The level of power consumed within the organization is a key focus for companies today as they are seeking to control costs and be more environmentally friendly. Companies throughout a number of industries are making the move toward green energy solutions and focusing on the evolution of communications technologies.

There are specific pressures within the global marketplace that are demanding change in power usage. These pressures include the changing pattern of electricity consumption; the move toward green energy solutions; consumers and regulators demanding highly reliable energy delivery; and financial stakeholders requiring better operational efficiency.

To help try and embrace these pressures to produce change, companies are turning to intelligent networks and smart metering in cooperation with their utility company partners.

An intelligent network refers to smart grids, substation automation and distribution automation. The implementation of an intelligent network is meant to improve the utilization of the network assets through monitoring and control.

For instance, the company may make the energy-carrying capacity of the network dynamic; today's distribution networks have little real-time measurement, driving demand for intelligent networks. In addition, modern techniques of "condition monitoring" monitor the network assets to identify telltale signs of performance degradation.

Intelligent networks deliver significant benefits that extend the life of the assets, optimize power flows, increase energy reliability and enable investment to be focused where it is most needed.

Smart metering enables energy users - network users and IT - to be more aware of the amount of energy consumed. This leads to reduced consumption during peak periods and an overall reduction in the production of greenhouse gases. While receiving information is important, the user must also have access to tariffs to reduce energy consumption and a direct control of their devices consuming energy.

To leverage the benefits of intelligent networks and smart metering, a homogeneous, reliable, flexible communications infrastructure is essential. Today, it is feasible to create a single cohesive network that will support: latency-critical applications such as teleprotection; existing modem-based SCADA applications; intelligent network and smart metering applications using modern communications protocols; and IEC61850 Ethernet-based services for future automation applications.

When corporate voice, video and data applications are supported on one network, traffic management features can be applied that will ensure mission-critical operational traffic gains priority, while security is protected and energy consumption is controlled. End-to-end management of the network makes energy consumption easy to control and the overall environment can be maximized for optimal benefit.