Dominican Republic’s CEPM and GE to Modernize Punta Cana’s Electrical Grid

GE (NYSE:GE) has been selected by Consorcio Energético Punta Cana Macao (CEPM)—a standalone electrical utility, generating, transmitting and distributing electricity in the exclusive concession area of Bávaro and Punta Cana in the east of the Dominican Republic—to deliver more than 14,000 smart meters and GE’s Grid IQTM point-to-multipoint (P2MP) advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The solutions will provide CEPM with crucial electrical data to improve grid efficiency and operational performance.

“The Dominican Republic is one of the most visited destinations in the Caribbean, and the Bávaro–Punta Cana area receives 60 percent of the tourists that come to the country. This makes grid reliability a high priority for us,” said Roberto Herrera, executive director, CEPM. “GE’s smart meters and Grid IQ advanced metering infrastructure solutions will allow us to connect our smart meter infrastructure across our entire service territory with minimal network requirements. They also will give us important real-time information to help us better understand what we can do to optimize our electrical grid.”

CEPM’s coverage territory includes the fastest growing hotel and resort area in the Dominican Republic, serving more than 60,000 hotel rooms, which makes grid reliability an important factor in the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry. The installation of GE’s AMI solution will create an all-encompassing wireless metering network, providing CEPM with crucial electrical usage data to improve grid efficiency and functionality while also enabling the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid.

GE’s meters and AMI solution, integrating RPMA® (Random Phase Multiple Access) Network radio technology developed by On-Ramp Wireless, will help to enable effective two-way communication between CEPM and its customers. For example, CEPM’s smart meters will provide customers with hourly data on their energy usage. Smart meters also will alert CEPM to power outages automatically—without requiring customers to contact the utility—and help to pinpoint the problem so CEPM can restore power faster.

“The network created by our smart meters and Grid IQ technology will help CEPM and its customers realize the benefits of a modern grid,” said Ed Myszka, general manager, meters, GE’s Digital Energy business. ”By deploying advanced meters across the country, CEPM will be able to use the data gathered from its smart meters to drive operational efficiency, respond more quickly to power outages and give consumers greater control over their energy consumption and costs.”

GE’s Digital Energy business is a global leader in transmission and distribution solutions that manage and move power from the power plant to the consumer. Its products and services increase the reliability of electrical power networks and critical equipment for utility, industrial and large commercial customers. From protecting and optimizing assets such as generators, transmission lines and motors, to delivering analytic tools to help manage the power grid, GE’s Digital Energy business delivers industry-leading technologies to solve the unique challenges of each customer. For more information, visit http://www.gedigitalenergy.com/.

About GE

GE (NYSE:GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

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About InterEnergy Holdings

InterEnergy Holdings (“IEH") owns and operates power generation and distribution assets in Latin America and the Caribbean. IEH is one of the largest investors in the power sector of the Dominican Republic, with controlling positions in Consorcio Energético Punta Cana Macao S.A. (“CEPM”) and Compañía de Electricidad de San Pedro de Macorís (“CESPM”).

About CEPM

The Consorcio Energético Punta Cana–Macao, S. A. (CEPM) is a Dominican utilities company that generates, distributes and commercializes electric energy in the far east region of the Dominican Republic, with an installed capacity of over 105 MW. Trough 612.8 kilometers of transmission lines of high, medium and low voltage the company provides energy to over half of the touristic sector nationwide –over 60,000 rooms- and more than 19,000 residential clients, becoming the main promoter of growth and development in the area for the last two decades.

Besides their electric offer, the company supplies reliable solutions of ice water, hot water and steam to their medium voltage clients through its CEPM Thermal division. With projects like the Quilvio Cabrera eolic park, their District Energy and the Hendrix Eco Transmission Line, the company continues to innovate and support renewable energy solutions in the Dominican Republic.