
The electric utility industry trends of voltage optimization, renewable energy integration, distributed generation and the development of a smarter grid aren’t going away. As utilities work to address the ever-growing demands for data and device connectivity, a passive optical network (PON) has the potential to help optimize operations.
With an established network of valuable assets, infrastructure and secured rights-of-way, utilities are well-placed to benefit from PON technology. A PON represents an opportunity to optimize fiber-optic infrastructure to manage both legacy and new assets, especially distribution automation (DA) or voltage optimization (VO) devices. Leveraging a PON can increase efficiency in handling alternative energy sources, distributed generation, and the complications of variable renewable energy supply as the grid continues its transformation. Additionally, a PON could open new applications for the deploying utility.