AdaptiVolt at Murray State University proves energy savings in only six months

Sheri McClain



MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University (MSU) announces the results of a six-month measurement and verification period of its AdaptiVolt™ Volt/VAR Optimization system, which saves energy by increasing the efficiency of MSU’s campus wide electric distribution network.

According to Kim Oatman, chief facilities officer at MSU, the project has reduced MSU’s electric energy usage by over 4.8 percent and is going to save 2,186,722 kWh each year — enough energy to power 218 average American homes. “Results of the validation effort show that this project has exceeded the energy savings we expected,” said Oatman.

Murray State is the first university in the United States to gain the benefits of the AdaptiVolt™ Volt/VAR Optimization technology. The AdaptiVolt™ system gives MSU the power to monitor and automatically adjust voltage levels throughout their electric distribution system, thereby conserving energy and reducing power losses.

“Thanks to this new Smart Grid technology and the sponsorship of the Tennessee Valley Authority, MSU continues to be a national leader in energy conservation among universities,” said Dr. Randy Dunn, MSU president. “We would like to extend a special thanks to the MSU facilities team for their efforts in making this project a rousing success.”

For almost 90 years Murray State University has served students from the region, the nation and the world. Founded in 1922, the university has grown from an enrollment of 202 students to over 10,600 today.  Murray State University has ranked among the top universities in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's annual publication, America's Best Colleges, for the past 21 consecutive years.

Located in the Jackson Purchase lake area of west Kentucky, Murray State is a state-supported comprehensive university with five academic colleges — business, education, health sciences and human services, humanities and fine arts, and science, engineering and technology, a school of nursing, and a school of agriculture.

PCS UtiliData, a Smart Grid solutions provider, is the only provider of true live-state, utility-grade Volt/VAR Optimization solutions that increase distribution system reliability and efficiency. As a founding member of the Control Systems Integrator’s Association, PCS UtiliData has been committed to providing world-class products and services to a wide range of satisfied clients in the energy and utility automation industry for over 20 years. For more information, visit www.pcsutilidata.com.