Paris, France, June 23, 2008 -- Alcatel-Lucent announced a new smart metering solution targeted at the utility market. The solution is designed to make it possible for utilities to provide consumers with detailed, near real-time information about their energy consumption.

As a part of the solution, Alcatel-Lucent is delivering a real-time data processing system based on its Open Service Platform (OSP), offering meter reading, meter management, infrastructure and data management. The smart metering release of the OSP adapts the system to the requirements of the utility providers, counting kilowatt hours or gallons per minute instead of call minutes.

Alcatel-Lucent designed a web interface that provides consumers with information on their total power consumption. It makes it possible for utilities to help their customers be more efficient in their energy use and to offer their customers discounts on energy consumption that takes place outside of peak usage hours, enabling consumers to reduce their monthly bills by taking simple steps such as doing laundry during the evening, when usage tends to decrease, or reducing air conditioner use during peak hours.

Besides data gathering and processing capabilities, the solution provides numerous features and interfaces. These interfaces make it possible to monitor millions of meters, sending data every hour. That data can be used for analysis, forecasting and to apply various rates. Operator interfaces enable network management functions, such as alarm handling, monitoring and configuration, as well as the provisioning of consumer data such as name, address, tariffs and meter identities. The solution can also provide consumption information to each consumer via a secure web site. Data for consumer billing is sent via an interface to the energy providers systems. The solution also enables utility providers and consumers to have a near real-time view of energy consumption.

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Mon Jun 23 07:29:00 CDT 2008