June 27, 2006

We asked Cinergy's CEO James Rogers -- now CEO of Duke Energy, too since those two merged -- about the reported slow-down of deployment of BPL at Cinergy (BT, 5/09 http://www.bpltoday.com/members/704.cfm).

          The Ohio slowdown followed Texas' decision to provide protection for utilities, he explained.

          The Texas approach to BPL is "the lower cost way to roll it out," said Rogers.

          Texas law keeps utilities out of the broadband business and was seen by many as setting a precedent for other states to follow.

          Rogers likes that BPL creates a two-way communication with utility customers.

          The technology speeds communication with the customer and with the grid itself "to improve the reliability and productivity of your distribution network."

          BPL "gives a chance to shape peaks.  Demand peaks are now greater," he added.

          Demand and energy both need to be cut, he explained.

          Is he making money from BPL?

          "We're in the early investment phase," he replied, and he's made it clear to the financial community BPL is a three- to five-year commitment.

          Rogers was in Washington, DC last week to officially take the reins as chairman of the prestigious Edison Electric Institute.