Utility AES Ohio has opened a smart operation centre at MacGregor Park in Dayton. It will use data analytics and modelling to increase the efficiency of its electric operations across the USA.

This is part of the company’s efforts to accelerate a safer, greener and cleaner energy future in the USA and globally.

“The decision to invest in Ohio is a testament to the skilled workforce in the city of Dayton, Montgomery County and the region,” said Kristina Lund, AES Ohio CEO. “Our partnerships are a critical part of our ability to serve our customers in new and improved ways and the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, JobsOhio and the Dayton Development Coalition were key partners in bringing this innovative facility to the region.”

JP Nauseef, JobsOhio CEO, added: “The opening of the AES smart operations centre in Ohio – the first of its kind in the USA – will launch a new era of innovative energy solutions that will reverberate across America. This facility represents AES’s longstanding commitment to the digital transformation of the energy industry, positioning Ohio at the leading edge of smart grid technology and sustainable, reliable power generation.”

This digital hub also represents the integration of AES’s global PMAC performance monitoring and analytics centre and ROCC remote operations and control centre for US-based generation assets. This consolidation could be critical as the company – and the energy industry as a whole – intensifies its reliance on data and smart grid technologies.

“Our purpose is to accelerate the future of energy, and AES Ohio is a great example of how new solutions will help lead a responsible energy transition,” said Bernerd Da Santos, parent company AES’s chief operating officer. “While located here in Dayton, the smart operations centre is an integral part of our overall AES global operations. Dayton’s dedication to innovation makes this a perfect location for the digital hub as we continuously look for better ways to serve the energy sector, our customers and the communities where we operate.”

The expansive and easily accessible MacGregor Park facility will attract and employ engineers and data scientists locally, statewide and nationally, fuelling economic growth.

AES Ohio was previously called Dayton Power & Light. The opening of the centre and the recent rebranding of AES and AES Ohio are key pillars in the company’s efforts to raise its profile as an innovative, adaptable energy company. The impact of the ROCC and PMAC should extend beyond Dayton and is an integral component of the company’s global operations.

AES Ohio, a regulated electric utility, provides service to over 527,000 users in west central Ohio.