In 1993, CWLP began installing fiber to meet its internal needs for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), load control and other current and future utility functions on a synchronous optical network (SONET) system. By 1996, CWLP was utilizing the fiber network for data and voice communications between our major facilities.

In 1997, an agreement between CWLP and Springfield School District 186 led to the installation of fiber, providing a 10 Mb Wide Area Network (WAN) service to 21 District 186 facilities. By late 1998, the School District’s need for increased bandwidths coincided with CWLP’s own growing need for higher-speed WAN connections. With the assistance of a federal grant obtained by District 186, CWLP was, in early 2000, able to install an OC-12 Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network that provides communication speeds in excess of 1 billion bits per second.

The ATM network runs on over 100 miles of previously installed fiber optic cable and is remotely monitored from CWLP’s network management center at the 10^th and Miller Dispatch Center. This allows necessary changes to be made in a timely manner, usually without changes to any of the electronic equipment. The network is continually monitored by qualified network management personnel.

CWLP’s network provides multiple paths across the ATM backbone. The system is designed to provide a high level of redundancy, which, in turn, ensures a high level of system reliability. By providing multiple paths, the system can be rerouted around a single point in the event of a failure along one or more of the paths. In addition, critical sites can be dual connected to the network, providing even greater reliability.

The new ATM network far surpasses the current requirements of both CWLP and District 186. In fact, less than 5% of the system’s total capacity is utilized by these parties, which means the excess capabilities of the ATM network offer great potential to CWLP and the city of Springfield. As a result, the utility decided to take advantage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which allowed electric utilities to join the list of companies allowed to provide WAN and related bandwidth services on a commercial basis. The act also enables residential and small commercial customers to obtain competitive telecommunications services that previously had been available only to larger commercial and industrial customers. CWLP holds a Certificate of Authority from the Illinois Commerce Commission, allowing it to serve as a telecommunications provider.

Find out more about how CWLP provides commercial customer access to its fiber optic network.

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Last update: 05/20/10