Microsoft Corp. Joins GridWise Alliance

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:01:58 GMT

Energy industry group seeks to bring innovative information technology insight to help transform the United States' electric power system.

REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 14, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. announced today that it has joined the GridWise™ Alliance, a collaborative venture between private industry and the U.S. Department of Energy. The organization's goal is to transform and modernize the nation's electrical power system so that energy can be generated, distributed and consumed more efficiently, cost effectively and environmentally friendly. Microsoft will bring its information technology and software expertise to help the Alliance progress toward this goal.

"As collaboration and innovation are critical to any major industry transformation, we are pleased to have Microsoft as part of the Alliance," said Guido Bartels, chairman, GridWise Alliance. "By passing the new energy bill, Congress has signaled a significant shift in our nation's energy policy, and having leading companies like Microsoft join the Alliance fits our strategy of building a broad consensus for implementing these smart grid concepts."

Microsoft's expertise in helping utilities use information technology to improve their utility business operations is making an impact worldwide and will be critical in helping GridWise with the goal to move the nation's industrial-age electric grid into the information age.

"It is critical for everyone involved to look at industry operations in new ways—from evaluating processes to reviewing the entire energy ecosystem—in terms of energy efficiency, reliability and reducing our carbon footprint," said Jon Arnold, worldwide utilities industry managing director for Microsoft. "As a new member, the Microsoft team is ready to help the GridWise Alliance paint the vision for the energy ecosystem of the future through an intelligent infrastructure that is pervasive and integrated—incorporating generation, transmission, distribution, energy markets and the consumer."

For more information about the GridWise Alliance, visit www.gridwise.org.

About Microsoft in Utilities

Industry solutions from Microsoft and its partners empower utilities to thrive in today's market-driven environment by optimizing their business operations in customer care, generation, trading and risk management, transmission and distribution, regulatory compliance, and enterprise services. With these capabilities, people can deliver innovative services, implement operations and maintenance best practices, enhance planning activities, create profitable customer relationships, and establish high-value connections with suppliers. Utilities offerings from Microsoft and its partners uniquely amplify utilities professionals' efforts, creating winning relationships with customers, partners and regulators. For more information, please visit www.microsoft.com/utilities.

Microsoft 2008 Utility Summit

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:30:17 GMT

Microsoft 2008 Utility Summit
Prague, Czech Republic March 27^th and 28^th

The challenges facing the Utility Industry are accelerating at an unprecedented rate. Executives continue to be challenged by regulatory, geo-political, shareholder, restructuring and competitive pressures. On top of this, environmental burdens have exploded forcing companies to rethink their strategies across the entire Utility value chain. Never before have the challenges been so great and the stakes so high.

During this Summit Microsoft and leading executives will present thought provoking perspectives on these challenges:

Craft a green energy strategy to reduce carbon footprint, enhance brand image and increase profitability
Optimize generation portfolios
The impact of the "Smart Home of the Future"
Optimize your customer care
Developing a smart metering strategy
Corporate governance and risk management
Maximizing shareholder value

Speakers include:

Daniel Dobbeni - President and CEO of the Elia and Chairman of ETSO - the European Transmission System
Don McConnell - Senior Vice President & Chief Operations Officer - Laboratory Operations, Battelle
Soumitra Dutta - Dean of External Relations, Roland Berger Professor of Business and Technology INSEAD
Don Richardson - Director, Global Innovation and PLM Industry Strategy, Microsoft
Pavel Pestryakov - Deputy Director General of Information Technology for OGK-4
Jon Brock - Chief Operating Officer - UtiliPoint International
Jon Arnold - Managing Director, Worldwide Utilities Industry - Microsoft Corporation

At the 2008 Utility Summit you have the opportunity to connect with your peers and hear strategies from industry leaders that will help you shape the future of your company. We look forward to seeing you there!

REGISTRATION

Reserve your place by filling in the registration form
or contact the organizers and fax it to: +420 257 210 652.

Ozan Öncel Blog: Utility