Improving smart grid and overhead distribution reliability and the emergence of predictive technologies will be the focus of an important utility conference taking place in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 9-11 of 2010.

The Smart Grid & Overhead Distribution Reliability Conference explores the latest reliability measures and technologies being used by utilities to prepare distribution networks for the higher standard required for Smart Grid data transmission lines.

“Run-to-failure reliability strategies are incompatible with smart grid requirements,” said John Lauletta, president and CEO of Exacter, Inc., one of the conference sponsors. “Clean signals for data transmission are the new standard in conjunction with minimizing outage time. I think a lot of people will be surprised at the new technologies and solutions available for eliminating line interference.”

Paul Feldman, Board Chairman of the Midwest ISO and conference speaker, will be sharing insights from his recent paper on improving distribution reliability. “Improving the reliability of our distribution system is perhaps the biggest challenge for implementing Smart Grid,” said Feldman. “More than 80% of all outages are directly attributed to distribution failure, but technologies and approaches now exist to significantly change that.”

Conference speakers will present cutting-edge methods being employed by utilities across the country that are making an impact on distribution reliability. Utility case studies showing how predictive technologies identify equipment in weakened, pre-fail conditions will also be presented.

Professors from The Ohio State University who have done extensive research on why equipment fails will share their insights, and the conference will also explore business case scenarios for addressing SAIFI/SAIDI reduction.

“If you will be deploying Smart Grid technology, if you are looking for new ideas for reducing SAIFI/SAIDI, if you want to see the latest technologies and ideas for improving distribution reliability, this is the one conference in the utility industry you should attend,” said Lauletta. “It’s a conference about new ideas and new approaches for addressing the higher-reliability standards Smart Grid demands.”

Conference-goers will receive 1.5 continuing education credits (CEUs) from IEEE for attending. Cost of the conference is $795 for IEEE members before Dec. 9 — $995 for all attendees after Dec. 9. For more conference information: http://www.exacterinc.com/conference.html