Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) Selects RuggedCom For Substation Communications Network

CONCORD, ON, Feb. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - RuggedCom Inc. ("RuggedCom") (TSX: RCM), a leading designer and manufacturer of industrial strength networks for mission-critical applications in harsh environments, has been selected by Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) to provide a substation communications network and remote access solution.

VELCO manages a statewide transmission system consisting of 732 miles of transmission lines - 115 kV to 450 kV D.C., 53 substations, a 200 MW back-to-back HVDC converter and over 13,000 acres of rights of way. VELCO also has its fair share of punishing weather and challenging terrain and required a utility-grade IP-based network solution that was NERC CIP compliant for remote access. 

After careful consideration, VELCO selected RuggedCom products based on their ability to function in harsh environments and in tandem with other system assets critical to maintain grid reliability. "Interoperability is not just key to this particular project's success, but a crucial communications link since RuggedCom's RX1500s will mate to our high-bandwidth carrier Ethernet devices being used in VELCO's statewide fiber project," says Todd Ponto, VELCO's Team Lead of Network, Security & CIP.

RuggedCom's Professional Services group aided in the design and commissioning of VELCO's network and network equipment. The network architecture consists of RuggedCom's RuggedBackbone™ RX1500 multiservice communications platform, which is being used as a layer 3 router and firewall for substations. The RuggedSwitch® RSG2300 is then used as a layer 2 Ethernet switch to create the local area network. RuggedServer™ RS910 allows VELCO to connect critical assets via serial communications into the local area network.

RuggedCom's CrossBow™, a secure IED access management solution, was deployed to help VELCO maintain their NERC CIP compliance. In addition to deploying CrossBow, VELCO has also decided to utilize CrossBow's station access controller software, which is running natively on the RX1500.

About RuggedCom Inc.
RuggedCom is a leading provider of utility grade communications networking solutions designed for mission-critical applications in harsh environments. RuggedCom's pioneering leadership in developing technologies and products for the electric power industry delivered the world's first IEC 61850-3 compliant Ethernet switch suitable for electric utility substation environments, the world's first IEEE 1613 Class 2 error free communication devices, the world's fastest network fault recovery and the world's first fully managed IP67 rated Ethernet switch. RuggedCom's technology solutions include Ethernet switches, network routers, wireless devices, serial servers, media converters, software and professional services. RuggedCom's products are expressly designed for use in challenging environments such as those found in electric power substations and smartgrids.

For more information, visit www.ruggedcom.com or follow us on Twitter: @RuggedCom.

About Vermont Electric Power Company, Inc. (VELCO)
Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) was formed in 1956 when local utilities joined together to create the nation's first statewide, "transmission only" company in order to share access to clean hydropower and maintain the state's transmission grid. The Company and its 19 distribution utility owners are jointly executing "eEnergy Vermont" a statewide, federally supported Smart Grid Investment Grant project. VELCO is committed to utilizing energy efficiency, power generation and system infrastructure to serve as Vermont's transmission reliability resource.

For more information, please visit us at: www.velco.com

For media or industry analyst support, please contact:
Jamie Blakeley
Marketing Communications Coordinator
RuggedCom Inc.
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1 [phone] toll free
[email protected]

Shana Duval
VELCO
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[email protected]