field automation solutions for utilities, energy, and communications companies that design and manage transmission, distribution, and communications networks.

"Vegetation management is now one of the largest maintenance functions of electric utilities," said Hank Dipietro, Intergraph Vice President and General Manager of Utilities and Communications. "Intergraph has been delivering market-leading applications to the electric utility industry since our inception 40 years ago. Intergraph's Field Automation solutions for Vegetation Management and Inspection improve productivity, efficiency, reliability, and customer service."

For more information, watch Intergraph's Vegetation Management webinar at www.intergraph.com/sgi.

About Intergraph

Intergraph is the leading global provider of engineering and geospatial software that enables customers to visualize complex data. Businesses and governments in more than 60 countries rely on Intergraph's industry-specific software to organize vast amounts of data to make processes and infrastructure better, safer and smarter. The company's software and services empower customers to build and operate more efficient plants and ships, create intelligent maps, and protect critical infrastructure and millions of people around the world.

Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine (PP&M) and Security, Government & Infrastructure (SG&I).  Intergraph PP&M provides enterprise engineering software for the design, construction, operation and data management of plants, ships and offshore facilities. Intergraph SG&I provides geospatially powered solutions to the public safety and security, defense and intelligence, government, transportation, photogrammetry, and utilities and communications industries. Intergraph Government Solutions (IGS) is an independent subsidiary for SG&I's U.S. federal and classified business.

Intergraph is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hexagon AB, (Nordic exchange: HEXA B) and (Swiss exchange: HEXN). For more information, visit www.intergraph.com and www.hexagon.se.

© 2011 Intergraph Corp. All rights reserved. Intergraph and the Intergraph logo are registered trademarks of Intergraph Corp. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Intergraph

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