The selection is based on a careful review of commercially available alternatives, the productivity benefits demonstrated at other utilities, as well as the estimated improvement the software would make in its own design processes.
The Bentley Substation features an integrated set of capabilities combining intuitive 3D modeling, electrical design functionality, and automatic bills of materials and report generation.
The capabilities are expected to help AEP gain from B/IM, Bentley’s advancement of the reach and benefits of "BIM"-for better-performing assets through increased depth of information modeling, and better-performing projects through increased breadth of information mobility.
Bentley utilities, communications, and government industry marketing director Richard Zambuni said the Bentley Substation will enable AEP to design greenfield and brownfield projects faster, more cost-effectively, and with higher quality.
"AEP joins the growing number of owner-operator utilities that are benefiting from the enormous productivity advantages of intelligent substation design," Zambuni added.
The substation will initially be made available to more than 100 staff members in AEP’s transmission and engineering organization.
AEP is also planning to extend the software’s use to also include its primary outsourced engineering contractors.
