Smart technology comes to gas detectors
NEW YORK CITY—Con Edison has begun installing smart natural gas detectors that can find leaks, alert building residents and wirelessly communicate with emergency responders—and do all of that more quickly than the usual customer call, according to the utility.
Installation of the methane detectors is taking place through a pilot program in homes and businesses in parts of Westchester County and Manhattan.
When a leak is detected, the unit—known as ML-310—triggers an alarm and then communicates directly with Con Edison’s Gas Emergency Response Center, which will notify the local fire department. The alarm sounds until Con Edison silences the unit. The alarm includes a voice recording that advises occupants to evacuate and call 911.
According to the manufacturer, the ML-310 is the first battery-powered methane detector with wireless communication ever released in the United States. It is expected to operate reliably and at very low power for years.
The detectors are the result of cooperative product development between New Cosmos Electric, a leading manufacturer of gas-detection products, and Itron, a technology company focused on next-generation infrastructure applications for utility companies.
The detectors are among a suite of tools that many utilities offer to boost safety. “These detectors could help save lives by using smart technology to communicate directly from a customer’s home to our emergency department,” noted Marc Huestis, senior vice president for gas operations at Con Edison. “We’re proud to be the first utility in the country to pilot this gas-safety initiative.”