RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Voltage Inc. (DVI), a Dominion company, has been awarded a patent for its EDGE^® technology that enables electric utilities to plan, manage and validate voltage conservation for grid optimization.

The title of the patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is "Voltage Conservation Using Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Substation Centralized Voltage Control."

"Unlike other voltage conservation processes that have been in use for decades, DVI's EDGE^® technology is the only platform to obtain voltage data directly from dynamically selected meters at the end-user level," said Phillip W. Powell, DVI director of Grid Innovations. "This allows for a more precise and more efficient delivery of electricity to customers."

"The patent for EDGE^® is a game-changer for the industry," said Todd Headlee, director of DVI. "Many utilities are looking for voltage conservation solutions. DVI's patent recognizes the unique methodology of the EDGE^® platform and its capability to reduce energy usage across the distribution network."

Utilities with AMI can take advantage of this technology and its energy-saving benefits immediately. For utilities not yet utilizing AMI, the energy savings that the EDGE^® platform delivers can make the investment in AMI more affordable. "It's a win-win for both the consumer and the utility," Headlee said.

The industry standard permits voltage to be delivered at a range from 114 volts to 126 volts, with the center point at 120 volts. DVI's EDGE^® platform enables the utility to optimize the voltage delivered to the customer towards the lower end, while still complying with customer equipment performance requirements.

For the consumer, EDGE^® can result in reducing the customer's electric bill by 3-5 percent with no change in the customer's behavior, compared with savings of 1-1½ percent through traditional voltage conservation programs. Additionally, with DVI's platform, the reduced voltage levels at the customer's residence or business result in less stress on electric and electronic equipment and less waste heat, which is expected to lengthen the equipment's lifespan.

For electric utilities, DVI's platform is designed to enable them to realize savings through voltage conservation by reducing their fuel and purchased power costs. EDGE^® is unique in providing the platform for increased, sustainable savings. EDGE^® PLANNER works with existing system planning tools and processes to make the Conservation Voltage Reduction business case circuit by circuit. EDGE^® MANAGER has been designed to integrate seamlessly into existing distribution control systems, enabling utilities to improve their voltage controls without changing or disrupting their existing processes or systems. EDGE^® VALIDATOR calculates actual savings from EDGE^® or any other demand-side programs.

DVI is a leading provider of grid optimization technology providing solutions for energy efficiency, demand response and volt/VAR control. DVI's patented approach plans, manages and validates utilities' investments in grid modernization while delivering significant energy savings to both utilities and their customers. For more information about DVI, visit the website at www.dvigridsolutions.com.

DVI is a subsidiary of Dominion (NYSE: D), one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,400 megawatts of generation. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion