Energy curtailment (reduction) is an effort to reduce energy consumption during peak usage hours. The Digi One SP offered a simple solution for networking the energy management panels at customer sites. This high-performance device server, which is small enough to fit inside a panel enclosure, connects via serial port to the panel. The Digi One SP is then connected to the Wide Area Network (WAN) via a switch.

Now, when the curtailment company receives a request from the utility provider to reduce power consumption, they can quickly send the appropriate command to the remote location. The Digi One SP improved load response efforts by reducing dial-up phone lines, delivering more timely data and enabling immediate command execution.

A major natural gas utility wanted to use a wired connection to capture data from the enclosures and a wireless product for the remote collection points to reduce on-site visits. Both solutions must convert Modbus / TCP data to serial and meet safety and security requirements.

Digi One IAP Haz performs industrial Modbus/TCP protocol conversion / bridging for the wired connections. Digi Connect WAN utilizes “always-on” GSM or CDMA cellular networks to collect data from remote locations; also converts Modbus/TCP data to serial. Both products offer Class 1, Division 2 certification, a key requirement for hazardous locations.