Pacific Northwest Utility to Use Autodesk Software to Design and Manage
Electric Distribution and Telecommunications Networks
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that Grant County Public Utility District
(Grant PUD) has selected integrated Autodesk utility solutions to design and
manage the utility's electric distribution and fiber telecommunications
networks. Using Autodesk software will help Grant PUD to design their networks
more quickly, help reduce operating costs to maintain the networks, and
provide the utility with a strong foundation for future growth.
A publicly owned utility in the Pacific Northwest, Grant PUD serves 44,000
retail electric customers, generating over 80% of electricity from hydropower,
and nearly 4,400 fiber optic network subscribers. Like many other utilities
its size, Grant PUD is experiencing increased workloads due to growth and
requirements to refurbish its aging infrastructure, such as installing over 50
miles of feeder rebuild. After a thorough evaluation process, Grant PUD chose
Autodesk utility solutions -- including Autodesk Utility Design (AUD) for its
design work and Autodesk Topobase software for its infrastructure model
management.
"We chose Autodesk because their commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) utility
solutions are ideal in helping us meet our long-term business needs," said
Tony Webb, Director of Customer Service at Grant County. "We are long time
users of Autodesk software -- we started using AutoCAD in 1985 -- and it was a
natural progression for us to migrate to Autodesk utility solutions. Our
familiarity with AutoCAD, and the fact that many consultants and contractors
we work with use Autodesk design software, means we can get up to speed
quickly and take advantage of future enhancements more easily. The open,
flexible solutions Autodesk provides will also break down information silos
and integrate our network database with our existing business systems."
Previously, Grant PUD's design processes relied on a variety of systems
that made it difficult to leverage engineering design information across GIS,
work management and material ordering systems. With Autodesk software, Grant
PUD employees across all departments will be able to access and query an
intelligent infrastructure model for information about their network. Once
implemented, the new system will help the utility to increase control and
interactivity among key operations, including customer service, engineering,
right-of-way, warehouse and dispatch. The software will also provide
interoperability with Grant PUD's new financial and work order systems.
"Public utilities like Grant PUD have selected our infrastructure modeling
solutions because we understand utility design and how to make use of valuable
design information across the network lifecycle," said Bill Goodson, vice
president, Autodesk Government. "With Autodesk utility software, Grant PUD
will add more intelligence to their work processes to create, refurbish, and
maintain their network assets. This will help reduce their operating costs
and improve their customer service levels."
About Grant County
Grant County Public Utility District is a Washington state municipal
corporation that began electric service in 1942. Owned by the people it
serves, Grant PUD generates and sells electricity to Grant County residents
and millions of customers throughout Central Washington and the Pacific
Northwest. The Priest Rapids Project, comprised of Priest Rapids and Wanapum
dams, produces nearly 2,000 megawatts of clean, renewable and reliable
electricity - enough to supply a city the size of Seattle. A leader in science
based technology, Grant PUD is committed to finding effective measures for the
protection, mitigation and enhancement of salmon, steelhead and other natural
and cultural resources.
About Autodesk Government
Autodesk Government is a dedicated organization within Autodesk that has
served the needs of federal and state/local government agencies for more than
20 years. Autodesk Government delivers software solutions that integrate
geospatial, manufacturing, design and engineering data with other critical
information to reduce the time it takes to make informed decisions. In roles
that include emergency response management, physical infrastructure design and
protection, mission rehearsal, simulation and training, and asset tracking,
Autodesk Government is a trusted partner to help agencies ensure mission
success.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the
manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets.
Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the
broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help
customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies
rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world
performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance
quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk,
visit www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk AutoCAD and Topobase are registered trademarks or trademarks of
Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names,
product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk
reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time
without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors
that may appear in this document.
(C) 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contact: Brett Smith (415) 547-2405
Email: brett.smith@autodesk.com
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