Advanced Control Systems Awarded Georgia Smart Energy Company of the Year

The Technology Association of Georgia’s Smart Energy Society named Advanced Control Systems as Georgia’s Smart Energy Company of the Year last week.  The award was presented as part of a gathering on December 5th to celebrate spectacular achievements in the energy industry by individuals, company and governments throughout Georgia.

Advanced Control Systems (ACS), represented by José Barbosa, won Company of the Year for its contributions to smart energy, technology, thought leadership, business leadership, public awareness and creation of job opportunities in Georgia.

ACS’ advanced distribution management systems (ADMS), outage management systems (OMS) and sophisticated fault detection, isolation and restoration (FDIR) application were among the ACS offerings that were celebrated. 

Georgia Power’s use of ACS’ Centrix Feeder Automation system provided immense value by lessening the impact of outages and shortening restoration times for many of the utility’s customers during “Winter Storm Pax”. By August 2014, ACS’ system has already helped the utility avoid 7.2 million cumulative customer-minutes of interruption (CMI).

ACS collaborated with fiber company PCS to design, install and maintain a 120-mile, fully digital 48-fiber backbone ring and fiber optic network to provide high-speed connectivity between the ACS PRISM SCADA system of the Marietta Board of Lights & Water and their 17 electrical substations and 144 automated switches.

Urjanet, the runner-up for the award, was named one of The Top Five Startups to Watch in 2014 by Venture Atlanta.  The company has formed strategic partnerships with both Fortune 500 companies and energy management firms that rely on their data from thousands of sources - including more than 1,000 utilities.  Urjanet’s unique Big Energy Data platform is designed to organize the world’s disparate energy data and make it easily accessible and useful.

Other awards that night were given to the City of Valdosta for Smart Energy Municipality of the Year and to Pete Marte of Hannah Solar for Smart Energy Professional of the Year.

The evening opened with comments from Janet José ph, Executive Director of the Heating Energy Assistance Team, Inc.  H.E.A.T. provides one-time emergency heating fuel assistance to families in need throughout Georgia.  Smart Energy Society selected H.E.A.T. as the beneficiary of its inaugural charity fund raiser.  From now through December 31, for every $25 contributed, donors will receive a chance to win 4 box seats at the Atlanta Hawks vs Philadelphia 76ers on January 31st.

 The Smart Energy Society is sponsored by Oglethorpe Power and Deloitte.  For more information on the Technology Association of Georgia’s Smart Energy Society, the Awards Ceremony and the H.E.A.T. fundraiser, please visit www.tagonline.org/chapters-and-societies/smart-energy/ or contact Joseph Santoro, Associate Director of External Affairs, Technology Association of Georgia, at 404-526-6049 or Joseph@tagonline.org.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 25,000 members and hosting over 200 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 34 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, influence and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology.

Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/.