MELBOURNE, Fla., July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Highlights:
- Wide area network to support the Western Electricity
Coordinating Council and other participating organizations
- Key component in implementing real-time vulnerability detection
in region's electric grid
- Enables organizations to take timely actions that help avoid
widespread system blackouts
Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications
and information technology company, has been awarded a five-year
contract to provide a wide-area network that will help detect and
avert regional electrical system disturbances in a service area
that extends from Canada through
14 western U.S. states.
The private network will enable the Western Electricity
Coordinating Council (WECC), a forum for promoting regional
electric service reliability, and other participating entities, to
take timely actions to avoid widespread system blackouts.
The Harris network is key to the implementation of the Western
Interconnection Synchrophasor Program (WISP), whose goal is to
install more than 250 new or upgraded Phasor Measurement Units
(PMUs) across the region. These synchrophasors can identify
and analyze system vulnerabilities in real time, and can detect
evolving disturbances in the region's bulk electric system.
In addition to detecting electric system disruptions,
synchrophasor technology can help companies see and manage
intermittent renewable resources.
Harris initially will provide the low-latency, Multiprotocol
Label Switching (MPLS) network between 18 Western power utilities
at 29 different sites and two large WECC data centers. The
WECC is the largest and most diverse North American Electric
Reliability Corporation Regional Entity. The system is scheduled
for completion in 2013.
"The Harris network will help to ensure that WECC customers have
uninterrupted electric service, as well as provide the council and
participating entities with maximum insight into managing their
energy resources," said Sheldon Fox,
group president, Harris Government Communications Systems. "The
WECC is a new customer to Harris, and they have placed their trust
in our proven networking technology and our people."
About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information
technology company serving government and commercial markets in
more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
approximately $6 billion of annual
revenue and more than 16,000 employees — including nearly 7,000
engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing
best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and
services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is
available at www.harris.com.
Sleighton
Meyer
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Jim Burke
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Harris Government
Communications Systems
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Harris Corporation
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sleighton.meyer@harris.com
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jim.burke@harris.com
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321-727-6514
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321-727-9131
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Marc
Raimondi
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Harris Corporation –
Washington, D.C.
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marc.raimondi@harris.com
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703-739-1738
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SOURCE Harris Corporation