Using Fault Circuit Indicators and Wireless M2M Communications at Hawaiian Electric
Company Size
1,000+
Region
- Pacific
Country
- United States
Product
- Smart Navigator FCI sensors
- FreeWave FGR2-PE radios
Tech Stack
- M2M Communications
- Ethernet Connectivity
- RF Link Performance
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Customer Satisfaction
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Networks & Connectivity - Ethernet
- Networks & Connectivity - RF Transceivers
Applicable Industries
- Utilities
Applicable Functions
- Facility Management
- Maintenance
Use Cases
- Energy Management System
- Predictive Maintenance
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- Hardware Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) has been providing electric power for over 100 years, serving 95% of Hawaii's 1.2 million residents across the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Lanai, and Molokai. HECO, along with its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company, has played a crucial role in the islands' evolution into modern, efficient communities. As the population grew, so did the load requirements, making it essential for HECO to adopt advanced technologies to ensure reliable power distribution and customer satisfaction.
The Challenge
HECO faced the challenge of improving customer satisfaction by mitigating or responding to power outages more quickly. The island's growing population increased load requirements, necessitating a reliable data network for various automation purposes. However, the rough terrain, unpredictable weather, and remote locations of the equipment required a flexible yet reliable M2M communications technology that could transmit data over long distances and was not exceedingly costly to deploy.
The Solution
FreeWave Technologies, in partnership with Power Delivery Products, Inc., provided the Smart Navigator FCI sensors and installed an M2M network using FreeWave’s FGR2-PE radios for long-range wireless data communications. The FGR2-PE radios offer simple Ethernet connectivity, industrial-grade security, superior RF link performance, and integrated network manageability. They can transmit data up to 60 miles Line of Sight (LOS), ensuring fast identification of faults. Embedding M2M communications within the FCI system allows HECO operators to react quickly to prevent major blackouts and narrow down problems along the power line, maximizing uptime and preventing power delivery issues.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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