Barco solutions help modernize the high-impact control room of Texas-New Mexico Power

2025

Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP), a subsidiary of TXNM Energy Inc, provides electricity to over 270,000 homes and businesses throughout Texas. As part of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), TNMP manages electric power flow in the region. Located near Houston, its control center is classified as a high-impact facility by the North American Reliability Council (NERC) due to its critical infrastructure status. The facility must maintain stringent cybersecurity measures to protect its assets and prevent potential large-scale power grid disruptions. Consequently, TNMP must adhere to the strict compliance guidelines set forth by NERC.

Barco solution

Barco CTRL control room software platform
12x4 Barco UniSee LCD video wall

Highlights

Intuitive system, using only one keyboard and mouse
Maintenance-friendly solution ensuring 24/7 operations
Highly improved situational awareness and cybersecurity

Challenge

TNMP's control function space lacked modern capabilities, forcing the team to manage information from various networks without a unified view. Operators had to use multiple machines and systems, limiting their ability to display information flexibly. Managers had to oversee operators to access different information sources, hindering integrated viewing.

“Our operators were locked into displaying information in a certain way and had to use multiple machines and systems to get everything they needed. That meant managers had to look over operators’ shoulders to see various information sources and couldn’t view it in an integrated way,” said Trevor Tidwell, IT Operations Manager, TNMP.

Solution

The new state-of-the-art control room, proposed by RE Lamb and integrator AVI Systems, comprised of the control room software platform Barco CTRL, and a Barco UniSee LCD video wall.

Barco CTRL, designed with a Zero Trust architecture to ensure enhanced security, offers system operators a comprehensive view of critical data points, creating a unified Common Operating Picture. CTRL Wall enables seamless content sharing on the overview display wall, while CTRL Desk delivers powerful KVM functionality, allowing operators to efficiently manage tasks at the desktop level.

“Desktop management systems are becoming an increasingly prevalent operational technology trend in the utility market. By deploying the full capabilities of Barco’s CTRL platform, TNMP is set to enhance operator efficiency, improving both collaboration and response times in critical situations,” said Lee Pagnan, National Sales Manager, Barco. “Barco and AVI Systems worked closely with TNMP’s IT and compliance teams throughout the process to ensure that the solution would meet guidelines set by NERC CIP.”

The centerpiece of TNMP’s new control room is a Barco UniSee LCD video wall, mounted in a 12-wide and 4-high array. Thanks to the proprietary bezel-less design, the video wall is virtually seamless.

Result

TNMP’s new control room, completed in September 2024, significantly enhances situational awareness. The operations team now enjoys a centralized view of grid activities, facilitating uninterrupted power distribution and compliance with ERCOT standards. Key benefits include:

User-friendly: The Barco CTRL system enables operators to manage multiple PCs from segregated networks using a single keyboard and mouse. It offers intuitive control over information flow.
Maintenance-friendly: The video wall and workstations are easily accessible, simplifying hot swaps and maintenance, ensuring 24/7 operation. TNMP also secured ongoing support through AVI’s ProSupport five-year service contract.
Ergonomic: The new workstations are designed for operator comfort, reducing fatigue, which is crucial in a control room environment.