China’s SGIT (State Grid Information & Telecommunication Co. Ltd) is teaming up with Alcatel-Lucent to help utilities more effectively manage peak electricity demand, identify opportunities for power savings and cut down on energy usage. The two companies will do this by increasing the intelligence in utilities’ power distribution systems, or smart grids, which allow the continuous measurement, monitoring, control and adjustment of power distribution.

Alcatel-Lucent and SGIT, a subsidiary of SGCC (State Grid Corporation of China), will address some of the biggest challenges related to smart grids - accessing data used to track energy usage from the plethora of devices including smart meters, analysing that data and delivering that information to the utility. This information can then be used by utility companies to monitor and control peak and off-peak demand and more effectively manage delivery during those times, which can help cut costs and reduce outages and waste.

These solutions will also provide the customers of utility companies with access to reliable power distribution as well as information on their own power usage, allowing them to make educated decisions about their power consumption, for example changing their normal usage patterns to take advantage of lower pricing structures at off-peak times.