METC to Improve Transmission System with GE Energy.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC), a Trans-Elect enterprise, has recently teamed with a leading company in a first-in-its-class strategy to enhance the reliability of its system by completely revamping its protection and control relay system over the next seven to eight years.

METC has contracted GE Energy to manage the complete upgrade of METC's existing protection and control system, including its control buildings, relays, battery systems, communication systems and security systems at each of the company's 82 substations. Phase 1 of the project, estimated to cost $5 million, began in January 2005 and is the first step of a multi-phased, multimillion dollar program designed to improve METC's protection and control relay system. The program also includes the installation of a substation automation program to improve the overall functionality of the stations.

METC chose GE Energy after a rigorous Request for Proposal process. GE Energy is a leader in protection and control systems and is skilled in providing security systems in physical security.

"Traditionally, utilities have performed this work internally," said METC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Julie Couillard. "METC has long realized the value and importance of sourcing projects to companies that can bring best-in-class solutions to the table. GE Energy has a tremendous synergy in the industry."

During the first work phase, GE Energy will provide new substation control buildings, an interface between each site and METC's existing control centers, security management, new protection and control relay panels, and an interconnection between the substations and the new control buildings. METC is in the process of finalizing an agreement with another provider for the consulting and integration services, a data center services, software and accompanying maintenance, and wide-area network service and associated framework.

GE Energy will engineer, procure and construct all phases of the protection and control relay project.

Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC), an independent transmission company, bought 5,400 miles of transmission lines, 80 substations and associated facilities from Consumers Energy in 2002. METC is solely responsible for owning and operating the transmission system that transmits electric service to a population of six million people throughout Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The transmission system is a high voltage network of power lines that moves electricity from its original source to distribution systems, which eventually delivers electricity to consumers. More information on METC can be found at www.metcllc.com.