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How Essential is the Smart Grid?

By Shehu Khaleel, Electrical Engineer, , March, 10, 2010 - 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.  more...
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Inducing Private Investment for Grids

By Jeff Dalebroux, Attorney, Dykema, March, 03, 2010 - 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 explore some of the issues involved in going forward to enhance transmission capability in the U.S., some of the obstacles to achieving that goal and some suggested paths to follow.  more...
Article Viewed 583 Times  |  7 Comments

Smart Forecasting for a Smarter Grid

By Michael Price, Specialist Leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP, February, 24, 2010 - 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 communicating meters. Smart metering not only provides the ability to change what is done, but also, how, when, and where process tasks and activities are performed to support existing end-to-end business process execution and the implementation of entirely new smart metering processes. AMI technologies should not in themselves define business processes. Instead, AMI should be leveraged as one piece of an overall smart grid program aimed to ultimately improve the business (AMI is an important component of the solution, not the solution itself).  more...
Article Viewed 968 Times  |  2 Comments

New Transmission Interconnection Procedures Needed for Independent Transmission Facilities

By Ann Warren, Associate, Foley & Lardner LLP, February, 09, 2010 - Transmission facilities in the United States that distribute electrical power have traditionally been built by vertically integrated utility companies to transmit power from their own generating facilities to their customers. Since the utility companies built and owned both the generation facilities and transmission facilities, interconnecting their transmission facilities to their generation facilities was simply a matter of necessity to deliver power to their customers.  more...
Article Viewed 1086 Times  |  2 Comments

Tangled Network: Transmission or Meter Investments

By Kate Rowland, Managing Editor, Intelligent Utility Magazine, Energy Central, December, 23, 2009 - It's as old a debate as the chicken and the egg, and as complicated as the Gordian knot. Should utilities tackle transmission or customers first when making investments in a smarter grid?  more...
Article Viewed 1811 Times  |  3 Comments

Aging Workers Won't Leave Utilities in the Dark

By Joe Kovacs, Freelance Writer, , December, 22, 2009 - The utility industry is getting older. By some estimates, nearly half of today's workforce will be eligible for retirement in the next decade. Years of hard-won knowledge seemed doomed to disappear just as utilities are implementing smart grid initiatives and benefiting from improved data collection and opportunities for advanced customer communications and energy efficiency. Is this the perfect storm? Are veteran utility leaders dreaming about golf courses and easy chairs rather than smart grid technologies just when their experience is most needed? Philadelphia-based PECO Energy, which serves approximately 2 million electric and natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) in California don't think so.  more...
Article Viewed 1947 Times  |  3 Comments

Regulation and Smart Energy: Dealing with Uncertainty

By Bart Thielbar, Senior Research Analyst, Sierra Energy Group, a Division of Energy Central, December, 08, 2009 - Industry professionals are overwhelmed with calls for smart grid implementations and many utilities are moving in that direction. They are doing so, however, with much uncertainty regarding cost recovery and even more uncertainty regarding any potential return on their investments. For the most part, state regulators have been slow to provide meaningful answers or directions for utilities seeking to make investments that will make them more efficient and empower consumers. In fairness to the regulators, the issues require a thoughtful approach to the cost recovery issues and it seems reasonable that they will want to carefully consider potential impacts to consumers.  more...
Article Viewed 1750 Times  |  5 Comments

Residential Power Quality Questions

By David Sweetman, VP of Quality & Reliability, Retired, December, 08, 2009 - While there have been a large number of papers and other research on the effects of power quality for commercial and industrial operations, there has been very little published on the effects of power quality in residential applications. This is becoming more of a concern to the residential user with the increased usage of electronics, e.g., computers, washing machines, entertainment equipment, in the home.  more...
Article Viewed 1167 Times  |  3 Comments

The Smart Grid Ready Framework, Part 2

By Larsh Johnson, President and CTO, eMeter Corporation, November, 25, 2009 - The first part of this two-part article covered the Smart Grid Ready Framework, and an overview of some of its components. This week, we will cover the final three.  more...
Article Viewed 2131 Times  |  3 Comments

Mash-in: KCP&L and Con Edison Draw in the Web

By Mike Breslin, Freelance Writer, , November, 24, 2009 - As utilities turn to the latest applications available to them to more quickly manage reliability and outage management issues, mobile workforce management becomes more real-time, as well. Here, we look at two utilities using Web 2.0 applications, and its advantages.  more...
Article Viewed 1839 Times  |  Be the first to comment on this article.
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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

 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...

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...
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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.

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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...
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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...
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