23 May Orion and Public Service Electric and Gas Company Win Prestigious UTC Apex Award
Orlando, FL— The Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) honored both Orion and Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) as the winners of the UTC Apex Award for 2012 during its annual conference. This prestigious award recognizes utilities that employed communications networks to benefit the communities they serve.
“UTC is proud to announce this year’s winners which include both a national and international winner. These companies are shining examples of network sharing with public safety and of resilience on hardened networks,” said Connie Durcsak, UTC President and CEO.
Orion, the leading electricity provider in New Zealand, won based on the resilience of its private network after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake impacted New Zealand. Specifically, their hardened UHF IP radios survived the natural disaster allowing personnel to start energy restoration while maintaining communications in the field. This was important in getting not only the utility up and running after the earthquake, but the entire community.
“Orion’s is grateful to UTC for this prestigious Apex Award which acknowledges technology like the ones we used from MiMOMax which Orion has deployed, and which has served the company so well during one of New Zealand’s biggest natural disasters” said, Neville Digby, Orion System Engineer.
PSE&G was recognized for its leadership in sharing a communications platform with a university police department associated and William Patterson University in New Jersey. PSE&G was able to share its trunked radio system with William Patterson University saving tax payer’s money and providing 100% radio coverage to the entire university.
“PSE&G is thrilled to be recognized with UTC’s Apex Award. The utility has a 100+ year history of involvement in the communities it serves. PSE&G is happy to help its constituent communities when and where it can” said Jeff Katz, Lead Senior Consultant, PSE&G.
Utility telecommunications is integral to reliable and secure utility services. UTC is the premier trade association navigating the convergence of telecommunications, operations and information technology to identify, innovate and enable mission critical solutions for essential utility services. Since 1948, UTC has served as the source and resource for information and communications technology (ICT) solutions, collaboration and advocacy for utilities and other critical infrastructure industries.
– See more at: https://www.utc.org/press-release/orion-and-public-service-electric-and-gas-company-win-prestigious-utc-apex-award#sthash.1XPVP2Jl.dpuf
