Substation Automation & Communications

Broadband Power Line Communications (BPLC) Enabling Core Applications Today and a Platform for Tomorrows Transmission Smart Grid

Confidential Overview Empowering Smart Grid Communications 1

Introducing BPLC
What is the problem?
90% of US substations do not have the required communications network for advanced digital protection, synchrophasors, and substation automation Traditional solutions are not meeting utility requirements for delivering a low cost (capital and operating) secure platform for solving immediate network communications needs A new platform is required for carrying currently mandated smart grid applications and enabling deployment of smart grid applications now in development
Old copper wire used for line protection is deteriorating and being phased out Leased telephone lines are aging, adding to monthly operating expenses and are being dropped by many telecommunications providers Fiber is costly and requires prolonged downtime for installation

What is the solution?

Amperion Broadband Power Line Communications (BPLC) - BPLC is a robust, field tested communications platform that solves immediate problems such as replacement of pilot wires and leased lines, allows for deployment of current smart grid applications such as video surveillance, and operates as a utility-owned and controlled communications backbone for testing and deploying future smart grid applications Amperion BPLC is a patent protected technology that delivers Megabit/sec data rates, with only milliseconds of latency, over existing high voltage transmission lines No cost for using existing utility wires and leveraging your own assets Installs in days compared to other methods that take much longer Simple and safe installation that minimizes service disruption Most of transmission and distribution substations can be connected without having to wait for fiber
Confidential Overview

Benefits of BPLC:

BPLC Rates High on Critical Evaluation Criteria

High
Fiber

Application Enabling

BPLC
WiMAX T1 Leased Lines Conventional PLC Wireless

Low Low Cost Effectiveness

(capital & operating expenses)

High

Confidential Overview

Side by Side Comparison

Conventional PLC
Line protection Backhaul Communications Broadband Utilizes existing line Time to deploy Service disruption Secured protocol Distance Cost (includes labor) yes no no yes medium medium yes long Moderate

Fiber
yes yes yes no long high yes long High

Broadband PLC
yes yes yes yes short low yes 20 miles with repeating Low

BPLC is closing the fiber gap PLC

bps Mbps

Fiber
Gbps
Confidential Overview

BPLC Enables Current & Future Applications

BPLC solves problems today, and provides a utility-owned communications backbone for the smart grid applications of tomorrow Transmission Applications
Line Protection Station Communications Station Surveillance
SCADA Data Collection Real Time Synchrophasor Data Streaming Substation Automation

Distribution Applications
Sensing & Monitoring Grid Reliability Fault Identification Distribution Automation Asset Protection Distributed Generation Demand Response Smart Metering HAN Demand Dispatch

Smart Grid Applications

TBD platform enables future applications still in R&D

Amperions Patented Advanced BPLC Communications Platform

Confidential Overview

BPLC Supports Apps from Leading Vendors

BPLC enables cost effective deployment of applications from multiple leading vendors, and a backbone for Smart Grid App R&D Transmission Applications Distribution Applications Smart Grid Applications

Amperions Patented Advanced BPLC Communications Platform

Confidential Overview

BPLC Enables a Smarter Grid Today

Line Protection:
Problem: Copper based pilot wire used for line protection between substations is being phased out, is not reliable and too costly to maintain. Solution: Install a Phoenix SG-5000 at each station and replace old pilot wire with BPLC technology. Economics: At a cost of $15,000 per unit installed in each station, a total solution for a 5 mile line will cost $30,000. The cost for a fiber replacement of the same line will cost $300,000. Benefits: Rapid low-impact installation, 10:1 cost reduction, improved miss-operation reporting, enables future applications on the same platform.

Currently deployed at AEP

Coax cable assembly Inside the switchyard

BPLC Coupler Phoenix SG-5000 BPLC Gateway

Network Management System

Amperions Patented Advanced BPLC Communications Platform

Confidential Overview

BPLC Enables a Smarter Grid Today

Station Communications:
Problem: The monthly operating cost of a 56kb Leased Line used for SCADA and station communication is $250 per month. T1 cost is $1200 a month. Solution: Install a Phoenix product at each station and replace multiple Leased Lines with BPLC technology. Economics: Elimination of monthly operating expense, no future capital requirement to replace separate communications lines, and since BPLC has a capacity of multiple T1 lines the payback can be realized within 12 months depending on Lease. Benefits: Rapid low-impact installation, rapid ROI, low-impact installation, enables future applications on the same platform.

Low cost lease line replacement

Coax cable assembly Inside the switchyard

BPLC Coupler Phoenix SG-5000 BPLC Gateway

Network Management System

Amperions Patented Advanced BPLC Communications Platform

Confidential Overview

BPLC Enables a Smarter Grid Today

Substation Surveillance:
Problem: The cost of a dedicated phone or coax line for video monitoring is prohibitive, but the price of copper is driving increased risk of substation vandalism. Solution: Install a video camera in each station and connect to an existing BPLC Phoenix system Economics: The incremental cost of a video camera is only $250 (depending on features, there are a variety of lower and also higher cost models) Benefits: Rapid low-impact installation, rapid ROI, low-impact installation, provides required security features at a very low incremental cost

Protection against theft and vandalism

Coax cable assembly Inside the switchyard

BPLC Coupler Phoenix SG-5000 BPLC Gateway

Network Management System

Amperions Patented Advanced BPLC Communications Platform

Confidential Overview

Amperion BPLC System Components

Fully Integrated & Field Tested Product Set

Coax cable assembly Inside the switchyard

Phoenix SG-5000
Two 200Mbps BPLC modems Intelligent switch: 6 10/100 Mbps FE ports 2 1000 Mbps GE ports (Fiber) CPU with Amperion embedded SW DC powered from station battery

BPLC Coupler
Safe and reliable design Uses standard utility arrester Scalable from 36kV to 138kV

Network Management System:

Continuously monitors BPLC modems and links health Performance graphs: system up time, throughput, latency Historical reports: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly Automatic alerts by email

Amperions Patented Advanced BPLC Communications Platform

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Proven Results at 5 Miles

DOE recognized the value of BPLC and funded part of the R&D work

Five Mile 69kV Network at AEP

Operational in Newark, Ohio Since 2008
Granville Station West Granville Station

Performance
Throughput 15-20 Mbps Latency 4-6ms High availability and redundancy Monitoring and automatic alerts

Applications
Line protection Station Surveillance SCADA Synchrophasor data
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Proven Results with GE & SEL Relays

Current Differential Relaying Test: Field demonstration of Line protection in with GE & SEL relays in Sep 2010

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Proven Results over 138kV Lines

Amperion BPLC over 138kV: Bandwidth performance of 10-14 Mbps and Latency of 6 Milliseconds - Amperion Phoenix w/BPLC Coupler

East Broad Station 3.7 miles distance

Taylor Station

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PLC on Phase 1 and BPLC on Phases 2 & 3

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BPLC Delivers a 10:1 Cost Advantage

BPLC can be used where there is no fiber to expand an existing fiber network or as a secondary redundant method to fiber on an existing line Method
Copper based Pilot wire system Conventional PLC powerline carrier system Fiber BPLC Cost of wave tuner and line traps Cost of fiber transceivers $15,000 at each station

Cost of equipment at each station

Cost is the same as fiber

Cost of communications line

Being phased out by phone companies No cost Using own wires $75,000 per mile for an OPGW retrofit No cost Using own wires

Total cost of a 5 mile solution

Not available

Greater > $200,000

Greater > $375,000 $30,000 Ratio 10:1 advantage

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Amperion BPLC Pilot Program - $62,700

Utility BPLC Pilot:
Application Options: Line protection, SCADA expansion, video surveillance. Includes: 2 Phoenix SG-5000 gateways, 4 BPLC Couplers, 1 NMS SW platform, & on-site installation, 24/7 monitoring service Testing cycle: 45 days Installation: 2 days Price - $62,700: HW/SW $50,000, Prof. Services & Installation $12,700, T&E based on project location. Cost includes communications equipment & installation ONLY

A smarter grid is just 45 days away

2 substations Up to 5 miles distance

Phoenix SG-5000
Two 200Mbps BPLC modems Intelligent switch: 6 10/100 Mbps FE ports 2 1000 Mbps GE ports (Fiber) CPU with Amperion embedded SW DC powered from station battery

BPLC Couplers

Network Management System

Continuously monitors BPLC modems and links health Performance graphs: system up time, throughput, latency Historical reports: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly Automatic alerts by email

Amperions Patented Advanced BPLC Communications Platform

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Amperion Customer Engagements

BPLC pilot projects in the following utility networks have achieved better than planned results:
AEP American Electric Power
Operational 69kV test network in Ohio 2007-2010 Planned 69kV commercial deployments in 2011-2012 Installed first 138kV pilot network in Q4 2010 The work to date has shown the viability of the technology up to 69kV, as well as its likely application to 138kV. BPLCwill be an important contributor to the advancement of the Transmission Smart grid, a key element of our nations drive to modernize the entire power delivery infrastructure.
Michael Heyeck, Senior Vice President Transmission, AEP

JPS Jamaica Public Service

Commercial deployments in 4 substations; installed in Q3 2010 Amperion equipment provides in-station communications solution to connect feeder utility meters and backhaul data to central office

PREPA Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority

Started pilot project in Q4 2010 Commercial deployments in 2011
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About Amperion
Provider of advanced communications solutions to electric utilities Developed world class Broadband Power Line Communications (BPLC) technology and holder of multiple foundational patents Innovator of hybrid broadband networks and BPLC substation communications required for T&D smart grid applications
Hybrid and BPLC products are fully tested and operational Commercial deployments expected in 2011

For more information on our BPLC pilot program please contact Amperion
Email: sales@amperion.com Voice: 978-569-2000

Amperion, Inc.
360 Merrimack St. Lawrence, MA 01843 www.amperion.com

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