M2M industry mag awards ePLDT, M2Mi³ for eOPDS project

MANILA, Philippines, July 10, 2007 — ePLDT, one of the pioneers in providing a broad range of outsourced solutions such as facilities management and managed IT services, and Machine2Machine Interactive Intelligence Inc. or M2Mi³, recently bagged the M2M Value Chain Bronze Award for their outstanding Enhanced One Day Power Sales (eODPS) project for the National Power Corporation (NPC).

            The eODPS is based on the ODPS program that the NPC launched in 1998, one of the National Power Corporation’s most successful and innovative programs for reducing the cost of electricity for bulk power consumers. With ODPS, the National Power Corporation has given these consumers, particularly those that are undertaking self-generation, the choice of an alternative source of power priced below the company’s prevailing regulator-approved selling rate.  If the consumer finds that the ODPS is cheaper than the cost of operating its generator, it may opt to shut down its generator and purchase power from the National Power Corporation under the program to meet his requirements.

            The subsequent upgrading of ODPS program was developed utilizing M2M technology.  eODPS offers an automated bidding process, with the eODPS portal featuring web-based bidding for the 24-hour intervals and a secure banking settlement and payment process.
 
            The eODPS’s most outstanding and innovative feature is its capacity for automated remote meter reading also known as telemetry.  “We used an intelligent device called Opto 22, which is able to collect and transmit meter data on electricity consumption of customers via GPRS,” shared M2Mi³ Managing Director Rod Pau.  The device is attached to the digital meter of the customer and is equipped with a modem that connects to the internet via GPRS to a portal where data can be accessed by NPC for analysis.

            “This capacity for online remote meter data retrieval helped NPC not only to understand the bidder’s energy profile, but also check their compliance to bidding regulations,” said Pau.

            eOPDS has proven to be beneficial to both NPC and bidders.  “NPC is able to maximize the excess capacity, monitor compliance and be paid timely and promptly, while consumers can now bid to buy only how much power they need,” shared Pau. “Those who purchase their power requirements via eODPS also enjoy substantial savings, which in turn translates to more efficient operations and better service.”

            eODPS was developed by M2Mi³, and the application is hosted in ePLDT’s VITRO Data Center.  ePLDT also operates and maintains the eODPS portal, and the eODPS application is hosted in.

            The strong partnerships of ePLDT and M2Mi³, both enablers of M2M technology, was instrumental to the success of the eODPS program, and the award bodes well for future collaborations which Pau sees both companies undertaking in the near future.  “We’ve always believe that strong partnerships and collaborations are keys to the success of M2M technology.  Thus, we’re very happy to have ePLDT as our partner and we look forward to working together for M2M projects in the future.”

            “The smooth working relationship we have with M2Mi³ allowed us to effectively service the needs of NPC and its consumers,” enthused Helen T. Marquez, Chief operations Officer of ePLDT.  “We’re delighted that eODPS continues to be a successful program, and we hope to aid in the development of more applications that will promote M2M technology in the country.”

            The M2M Value Chain Award is one of several top awards given by M2M Magazine, the leading industry magazine dedicated to promoting M2M technology.  It is the first award-giving body in the M2M space, participated in by key M2M players in the United States and Europe.  Through the annual awards, M2M Magazine aims to broaden the M2M space and encourage more organizations to joining the M2M community.