electricity - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Crypto-currency miners to plug straight into power station in blockchain hub proposal

  IOT Group is seeking to establish a hub for crypto-currency miners that will plug directly into a Hunter Valley power station if it is recommissioned.

• AEMO welcomes first chief digital and technology officer

  ​The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has appointed Joe Locandro as its inaugural chief digital and technology officer.

• Two rural utilities seek CIOs

  ​Two utilities are seeking CIOs: Essential Energy in New South Wales and Southern Rural Water in Victoria.

• ​GE buys Australian startup Daintree Networks

  GE business unit, Current, has purchased Melbourne-based technology startup, Daintree Networks for $100 million in its first global acquisition since its launch in October last year.
  

• ​Western Power speeds up electricity outage detection

  WA-government owned energy supplier, Western Power, has deployed a cloud-based data analytics solution that enables engineers to investigate the locations and underlying causes of repeated outages across its 250,000 square kilometre network.
  

• Data opportunity 'enormous' for energy sector: ElectraNet

  Big data analytics will be critical to the future of the electricity industry, according to the senior IT manager of ElectraNet.

• Electricity network pricing changes to drive utility ICT spending: IDC

  ICT spending within the utility sector in Australia is forecast to grow by five-year compound annual growth rate of of 2.3 per cent to more than $1.9 billion in 2015, according to IDC's Utilities Market Forecast and Analysis report.

• Country Energy switches on managed print services

  NSW government-owned energy supplier, Country Energy, has entered into a managed print services contract with HP to reduce time spent by IT staff managing printers by as much as 95 per cent. Country Energy has 4525 staff and 169 offices across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. It has about 800,000 customers. Alan Montgomery, group manager for business services at Country Energy, said back in 2007 about 31 IT staff serviced some 800 printers at the utility.

• Comment: Asset life cycle optimisation: a salient lesson

  The recent news that the Commonwealth Bank had written down its investment in Victoria's Hazelwood Power Station to only $1 million would certainly have shocked its owners, International Power, which paid $2.35 billion for the plant in 1996.
  

• UXC wins two electricity meter reading contracts

  The contracts with EnergyAustralia and Integral Energy have a potential value of $28.7m

• Google applies to become electricity marketer

  Google continues to broaden it business focus, now seeking permission to buy and resell electricity.

• Origin Energy maintains guidance, ready for CPRS

  The company believes itself prepared for the "inevitable" global shift from coal to natural gas

• Energy Developments rejects $415m takeover bid

  Claims the offer doesn't reflect the full intrinsic value of the company

• Sony prototype sends electricity through the air

  System can power a 22-inch LCD TV over a distance of 50cm

• Energy providers call for Smart Network consideration in NBN

  Energy providers have urged the federal government to recognise the benefits of existing fibre infrastructure in the national broadband network (NBN) roll out and to consider the 'Smart Network' opportunities.