Caruna improves the reliability of electricity supply with Empower’s field communications service

Caruna improves the field communication of their power network and adds smart features to the network as a part of an extensive network upgrade process. Empower IM Oy, part of Empower Group, will deliver a field communications service to Caruna. The service will improve the remote controlling of the power network and the reliability of electricity supply.

– We have started a network upgrade project that takes a decade to complete. During the project, we improve our power network with underground cables and other technical solutions. Empower’s field communications service is one of the cornerstones of a smart power network. It allows us to restore electricity to our customers faster than before in the event of failure, says Heikki Linnanen, ICT Manager at Caruna.

Empower's service modernizes the field communication of Caruna’s primary and secondary substations as well as disconnector stations. Compared to traditional solutions, Empower's service is considerably more cost-efficient as the smart power grid increases the number of connections.

– We are very happy that Finland's largest power distribution company Caruna is at the front line of solving the future challenges of power companies and selects the most reliable and developed communications network solution as a comprehensive service, says Mika Yletyinen, President at Empower IM Oy.

The deployment project has started. The deployment stage of the new technology begins at the end of the year and lasts approximately three and a half years. At the same time with the project, the field communications and maintenance services of communications networks will also begin. The length of the first contract period is approximately 7.5 years. The value of the agreement pertaining to the public procurement procedure is approximately EUR 12 million.

Further information:

Caruna, Heikki Linnanen, ICT Manager, tel. 040 538 8467

Empower IM Oy, Mika Yletyinen, President, tel. 0400 452 870

Empower IM Oy provides energy companies with data systems and service solutions in the changing energy markets. Empower IM operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and employs some 160 people.

Empower IM Oy is part of Empower Group. Empower is a multinational service company that builds and maintains electricity and telecom networks, maintains factories and power plants and delivers information management systems and services to the energy sector. The company provides services in more than a hundred locations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In 2016 the group's turnover was EUR 243.1 million and it employs some 1700 persons. www.empower.eu

Caruna is the largest company in Finland dedicated to the distribution of electricity. It provides power to 664,000 private and corporate customers in South, Southwest and West Finland, as well as in the city of Joensuu, the sub-region of Koillismaa, Lapland and Satakunta. Caruna employs approximately 270 employees and contracts directly 2,000 additional workers all over Finland. Caruna is investing heavily in the construction of a weatherproof network and, in addition, invests about EUR 200 million annually in the development of its electrical network. Caruna is owned by the Finnish employment pension companies Keva (12.5%) and Elo (7.5%) and by international investors in infrastructure, First State Investments (40%) and Borealis Infrastructure (40%). For more information: www.caruna.fi