Broadband over power lines market leader Current Communications said Thursday it received $130 million in equity investments from General Electric, EarthLink, TXU, and Sensus Metering Systems.

It’s the second significant infusion of funding for the Germantown, Maryland firm in nine months.

Last July the company announced that Google, Goldman Sachs, and Hearst invested $100 million in the company’s business, which is adding intelligence and communications capabilities to the electricity delivery grid (see TechSpin: Google Bets Electric).

TechSpin: Google Bets Electric

Earlier investors include Duke Energy, EnerTech Capital Partners, and Liberty Associated Partners. Most of the investors, including the latest group, are involved in some aspect of the Broadband over power lines (BPL) market.

Some like TXU are in the power utility business. General Electric is one of the leading makers of power generation and distribution equipment and EarthLink has emerged as one of the leading retailers in BPL broadband service delivery.

Making the Smart Grid

BPL networks make it possible to send broadband data along electrical power lines and through or around transformers and other electrical distribution devices.

The networks serve a dual purpose. The first is called the smart grid. By running communications along the electrical wires, utilities can monitor outages, read meters, and reroute power around outage areas or potential danger zones such as areas where falling trees can disrupt the electricity supply.

The network technology can be used to manage gas and water distribution and enable consumers to monitor and control their own electricity usage.

Because most homes in the developed world are connected to an electrical power grid of some sort, the network can be used for broadband connections (see NY Sluggish on BPL Uptake).

NY Sluggish on BPL Uptake

“There is a lot of interest both in the smart grid and the promotion of competition in the broadband space,” said Jim Dondero, vice president of marketing for Current. “People have talked about the smart grid for a long time, but we are bringing it to life.”

Last week the California PUC gave its blessing to electric utilities and other companies in the state that wish to begin BPL projects, but laid down ground rules designed to protect ratepayers and secure the power distribution system (see California OKs BPL).

PUC gave its blessing to electric utilities and other companies in the state that wish to begin BPL projects, but laid down ground rules designed to protect ratepayers and secure the power distribution system (see California OKs BPL).

Cincinnati and Texas Lead

There are two commercial deployments of BPL in the U.S.—one in Cincinnati, and another in Manassas, Virginia. The Cincinnati deployment is managed by Current, while the Manassas network is run by Communication Technologies of Chantilly, Virginia.

Last December, Current announced it was partnering with TXU Electric, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, to enable broadband communications over the electrical network in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (see BPL Lights Texas).

BPL Lights Texas

According to the plan, BPL communications will be available to about 2 million homes and businesses in the highly populated two-city “metroplex” and adjacent communities by the end of 2006.

Current also plans to offer voice and perhaps video in the future as part of its total BPL package (see Current Readies Voice over BPL).

Current Readies Voice over BPL

In the broadband market, BPL competes with cable, DSL, and wireless delivery systems. To date BPL has offered service at rates competitive with DSL and less than both cable modems and wireless systems.