Itron creates North America ‘smart community’ challenge

Technology company Itron is accepting submissions from hardware and software vendors in North America for a ‘smart community’ challenge. 
UTC / February 18, 2020
By Ben Spencer
Itron invites vendors to take part in a smart community challenge (Source: © Busakorn Pongparnit | Dreamstime.com)
Itron invites vendors to take part in a smart community challenge (Source: © Busakorn Pongparnit | Dreamstime.com)

Itron will allow participants to utilise its Internet of Things (IoT) platform to create solutions for two challenges designed by utility companies Avista and Liberty Utilities. 

Avista is seeking solutions that will allow communities to turn electric vehicle service equipment into resources for grid optimisation and time-based consumption. Example solutions could support communication and control of charging between vehicles and the grid or be applications that enable consumers to opt into load management programmes. 

Liberty Utilities invites solutions which could provide back-up power and communications for services in an emergency safe zone. This could include street lighting and traffic signalling which operate using energy storage to ensure public safety, Itron says.

Brent Baker, vice president – national customer experience operations at Liberty, says companies can collaborate with Liberty in ensuring public safety by developing solutions to “minimise interruption of critical services and mitigate the impact of severe weather events”.

This challenge follows Itron’s 2019 Smart City Challenge, which sought IoT solutions in the UK cities of London and Glasgow.

Vendors can submit their products by 31 March. More information is available on the website


 

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