Tendril Selected for KCP&L Smart Grid Demonstration Project
October 14, 2010
Four-year-long project to serve 14,000 customers
BOULDER, COLO – October 14, 2010 – Tendril, a leading energy management technology provider that is helping to drive the large-scale deployment of the Smart Grid, has been selected for a four-year-long Smart Grid Demonstration Project for KCP&L. Rollout of the project to 14,000 homes and businesses served by KCP&L will begin soon. This demonstration project will use the Tendril platform, an end-to-end energy management and consumer engagement solution.
The Tendril solution will provide home energy management devices such as in-home displays, load control switches, smart thermostats and appliances, as well as capabilities to support emerging technology such as Electric Vehicle (EV) recharging and Distributed Generation. The Tendril platform helps customers gain insight and control over their energy use by utilizing products and applications that communicate directly with KCP&L’s existing infrastructure, and subsequently provide customers with the information they need to make good energy management choices day to day. The platform also allows the utility to better understand customer energy usage patterns and better manage load to avoid major service interruptions.
“One of the main goals of the project is to demonstrate how consumers can assist the utility in energy conservation,” notes Tendril CEO Adrian Tuck. “The key is creating an awareness of behavior around Energy Efficiency and promoting active engagement.”
The project will deliver two levels of technology to participants:
All customers will have access to Tendril Tracker, an energy management portal that presents historical energy usage data aimed at educating customers on their energy usage patterns. It will also provide community comparison features so that consumers can compare their usage to other KCP&L customers with a similar profile, as well as receive recommendations on energy saving behaviors and choices.
Customers can also elect to receive, in addition to the energy management portal, the following:
- Tendril Insight: An in-home display that records energy use and displays near real-time feedback and forecasted bill information on energy consumption and cost
- Tendril SetPoint: A smart thermostat that can be programmed manually or remotely via the Internet
- Tendril Volt: A smart outlet for device control and monitoring
- Optional control capability for ZigBee® compliant third-party devices
Additional elements include:
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)/Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) charging stations – The Tendril Electric Vehicle application, an Internet delivered software interface will assist consumers and the utility in managing the recharge activities of EVs both in the home and in public charging stations.
About Tendril
Tendril is a leading energy management technology provider that is helping to drive the large-scale deployment of the Smart Grid through the development of forward-thinking solutions as well as its work to establish industry protocols. The Tendril platform provides an open, secure and scalable end-to-end solution that creates a two-way dialogue between energy providers and their customers. The platform enables customer engagement software to promote Energy Efficiency, and includes in-home products and applications as well as utility applications such as Demand Response and back office integration. Through the 20 Smart Grid pilot programs the company has secured in 2010 alone, Tendril will provide turnkey delivery of products and services to utilities and their customers in 14 states throughout the country. Tendril is venture backed by VantagePoint Venture Partners, Good Energies, RRE Ventures, Vista Ventures, GE and Appian Ventures.
About KCP&L
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP) is the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light Company and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company, two of the leading regulated providers of electricity in the Midwest. Kansas City Power & Light and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations use KCP&L as a brand name. More information about the companies is available on the Internet at: www.greatplainsenergy.com or www.kcpl.com.
Media Contacts:
KCP&L:
Courtney Beatty
(816) 556-2414
media@kcpl.com
Tendril:
Sarah Blanchard
(206) 789-5668
sarah@parsonspr.com
Patricia Wheatley
(303) 894-3108
pwheatley@tendrilinc.com