November 1, 2011
DIGITAL EDITION
View this issue in our digital edition format:
November 2011 International Issue
Global Viewpoint
The Test of Time
Last month, in Rick's Rules of Survival, I summarized methods of managing a difficult boss. But how is it that we have created a corporate environment...
Features
Relays Become Problem Solvers
Over the past several years, there has been much discussion about the potential applications of synchrophasor technology, but there has not been as much...
TSOs Advance Dynamic Rating
The rapidly increasing volume of renewable energy sources, especially large coastal and off-shore wind farms, has triggered the need for additional transmission...
Guelph Hydro Is on the Map
Like most utilities, Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc. faces growing challenges in reducing costs while enhancing operations and ensuring the safety...
Mutual Assistance
There are disasters an organization manages and then there are disasters that manage the organization. Major failures on the power system can lead to...
Moving Beyond Pilots
Utilities around the world are changing the way they do business to meet the ever-increasing expectations of their customers, regulators, legislatures...
SCE Limits Faults
In recent years, as a result of interconnected energy sources and new transmission lines, ever-increasing fault current levels have created an urgent...
Spotlight on Safety
When Paul Lira competed in the very first International Lineman's Rodeo 28 years ago, hard hats and safety glasses were optional, and bucket trucks didn't...
Business Developments
ABB Wins $50 Million Order to Make Quebec's Grid More Energy Efficient
ABB has won an order worth more than US$50 million from Hydro-Qubec to upgrade vital components of Canada's leading power utility's ultra-high voltage...
Siemens Puts Solar Farm in the South of France On-line
In mid-October, Siemens Energy put the Les Mes solar farm in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the south of France on-line. For this project,...
OSI to Provide Multiple EMS Replacements in Colombia and Peru
Open Systems International Inc. (OSI) has been awarded a contract to provide a new supervisory control and data acquisition/energy management system (SCADA/EMS)...
PECO Selects WiMAX Solution for Philadelphia Project
RuggedCom Inc. announces its involvement in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., implementation project in partnership with Alcatel-Lucent. PECO selected...
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....
Clean Line Energy Signs MOU with Tennessee Valley Authority
Clean Line Energy Partners, LLC announces a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Plains & Eastern Clean Line,...
Illinois Enacts Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act
On Oct. 27, the Illinois General Assembly enacted the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, setting in motion a US$2.6 billion investment by ComEd...
NIST Releases Update to Smart Grid Framework
An expanded list of standards, new cyber-security guidance and product testing proposals are among the new elements in an updated roadmap for smart grid...
Smart Grid
Smart Grid Interop Lab Tests Compatibility of Next-Generation Technologies
KEMA's new Smart Grid Interop Lab is a dynamic testing center for smart grid technologies. The lab is designed to simulate real-world conditions and test...
OG&E Selects Energate for 2012 Expansion of Smart Grid Deployment
Energate Inc. will be supplying its smart thermostats for Oklahoma Gas and Electric's (OG&E's) 2012 residential demand-response program through its partner...
Interoperability and Open Protocols Key Determinants for Data Communications
The Newton-Evans Research Co. has released initial findings from its extensive research program looking into electric power utility use of various telecommunications...
Sensei Solution and Southern States Announce Strategic Partnership
Sensei Solutions, a provider of electric utility smart grid solutions, announces an equity investment by and strategic partnership with Southern States,...
Technology Updates
EPRI Surveys Show Consumers Expect Utilities to Provide Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
More than 50% of people surveyed in the service territories of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Southern Company would prefer to charge an electric...
Industry Leaders Successfully Demonstrate Transmission Voltage Superconductor Fault Current Limiter
Nexans, Siemens and Amerian Superconductor Corp. (AMSC) announce the successful qualification of a transmission voltage resistive fault current limiter...
Honeywell Implements Automated Demand Response Pilot for Commercial and Industrial Facilities in Europe
Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE) has selected Honeywell to conduct the first automated demand response (Auto DR) pilot project for commercial and...
Quarterly Report
The Smart Meter Competitive Edge
Electric utilities will deploy 588 million smart meters by 2015, and by 2020, the global deployment will reach 1 billion, according to Pike Research....
Characters with Character
Aspiring Intern
Today's college students likely will face one of the bleakest and most competitive job markets in U.S. history when they graduate, and Steven Miller is...
Products and Services
Three-Phase Uninterruptible Power Supply
Staco Energy Products Co. introduces the latest addition to its FirstLine P family of parallelable three-phase uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) with...
Insulation Materials
Haysite Reinforced Plastics has advanced its compression molded HST-II, HTF and H515 glass polyester laminate insulation sheet products that have achieved...
Teflon Auger Bits
Greenlee Utility's new Nail Eater Teflon-coated utility auger bits drill fast and smooth in most treated woods, including tough utility poles. Made in...
Transmission Management Suite for Transmission System Operators
Open Systems International Inc. (OSI) has released an improved version of its monarch Transmission Network Analysis software package, in support of new...
Time Delay Control Switch Relay
A new Time Delay Control Switch Relay (TD-CSR) from Electroswitch provides a safe and effective means of mitigating arc flash danger in local circuit...
Long-Term Dynamics Analysis Module
New simulation tools are required by utility distribution engineers to prepare for increased levels of renewable distributed generation deployment. The...
Estimating System
McCormick Systems is now offering the WIN 4000, a product developed for the mid-sized to larger contracting firm with broad horizons. The WIN 4000 includes...
Circuit Breaker Analyzer
Noram SMC's PME-500-TR represents a breakthrough in the testing, timing and condition-based analysis of medium- and high-voltage circuit breakers and...
Unified Operations Center
Calico Energy Services has developed a Unified Operations Center for utilities and power providers that performs all three critical functions of energy...
Hand-Operated Crimper for Aluminum
BURNDY announces release of the MRC840AL tool designed specifically for use on aluminum BURNDY HYLUG (type YA-A) and HYLINK (type YS-A) terminals and...
Substation Fencing System
For 20 years, TransGard Systems fences have prevented power outages from animal incursions, deploying a specially engineered substation fencing system...
IEEE 1547.4 Guide for Designing and Operating Distributed Resource Islands
The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Standards Board has approved the IEEE 1547.4 Guide for Design, Operation and Integration of Distributed Resource...
Straight Talk
Closing the Knowlege Gap
We all know we are approaching a crisis in power engineering education. A generation gap has developed in the electric power industry, resulting from...
Electric Utility Operations
Trevor Smith
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Married to his wife, Karen, for 24 years and has two daughters, Kelby and Marett. Enjoys visiting a cabin with his family,...
Increase Your Hazard Intelligence by Changing Your Safety Culture
Researchers tell us there are two kinds of intelligences. First, there is IQ, but it doesn't automatically equal success. The second intelligence that...
Linemen Improve Ladder Safety with Safe-T-Climb Device
All too often, heavy extension ladders slip and linemen crash to the ground. To prevent accidents and damage to customers' property, utilities are using...
SDG&E Prepares for Future Seismic Events
A small earthquake rumbled through San Diego on Easter Sunday one-and-a-half years ago, crumbling roadways and inflicting damage to San Diego Gas & Electric's...
Crew Chiefs Gather to Resolve Industry Issues
More than 120 power industry managers joined forces to discuss industry trends, openly debate technologies and network with one another at the 2011 Transmission...
Parting SHOT
TransGrid hosted an annual Safety Day in September to test employees' skills in first aid, fire fighting and risk assessment. More than 250 employees...
