High-quality power with fast payback

Oracle Corporation, a leading supplier of information management software, required a reliable power system for its thousands of software developers and customers that depend on non-stop, 24-hour-a-day technical support. Power interruptions could result in significant losses in sales and productivity, as well as affecting customers with mission-critical support needs. Oracle's need for reliable power was the driving force behind setting up its own substation, a 13 MW electrical distribution system, and a power management system. The company initially considered purchasing electricity from the local utility at primary voltage, 12 kV, also known as voltage buy-up. However, the utility feeder to Oracle would still be shared with residential and other non-industrial loads, and they would be subjected to several outages per year. Instead, Oracle decided to intercept the 60 kV circuit from the utility’s transmission line that passes over the Oracle campus. Since the 60 kV circuit’s unplanned outage rate proved to be more reliable, at less than one event per five years, and payback was favorable, Oracle’s board of directors approved the project and construction began.

Oracle Corporation is a software giant based in Redwood Shores, California. It is the world’s leading supplier of information management software, with its products operating in everything from personal digital assistants to global information networks. The company has thousands of software developers and provides non-stop, 24-hour-a-day technical support to its customers. Power interruptions can be extremely costly for Oracle, potentially resulting in losses of 5 to 10 million dollars per day in sales and productivity. The company's customers, many of whom have mission-critical support needs, are also significantly affected by power interruptions. Oracle's need for reliable power was the driving force behind setting up its own substation, a 13 MW electrical distribution system, and a power management system.