Model" alliance has helped LCRA to significantly increase the competitiveness of its electric generation assets
FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS - November 10, 2004 - The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and the Foxboro Automation unit of Invensys Process Systems recently renewed an existing 10-year automation alliance agreement for an additional ten years. This unprecedented alliance, first formed in 1995, was designed to help LCRA improve performance and reduce costs across the company's fleet of electrical generating stations in Central Texas. In this, and all other respects, the alliance has proven to be an unqualified success." Without question, our alliance with Foxboro has helped to significantly improve LCRA's competitiveness, enabling us to emerge as the lowest cost electric power producer in Texas," said Dudley Piland, Executive Manager of LCRA Wholesale Power Services.
"Issues will inevitably emerge in any supply alliance. Being able to rapidly resolve those issues in an open and above board manner is the real test of a relationship. This alliance has passed that test with flying colors. Our relationship with Foxboro is built on trust, honesty and mutual respect.
It has served as a model for other alliances that LCRA is developing."" Our alliance with LCRA demonstrates how both parties can benefit from a long-term relationship based on improving performance and continuous value enhancement," said Mike Caliel, President of Invensys Process Systems. "Foxboro's advanced I/A Series automation system technology combined with our unmatched power generation application expertise has clearly helped LCRA to reduce their generation costs, minimize emissions, and set new records for plant safety. Ten years from now, we fully expect that Invensys and LCRA will be announcing that the two companies will be once again renewing the alliance."
The alliance encompasses Foxboro-brand I/A Series process control system technology, a variety of power plant applications, plus associated engineering and support services. Specific applications include Boiler Controls, Main Steam Turbine Controls, Boiler Feedpump Turbine Controls, Burner Management, Motor Controls, Automatic Turbine Startup, Turbine Coordinated Control, and Performance Calculations. Currently, six of LCRA's eight generating units are controlled by I/A Series systems. In addition to the applications mentioned above, several LCRA units also utilize the Connoisseur Multivariable Predictive Control (MPC) application from Invensys' SimSci-Esscor unit to help further reduce emissions.
About LCRA
The mission of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is to provide reliable, low-cost utility and public services in partnership with its customers and communities and to use its leadership and environment authority to ensure the protection and constructive use of the area's natural resources.LCRA is the primary wholesale provider of electricity in Central Texas, generating power for 42 city-owned utilities and electric cooperatives that serve more than one million people in one of the nation's fastest growing regions.
About Invensys Process Systems
Process Systems, a business unit of Invensys plc, provides products, services and solutions for the automation and optimization of industrial process plants. Invensys Process Systems includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world.
These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world's largest refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills.The Invensys Group ( www.invensys.com ) is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London Stock Exchange. With 35,000 employees operating in 60 countries, Invensys helps customers to improve their performance and profitability, building value for end users and shareholders alike.