The people of New Orleans are “flying high and in great moods.” And the director of the IEEE PES North American T&D Conference, Tommy Mayne, said that before the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. New Orleans citizens were flying even higher and in even better moods on Feb. 8, the day after the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV. The rest of the country celebrated along with them as Americans remembered the devastation that Hurricane Katrina wrought on the unfortunate city four years ago.

Now New Orleans is coming back, “storming back,” according to a recent editorial by New Orleans resident and political pundit James Carville.

“New Orleans has made a steady and continuous recovery,” Mayne said. “Although some residents and businesses have relocated, the majority of businesses and residents have stayed in the area, rebuilt their homes and businesses, and kept a vibrant and colorful Southern tradition alive and strong.”

The utility industry — the very people who worked on the front lines of recovery after Katrina hit — will return to New Orleans on April 19-22 for the 2010 IEEE PES T&D Conference & Exposition.

Circumstances were much different in 2005/2006. The IEEE PES T&D Conference and Expo was set to take place in New Orleans in October 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit southeast Louisiana at the end of August. The most severe loss of life and property damage occurred in New Orleans, which flooded as the levee system catastrophically failed. Eventually, 80% of the city and large tracts of neighboring parishes became flooded, and the floodwaters lingered for weeks.

Following the hurricane, however, Mayne and his team committed to bring the massive conference back to New Orleans as soon as possible. That same commitment from other New Orleans residents is what is bringing the Big Easy back to life for residents, tourists, business travelers and sports fans.

“You'll never find another city in America more appreciative of its tourists than New Orleans is today,” according to travel blog, GoNomad.com. Also in the city's future are the 2013 Super Bowl and the 2012 Men's NCAA Basketball Final Four, among other high-profile events.

New Orleans is ready for you, but are YOU ready for New Orleans?

Smart Solutions for a Changing World

As New Orleans continues to change for the better, the T&D industry is also dramatically changing. Energy is the center of attention right now with issues such as the smart grid, cyber security, cap and trade, renewable energy, energy stimulus spending, energy storage and the necessity of reliability. The entire conference and expo will focus on how all of these issues are affecting utilities. New and innovative technologies will be presented at the exhibition and in the sessions. Problems to solutions will be shared as utility professionals must face several upcoming challenges in this industry.

This year's program consists of super sessions, technical panel sessions, poster sessions, special interest sessions, educational tracks, a Smart Grid Day, exhibitor info sessions, continuing education and professional development, and special short courses, and an exposition that features hundreds of manufacturers who will display the most up-to-date technology and equipment available in the marketplace today. The event also provides technical and companion tours designed to enrich the conference and exposition experience.

The super sessions will cover topics such as energy storage and the integration of renewables; smart grid; cyber security of T&D control system assets; and cap and trade and its impact on the electric utility industry. The poster and panel sessions, scheduled continuously throughout the event, include the following main topics: aging workforce; wind plant collector system design; intelligent optimization for T&D networks; FACTS; test feeders for distribution system analysis; cyber security for the smart grid; communications systems for the smart grid; impact of electric vehicles on grid infrastructure; integrating AMI and advanced sensor data with distribution automation; distributed resource integration impacts; and power system dynamic performance.

Tutorials will include: “DNP3 Fundamentals;” DNP3 in the Real World;” “Fundamentals of Wind Energy;” “Smart Distribution Grid and the Advanced Integrated Distribution Management System;” “Gas-Insulated Substations and Lines;” “Static VAR Compensators;” “Secondary Network Design and Operation;” and “Breaker Failure Protection Guide.”

The conference also offers technical panel sessions covering the gamut of the smart grid; special interest sessions focusing on in-depth issues that are timely and have a high level of interest to attendees; a special short course focusing on the subject of “Plain Talk Courses for the Non-Power Engineering Professional;” an educational track designed to provide refresher materials for attendees; and special info sessions that are conducted by exhibitors and allow attendees to gather information and ask questions of the experts as they demonstrate and explain new and exciting dimensions of their business in an uninterrupted setting.

When they are not in educational sessions, attendees can explore the newest equipment, products and services in the exhibit hall. Show organizers project the more than 650 to 700 exhibitors from around the world will showcase their latest and greatest offerings.

Conference and Expo Kick-Off

Come out and make some noise as the week's activities get underway in the streets of New Orleans. Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler as the sirens wail and the parade begins to depart and make its way toward the Aquarium of the Americas. Mardi Gras floats complete with revelers will lead the way as attendees march to a rousing beat. Guests will enjoy experiencing the parade first-hand by throwing beads and doubloons to on-lookers who will pause to see the excitement. Then, attendees can take a moment to dance with a “Naturally N'Awlins” Mardi Gras Indians band that will perform to a Cajun-Native American beat. As the parade continues, guests may choose to samba with Casa Samba Brazilian drums or second line with a classic New Orleans-style brass band that will be bringing up the rear. A complimentary motor coach will be offered for non-walkers who still want to participate in the parade action. Once the parade reaches its destination, attendees will enjoy exclusive use of the Aquarium of the Americas.

The reception will take place in and around the remarkable Aquarium of the Americas. As attendees arrive for the reception, they will have an opportunity to explore all of the exhibits in this first-rate aquarium. Among the stunning displays are: The Caribbean Reef, offering a tunnel for a spectacular journey through this 132,000-gallon exhibit; the Amazon Rainforest, which features cascading waterfalls, rare orchids, vibrantly colored macaws and red-bellied piranhas; The Mississippi River Delta, which includes rare white alligators and prehistoric paddlefish, as well as a host of other aquatic species; and the Gulf of Mexico, featuring a one-quarter scale oil drilling rig surrounded by sharks, giant grouper and a 150-pound tarpon. Attendees may choose to enter the aquarium first through the serene foyer to view the many exhibits inside. Those who wish to experience the festival first may walk to the left of the entrance where they will encounter a vibrantly lit clear-top tent complete with awnings, tables and chairs. Beautiful sea-colored linens and aquarium centerpieces will adorn each table to accent the theme.

This year's opening general session, Tuesday morning, April 20, will focus on major issues confronting the worldwide power-delivery industry in 2010 and beyond. Throughout the opening session, expert speakers will offer their perspectives from where they sit as participants in the power-delivery industry.

The exhibit hall will open immediately following the opening session. Throughout the entire show, the exhibit hall will be bustling with activity. In addition to presenting their products and services at their booths, many of the exhibiting companies will conduct information sessions providing lively, in-depth explanations about their products. Visitors will be able to see innovative solutions to prepare for the future. It's also a great place to make important contacts and meet the movers and shakers of the T&D industry.