October 1, 2011
Digital Edition
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October 2011 International Issue
Global Viewpoint
Rick's Rules of Survival
Are you tired of being manipulated by your boss as he tries to squeeze every last drop of productivity out of you? And, at the same time, does your boss...
Features
BC Hydro's Path to a Modern Grid
Thanks to visionary planning and investment, BC Hydro has been meeting British Columbia's energy needs reliably for the last 50 years. Yet, vitally important...
The Best Trail Forward
Loudoun County in Northern Virginia is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, growing 84% in the last 10 years, according to the most...
Xcel Tames the Wind
The demand for renewable energy has spurred dramatic growth in the number of wind farms in North America and around the world. For more than a decade,...
Cemig Takes on Trees
In 2009, Companhia Energtica de Minas Gerais (Cemig), the largest distribution utility and the third-largest transmission utility in Brazil, created a...
Utility Clips Copper Theft
Energy distribution depends on substations at the local level. For rural cooperatives, many substations are in remote locations. Unfortunately, the scrap...
Transforming Data
Transformer dissolved gas monitoring has long been accepted as a critical part of a utility's asset management strategy. But industry experience has shown...
Business Developments
India Steel Company Orders $71 Million in Substations
Steel Authority of India Limited has ordered a US$71 million substation package for its Bhilai Steel Plant, located in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh....
FERC Advises MISO to Resubmit Entergy Cost-Allocation Proposal
In June 2011, MISO asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to waive, during a transition period, tariff provisions related to the cost allocation...
S&C Celebrates the Past 100 Years, Commits to the Next 100 Years
S&C Electric Co. celebrated its 100-year anniversary on Sept. 25, 2011, with a daylong extravaganza for family and friends: family because S&C is employee-owned....
Queens Substation Blooms as Con Edison's Greenest
Con Edison's newly minted 100th substation in Queens, New York, U.S., is the utility's greenest. The company's Newtown substation has earned a Leadership...
Siemens Brings Renewables-Based Power to Mallorca
Siemens has delivered high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) technology that allowed Red Elctrica de Espaa to link Mallorca with the Spanish mainland via...
GWP Installs Last Smart Meter
On Sept. 15, Glendale Water & Power (GWP) installed its final smart meter on the campus of Glendale Community College in Glendale, California, U.S. This...
Smart Grid
OG&E Expands Testing for Smart Grid IVVC
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. (OG&E) has expanded testing of smart grid technology-supported equipment that can help the utility deliver energy more efficiently....
Progress Energy Florida Taps Telvent for Smart Grid Solutions
Progress Energy Florida (PEF) has selected Telvent to engineer, design and implement the IT company's OASyS supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)...
Ecuador's Electrica de Guayaquil Invests in Smart Meter Infrastructure to Improve Efficiency and Reliability
Households across Ecuador are poised to see improvements in the reliability of their electric service thanks to a smart meter infrastructure by GE Energy....
IEEE 2030 Approved
IEEE 2030 IEEE Guide for Smart Grid Interoperability of Energy Technology and Information Technology Operation with the Electric Power System, End-Use...
Technology Updates
Michels Power Completes Rapid Underwater Reinstallation
Replacing downed power poles in the wake of a storm is business as usual for most electrical contractors. Designing a custom solution and completing the...
Proof Positive Copper Helps GTC Catch Copper Thieves
Delivering high-capacity, long-haul power to 39 electric membership corporations (EMCs) across the state of Georgia requires a network of reliable equipment....
Honeywell and Opower Develop Next-Generation Tools to Reduce Energy Use and Costs in Homes
Honeywell and Opower announce plans to jointly develop energy management tools to help consumers cut their energy use and expenses. The companies will...
Superconductoring Cable Energized in Korea's Power Grid
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), LS Cable & System and American Superconductor Corp. (AMSC) announce that the world's longest distribution-voltage...
AEP Selects B-PLC
American Electric Power will use Amperion's Broadband Power Line Carrier (B-PLC) technology as a replacement strategy for aging pilot wire technology...
Parsons Brinckerhoff Wins South Australian Engineering Excellence Award
Parsons Brinckerhoff together with its client and project owner ElectraNet were recognized for innovative work on the Clare North substation project in...
Quarterly Report
Preparing a Smart Workforce
Half of the electric power industry's workforce is eligible for retirement in the next three to five years. As a result, it's more critical than ever...
Characters with Character
Wired for Land and Sea
Ever met a lady who asked her husband for a KitchenAid mixer and a chain saw for Christmas? Know a wife who urged her husband to buy a bigger fishing...
Products and Services
Distribution Automation Controllers
GE Energy announces the release of its new platform of Multilin Distribution Automation (DA) Controllers: Voltage Regulator Controller, Capacitor Bank...
Kitting Solution for Distribution Systems
Hendrix Wire & Cable designs and manufactures complete Spacer Cable Systems, including cable, hardware, spacers and other accessory products. Using Hendrix's...
Network Protection and Automation Guide
Alstom Grid has launched an updated version of its well-respected Network Protection and Automation Guide (NPAG), a comprehensive 500-page technical reference...
High-Accuracy Split-Core Current Transformer
Continental Control Systems announces its new Accu-CT high-accuracy split-core current transformer. Engineered for use with any of the company's WattNode...
Hybrid Energy Storage System
VYCON introduces its new Hybrid VDC XEB flywheel system. The VDC XEB is an environmentally friendly energy storage system that combines flywheel technology...
meView App
The new meView app, the latest in a series of mobile applications from Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating (Mitsubishi Electric), provides homeowners...
Digital Oscilloscopes
Rigol Technologies Inc. introduces the DS6000 series digital oscilloscope, featuring up to 1GHz bandwidth, 1.5GHz bandwidth differential and single-ended...
SF6 Leakage Test Unit for GIS Components
DILO Armaturen und Anlagen GmbH in Babenhausen has developed a new SF6 leakage test unit that allows detection of even smallest leakages within a short...
Rugged Notebook with Touchscreen
Handheld US announces the launch of its Algiz XRW, a fully rugged notebook with a 10.1-inch (26-cm) widescreen sunlight-readable display featuring MaxView...
Varistor Protection
New Enhanced Varistor Protection (EVP) arresters are now available, superseding the Ohio Brass PVN family of arresters. Built on 20 years of Ohio Brass...
EV Charging Column
Siemens Energy's new Charge CP500A charging point not only refuels electric vehicles (EVs) within an hour, it also recharges two vehicles at the same...
Power Quality and Revenue Meter
The SEL-735 Power Quality and Revenue Meter builds upon the success of the SEL-734 Advanced Metering System with new features, industry-leading accuracy...
Thermal Imager
Fluke Corp. introduces the Fluke Ti9, a high-performance thermal imager that is ideal for troubleshooting electrical installations as well as electro-mechanical,...
Flexible Silicone Cable
Cicoil's High Flex Unshielded Silicone Cables are designed for applications that require absolute reliability in severe environments. Unlike most other...
Customer Management Solution
Vertex Business Services announces the availability of CIS Ecosystem Solutions, the company's new customer management solution. CIS Ecosystem is now available...
Next-Generation Engineers
On May 25, 1961, President Kennedy proclaimed that the U.S would send an American to the moon and back before that decade was out. The space program in...
Electric Utility Operations
Mark McCubbin
Born in Kansas City, Missouri. Enjoy fishing, four-wheeling and spending time with his girlfriend, Jaclyn. He is also building a house. Can't live without...
Repair Kit Eliminates Backbreaking Labor
Landscaping services often puncture holes and tear off the corners of Xcel Energy's fiberglass transformer pads. In turn, the company's field crews invest...
Flood Washes Away T&D Structures in Vermont
Normally when a severe storm hits Vermont, strong winds knock down thousands of trees or ice coats power lines. In August, however, Mother Nature drenched...
A New Approach to Vegetation Management
The Northeast Blackout of 2003 affected 50 million customers throughout nine states and Canada. Shortly following this event, the United States enacted...
Parting SHOT
About 60% of Austin Energy's distribution system runs along the backyards of residences. Linemen must work in tight spaces and carry materials in by hand...
