Landis+Gyr Helps KCP&L Reach Important Milestone in SmartGrid Project

May 10, 2011 – Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) has reached an important milestone in its SmartGrid demonstration project by completing the installation of Landis+Gyr’s Gridstream™ Advanced Metering Infrastructure system and smart meters.

KCP&L completed installation of over 14,000 FOCUS AX-SD and S4e advanced meters in less than six months. At the same time, the utility provided in-home displays to residents who requested one and launched a web portal for monitoring energy use and cost as part of a comprehensive consumer outreach campaign.

“The new meters, which we began installing in the SmartGrid project area last October, give customers access to information on their electricity usage, which they can use to save money on their monthly bills,” said Mike Deggendorf, KCP&L Senior Vice President for Delivery. “We are committed to on-going outreach to our customers that includes providing access to energy information to help customers make better decisions about how they use energy.”

KCP&L’s Smart Grid Demonstration project is partially funded by a grant from the Department of Energy. The demonstration area includes the Green Impact Zone, a collaborative effort to focus federal stimulus funding on neighborhoods in Kansas City’s midtown urban core, and surrounding neighborhoods.

“Landis+Gyr is excited to be working with KCP&L on this groundbreaking project to promote better energy management among a broad spectrum of consumers. As a longtime advanced metering partner with KCP&L, we also are continuing to demonstrate a practical migration path for utilities to add the most advanced smart grid technology available,” said Prasanna Venkatesan, Senior Vice President of Systems and Services at Landis+Gyr.

Gridstream RF technology uses a powerful radio mesh network to communicate with meters, in-premise devices and distribution automation equipment. Gridstream devices use the Smart Energy Profile standard to communicate with smart appliances and in-home units. This technology is currently being deployed to millions of residential and commercial sites across North America.

 

About Landis+Gyr

Privately held Landis+Gyr is the leading global provider of integrated energy management products tailored to energy company needs and unique in its ability to deliver true end-to-end advanced metering solutions. Today, the Company offers the broadest portfolio of products and services in the electricity metering industry, and is paving the way for the next generation of smart grid. With annualized sales of more than US$1.5 billion, Landis+Gyr operates in 30 countries across five continents, and employs 5,000 people with the sole mission of helping the world manage energy better.

About KCP&L:

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP) is the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light Company and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company, two of the leading regulated providers of electricity in the Midwest. Kansas City Power & Light and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations use KCP&L as a brand name. More information about the companies is available on the Internet at www.greatplainsenergy.com or www.kcpl.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

 

Dan Jacobson
Landis+Gyr
218-562-5195
dan.jacobson@landisgyr.com

Courtney Beatty
KCP&L
816-556-2414
courtney.beatty@kcpl.com