How Essential is the Smart Grid?

By Shehu Khaleel
Utility companies generate, transmit and distribute energy to consumers. This can be done more efficiently, cost-effectively and remain sustainable by designing an electric system that integrates smart devices, critical data and two-way communication between the utilities and the consumer-Smart Grid. Many argue that Smart Grid is no capable enough to significantly reduce the excessive T&D energy losses. And some argue that the reduction is quite uneconomical compared to the cost ...

Management In Real Life: Improving Performance: The Five-Step Plan

By Kevin Herring - President, Ascent Management Consulting
When we go to a doctor for a health problem, the doctor will ask a few questions, poke us where it hurts, and often write a prescription for whatever ails us. In a few days, all will be well again. If the doctor doesn't bother to examine us, and simply prescribes the same treatment for everyone, we head for a second opinion. With no examination, how would the doctor diagnose ...

Doing More With Less: Paying for Performance in the New Economic Reality

By Lori Wisper - Senior Consultant, Hewitt Associates
The "great recession" of 2008-2009 has resulted in unprecedented cost-cutting actions for most organizations - especially cuts related to compensation. The issue of how economic conditions have impacted overall compensation costs (and how to effectively manage those costs) has painted 2009 and 2010 as a period like no other in recent memory. To help companies best align pay and performance so employers and employees benefit, this article explores the traditional ...

Meeting the Energy Needs of Large Business Customers: Results from a large market research study

By Chad Garrett - Senior Research Associate, E SOURCE
Large businesses are sophisticated energy consumers and they expect a correspondingly high level of service from their energy providers. Utility account representatives know that providing reliable energy and an accurate bill -- the basics -- are essential, but that great service requires more. Beyond the basics, what should utilities and account representatives prioritize to have the biggest positive impact on customer satisfaction? To answer this question E Source conducted the ...

Inducing Private Investment for Grids

By Jeff Dalebroux - Attorney, Dykema
There has been much discussion about the need for increased transmission capability and the so-called smart grid. The need has been framed in terms of repair of deteriorating infrastructure, energy independence and security, and economic competitiveness. There is agreement that grid development would help meet the goals of carbon reduction and climate change damage modification, yet there has been relatively little successful activity. The intent of this article is to ...

Nurturing a New Manager

By John Reed - Managing Principal, Corporate Psychologist and Executive Coach, QRA
Executive coaching creates opportunities to work with senior leaders who present an interesting mix of strengths, experience and opportunities for development. Quite different -- but just as interesting -- is coaching with executives taking on their first management role. In preparing to work with these clients, it helps to understand how the world looks to people making this early career step, and how we as bosses, mentors or coaches can ...

Improve Business Customer Satisfaction with Strategic Planning

By Sarah Weldon - Research Associate, E Source
Creating strategic account plans is considered an account management best practice for businesses in any industry. Yet results from the 2009 E Source Account Management Assessment -- a recently conducted online survey of utility account management departments regarding the structure, communications, systems, processes, and strategic approaches used in managing business customers of all sizes --showed that only slightly more than half (59 percent) of utilities are creating individual strategic account ...

Smart Forecasting for a Smarter Grid

By Michael Price - Specialist Leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Most successful smart metering programs focus on business process management to maximize benefits (e.g., operational improvements) enabled by an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Improved data visibility, frequency, and quality enabled by AMI technologies, can enhance future-state business processes and allow the utility to truly reach the expectations of the large investment they are making. Smart metering is much more than the limited implementation of AMI networks and advanced, digital two-way ...

Life After 40: Suppliers Anxious to Support Life Extension Initiatives for Aging Nuclear Power Plants

By Geoff Gilmore - President and CEO, Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
With the world's electricity demand continuing to grow, and with the desire to reduce the world's emission output from traditional fossil fuel plants, countries are turning to new renewable energy sources and to nuclear power to meet that demand. It is clear that the new renewable energy sources by themselves will not be sufficient to meet the demand. Because new nuclear power plants currently on the drawing board will not ...

The Potential for Rechargeable Electric Municipal Public Transportation

By Harry Valentine
The official worldwide history of electrically powered public transportation began in the year 1890 when electric trams and electric streetcar replaced horse drawn trams and streetcars. Electrically powered subway trains subsequently replaced steam hauled subway trains in London, UK. The construction and introduction of New York City's electrically powered subway trains soon followed. Electrically powered trams, streetcars, suburban rail systems, light rail systems and subway trains plus electric trolleybuses provide ...
 

The Greening of Brownfields

March 12, 2010
By Ken Silverstein- EnergyBiz Insider
Editor-in-Chief
Getting power generation projects permitted is a headache. That includes wind and solar. But a clever idea is now making headway -- to place such green facilities on land that is now contaminated....

Ensuring Nuclear Safety

March 10, 2010
By Ken Silverstein- EnergyBiz Insider
Editor-in-Chief
Both the European Union and Russia are planning for more nuclear energy. It's part of their effort to reduce carbon emission levels. With the two powerhouses dependent on each other to accomplish their respective goals, they have agreed to enter into a "nuclear partnership agreement"...

Energy Efficiency Funding

March 08, 2010
By Ken Silverstein- EnergyBiz Insider
Editor-in-Chief
Money is tight. But not necessarily for projects involved with increasing energy efficiency. Some innovative financing techniques are emerging to allow customers to make improvements without incurring initial out-of-pocket costs....

Unregulated Power Companies 'Stable'

March 05, 2010
By Ken Silverstein- EnergyBiz Insider
Editor-in-Chief
The economic rebound should correlate with that of the electricity sector and particularly the unregulated component of it. But despite months of uncertainty, those "merchant" utilities played it smart by locking in longer-term contracts prior to the downturn....

Letters from Readers

March 04, 2010
A few letters we received on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel....

Northeastern States Face Homegrown Issues

March 03, 2010
"Public awareness is always the first step in winning a political battle in the United States," said Theodore Roosevelt in his gubernatorial efforts to promote conservation to the largely indifferent citizenry of New York State....

NC GreenPower Model Translates to Smart Initiatives

March 01, 2010
By Christine Richards- Editor-In-Chief
Intelligent Utility Magazine
When you think of the southeast United States, you don't usually think of renewables. NC GreenPower is working to change that, specifically in North Carolina....

Regionalizing Smart Energy

February 26, 2010
By Kate Rowland- Managing Editor
Intelligent Utility Magazine
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has placed an unprecedented focus on state and local energy issues. With half of the approximately $580 billion in ARRA funding having been pegged for states and localities, those efforts that, over time, best pool and manage regional...

Green Era

February 24, 2010
By Ken Silverstein- EnergyBiz Insider
Editor-in-Chief
Is the $787 billion stimulus plan living up to its promise? The measure, which passed largely along party lines more than a year ago, has sought to stem job losses and to create a new economic foundation....

Nuclear Energy's Chances

February 22, 2010
By Ken Silverstein- EnergyBiz Insider
Editor-in-Chief
The passion surrounding nuclear power is engaging Washington as two issues have reentered the public domain: increasing loan guarantees to new projects and the casting aside of a permanent storage facility for nuclear waste....
 

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Smart Grid Webinar: WAN Communications for Distribution Networking

Mar 17, 2010 - 1:00 PM EST - Internet

This webinar discusses the role of the distribution grid within the context of a broader Smart Grid communications network. more...

Reshaping the Customer Relationship through Smart Grid

Mar 18, 2010 - 12:00 ET - Your City

Join distinguished industry leaders and Marty Rosenberg, editor-in-chief of EnergyBiz magazine, to discuss how smart grid is causing utilities and their customers to fundamentally rethink how they do business. more...

How Optimization Addresses Your Most Critical Issues in Energy & Power

Mar 19, 2010 - 1:30PM Eastern - Your City

One IBM client is saving over $65 thousand per day on unit commitment while reducing its carbon footprint by 100 thousand tons annually. Unit commitment applications based on IBM optimization technologies are running at major system operators; one of them more...

Compensation Trends 2010: Rewarding Talent in a Changing Market

Mar 23, 2010 - 12:00 ET - Your City

Get the big picture on shifting compensation trends in the energy industry and hear from a senior consultant at Hewitt on how these trends impact a utility's ability to acquire and retain top talent. more...

Take the Next Step with Mobility in the Field

Mar 30, 2010 - 2:00 P.M. PST - Your City

Join industry experts from Ventyx, Panasonic and Sybase on Tuesday March 30th at 2:00pm EDT for a one hour webcast on how you can take the next step in mobile workforce management. The webcast will provide a comprehensive mobile strategy more...

2nd Annual Thin Film Solar Summit Europe

Mar 17, 2010 - Mar 18, 2010 - Berlin Germany

The conference will provide a comprehensive analysis of the thin film industry and its key challenges in an interactive manner. Leading companies will share their experiences through panel debates and high-level presentations. A great opportunity to network with the whole more...

KEMA's 21st Executive Forum

Mar 30, 2010 - Mar 31, 2010 - Irving, TX - USA

As the leading event in the US retail energy industry, KEMA's Executive Forum will gather senior executives, regulators, energy buyers, investors and other stakeholders from across North America to discuss the key business and policy issues facing retail energy markets.

 more...

US Wind Energy Operations and Maintenance Summit

Apr 20, 2010 - Apr 21, 2010 - Dallas, TX - USA

Operating and Maintaining wind farms costs big money and can make a big dent in your bottom line. But that cost can be significantly reduced by adopting outstanding O&M strategies that will reduce downtime and improve the performance of your more...

Essentials of Energy Risk Management

Apr 13, 2010 - Apr 14, 2010 - Houston, TX - USA

The volatility of energy prices has highlighted the need for energy professionals in all areas to develop a functional proficiency in the management of energy risks. This program imparts a practical understanding of the array of tools and concepts that more...

Electric Business Understanding Seminar

Apr 19, 2010 - Apr 20, 2010 - Chicago, IL - USA

Electric Business Understanding provides a comprehensive overview of the electric industry. Position yourself for career advancement by gaining a solid understanding of how the electric business works including key physical, market, and regulatory aspects and how market participants navigate this more...

Electric Market Dynamics Seminar

Apr 21, 2010 - Apr 22, 2010 - Chicago, IL - USA

Electric Market Dynamics offers participants an in-depth understanding of North American electric markets and how they function. Enhance your career by furthering your knowledge of market structures, pricing mechanisms, services offered in markets, and how various participants use the markets more...