ENERGIZING MONITORING FOR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

Braintree Electric Light Department is one of 41 municipal light departments organized under Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 164, and one of more than 2,200 municipally owned light departments in the country. BELD is recognized locally and nationally as an innovator in technology and new services.

It has been a stalwart of the energy sector since its inception in 1892. Headquartered in Braintree, the company serves around 16,500 customers through its five substations and employs 78 personnel. Apart from power distribution, Braintree Electric ventured into the telecommunications sector in the late 1990s, offering services such as high-speed Internet, cable TV, and telephone services. But after 20 years as a local ISP provider, BELD sold its ISP business to Comcast to support the evolving needs of the local community.

With increasing incidents of trespassing, break-ins and copper thefts at substations across the country, Braintree Electric was keen on taking proactive measures to secure its facilities and ensure the safety of its communities While there were video surveillance cameras installed at its main campus, the company identified a need for a more effective security system at its substations, particularly those that were not staffed.

In an era of escalating security concerns, one of the most promising advancements that stands out is a specialized form of video monitoring tailored to intercept potential threats, deter unauthorized entrants, and eliminate criminal intent even before they can pose a significant risk to substations. Termed 'Proactive Video Monitoring' (PVM), this service is delivered through a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. This approach encompasses round-the-clock video surveillance paired with instantaneous interventions by skilled operators, aiming not just to identify but also to respond to potential security breaches via live, tailored voice messages.