BEA moves from construction to connections in record time
Bolivar Energy Authority (BEA) is a rural utility operator serving Western Tennessee. BEA was looking to deploy a Smart Grid communications network to improve electric system operations and reliability and connect under-served areas that were overlooked as too difficult or too expensive to reach.
miles of fiber
residents and businesses connected
The Solution
Render’s geospatial and unified data capabilities, partnered with Irby’s proven project management and material logistics, enabled BEA to expedite the construction process and optimize both field crew and material resources to deliver the connections ahead of schedule.
Digital as-builts show the geolocation of completed work and resources utilized, entirely automating the grant reporting and reimbursement process.
“Render and Irby Utilities allowed us to expedite the construction process and gain valuable visibility and efficiencies across the project. Real-time data and reporting has significantly streamlined our funding reporting obligations and ensured we are being reimbursed as construction progresses. This technology-led approach and outcomes achieved position us well to attract future broadband funding and deliver high-speed broadband to our entire community faster than planned,” said Tony Kirk, CEO.
Building a rural fiber network in today’s environment was certain to present a number of challenges.
Render and Irby alleviated our funding, materials and labor concerns and allowed us to expedite the construction process and gain valuable visibility and efficiencies across the project.
The Results
Render enabled BEA to turn around unserved customer connections in just ten weeks from build commencement. The utility successfully built a quality fiber network ahead of schedule and under the forecasted budget
This project is a win-win for BEA customers – access to affordable high-speed internet while modernizing the electric grid to reduce outage times and operating expenses.
With Render & Irby Utilities' support, BEA was able to achieve:
weeks from construction commencement to connecting unserved customers
Our work with Render and BEA in Tennessee exemplifies what we can accomplish in rural and underserved communities. We select only the best partners so that fiber network builders have access to best-in-class solutions and services and can quickly accomplish their network goals.
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“With Render, productivity is off the charts, data integrity is high, and construction costs are down, all without ever touching a piece of paper. Now I can’t imagine trying to implement a large-scale utilities construction project without it.”
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BEA moves from construction to unserved customer connections in record time
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