Energy User News articles from August 2000

Energy User News archives from August 2000

Energy Debate Simmers on Capitol Hill as Finger-Pointing Begins.(Frank H. Murkowski complains)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON, DC--Energy reliability, supply, and price all appear to be evolving into a political issue that may play a part in upcoming elections. One political pundit has predicted that major power outages this summer could result in a...

California ISO Approves Temporary Lowering of Price Caps.(California Independent System Operator )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... FOLSOM, CA--The California Independent System Operator (California ISO) Board of Governors took action June 28 to temporarily reduce price caps in the ISO real-time, ancillary services, and intrazonal congestion management markets from $750 per...

EIA Says Natural Gas Prices to Rise Through the End of the Year.(Energy Information Administration)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON, DC--Natural gas prices may increase through the winter heating season by 50-60%, according to the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) short-term energy outlook for June. This is due in part to rising crude oil prices and...

Natural gas futures prices.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Natural gas futures prices hit an all-time high in June, soaring to $4.686 per million BTU--more than double the price of $2.258 recorded a year earlier. The summer price run-tip has occurred since 1998, according to the Wall Street Journal,...

The U.S. Custom House.(receives Energy Star Buildings Label from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The U.S. Custom House in Philadelphia became the first building in Pennsylvania to receive an Energy Star Buildings Label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for energy efficiency. Because the 66-year-old building, is listed on...

Sempra Energy Solutions.(to provide energy for Venetian Hotel Resort Casino and Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas and DreamWorks Animation Studios)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Sempra Energy Solutions announced that it entered into an agreement to acquire the full ownership of the energy infrastructure at the Venetian Hotel Resort Casino and Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas and DreamWorks Animation Studios...

PECO Energy.(acquires four companies to add to Exelon Infrastructure Services Inc. subsidiary)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... PECO Energy reported the purchase of four companies to add to its Exelon Infrastructure Services (EIS) Inc. subsidiary for a total of $95 million. The Philadelphia-based energy company said it will buy Dashiell Corp. of Deer Park, TX; Dacon...

The California Public Utilities Commission.(votes on energy policy)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The California Public Utilities Commission voted to end a mandate which required the state's investor-owned utilities to buy all their power through the Pasadena-based California Power Exchange (CaIPX). The state's three investor-owned power...

More Power Plants Not Answer to Electricity Reliability.(Alliance to Save Energy)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON, DC--New power plants and transmission wires aren't the best answer to the nation's growing electricity demands and increased threat of blackouts and brownouts during summer heat waves. "It's easier, quicker, cheaper, and cleaner to...

Green Energy Enters Mainstream.(report by Frost and Sullivan)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... SAN ANTONIO--Long considered impractical or not economically feasible, renewable energy technologies are finally becoming mainstream energy options. Deregulation of the energy industry has opened the door for competition, and new power...

Company Sees Billion Dollar Opportunity in Alternative and Renewable Energy.(ABB)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... LONDON--ABB, traditionally a builder of traditional large-scale power plants, revealed that it is targeting alternative energy solutions as a growth opportunity, saying it expects its share of the business to reach $1 billion within the next...

DOE's Richardson Suggests Distributed Power Projects Could Solve Outage Problems.(Department of Energy, Secretary Richardson)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... AKRON, OH--Energy Secretary Richardson released a comprehensive Department of Energy (DOE) report that documents the marketplace barriers that prevent electric utility customers, developers, and vendors from creating projects that would enable...

EnronOnline Passes $50 Billion Milestone.(transaction value)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2000... HOUSTON--Enron announced June 1 that the transaction value on EnronOnline has passed the $50 billion milestone for calendar year 2000. EnronOnline is a principal-based electronic transaction platform that offers real-time pricing for...

Making Sense of the Energy Market.
August 1, 2000... Today's news is rather grim I now know why Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia read the funny papers over the radio rather than the news to help New Yorkers weather a 1930's newspaper strike. His goal was to raise the citizens' morale, not push them...

Looking Out for Number One.(how best to make companies responsible for the environment without government intervention)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 1, 2000... Self-interest and the collective good may be one and the same Readers who commented on the June Green Matters column about Earth Day raised a fundamental issue: Assuming that we agree that the environment needs saving and protecting, what...

FERC Commissioner Looks at Cost and Reliability.(Interview)
August 1, 2000... Curt Hebert predicts too much caution could impede reliability The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's lone Republican member, Curt Hebert, says that he often finds himself in opposition to other commission members, Washington...

User Needs Drive the Development of a Competitive Power Supply Market.
August 1, 2000... There's an air of guarded optimism today about the emerging electricity marketplace For much of the last two decades, energy users have demanded access to competitive power suppliers that can lower their costs and provide additional...

Introducing the Engineered Savings Program (ESP).
August 1, 2000... Finally, an alternative to performance contracting Performance contracting (PC) programs are aimed at funding infrastructure improvements, such as lighting and HVAC upgrades, from energy savings. These programs are typically provided by...

The Evolving Role of Energy Service Companies.
August 1, 2000... In an ever-changing world, ESCOs must keep ahead of the curve Energy service companies (ESCOs) are evolving into a dramatically different type of business today, playing a much different role than the one they played over the past 20 years....

Making Sound Decisions for Managing and Reducing Utility Costs.
August 1, 2000... Deregulation upsets old business patterns Today's utility market provides many opportunities for companies to reduce their energy costs. Companies now have the ability to participate in open-access marketplaces or use new information to...

Mitigating Risk in Power Purchase Contracts.
August 1, 2000... Purchasing power is a high-risk, high-reward game To effectively mitigate the risk in a non-utility power supply contract, the purchaser must first understand the risks. For example, the growing demand for electricity, slow growth in...

BAS Helps Manage Rapid Growth At Dallas Data Center.(building automation system)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Allstate's building automation system has grown with the facility Continuous updates to the BAS (building automation system) at Allstate's Southwest Data Center in Dallas have proved to be a key to consistent uptime, sustained operational...

Energy-Efficient Transformer Yields 156% ROI.
August 1, 2000... Electrical equipment produces energy savings Herman Miller, Inc. is one of the world's leading manufacturers of office, health care, and home furniture. Founded in 1923, the Zeeland, MI-based company has grown steadily to become a $1.75...

E-Commerce Generates Energy Cost Savings for C/I Customers.(commercial and industrial)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... The Internet provides ways to manage electrical costs For many commercial and industrial customers, it's hard to forget the high electric demands last summer that caused rolling blackouts in cities such as New York and Chicago--peaks that...

Energy Companies Appear Slow to Adapt to New Marketplace Changes.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... PHILADELPHIA--While utility officials generally recognize that sweeping changes are afoot in their industry, many nevertheless find it difficult to fully implement the necessary transformations, according to two recent surveys. Chief...

Energy Star Label Now Available For Schools.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... WASHINGTON, DC--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have announced the addition of Energy Star benchmarks for K-12 schools to the national energy-efficiency rating system for buildings. Previously,...

Southern Company Acts on E-Business Strategy.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... ATLANTA--Southern Company chairman and ceo A.W. Bill Dahlberg says the company is launching its comprehensive Internet strategy that focuses on technology-driven products and Web-enabling services that will add value for shareholders and...

Industrial Customers Unhappy With Florida Utility.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... TAMPA, FL -- A group of large industrial users of electricity accused Tampa Electric Co. of selling off power on the lucrative wholesale market instead of supplying it to them, then charging excessive prices for supplemental electricity,...

Changes in Power Production Could Change Investors' Portfolios.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... NEW YORK-Over the past several years investors have capitalized on growth of the Internet and the telecommunications industry. Now, according to a new report by Bear Stearns, the energy industry may be primed to be the next hot investment...

Energy Performance Contracting.
August 1, 2000... A new tool for financing energy-efficiency projects Energy performance contracting (EPC) is a way to finance and implement capital energy improvements and services offered by a qualified energy service company (ESCO). The energy and cost...

Pipe and tank wrap.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Pipe and tank wrap is designed to insulate vessels and large-diameter pipes with service temperatures from 35[degrees] to 850[degrees]F. The product employs European crimp technology that provides the thermal and compressible properties found...

Distributed power.
August 1, 2000... Distributed power and repair capabilities are offered by the company. Among services offered are complete installation, availability guarantees, fixed life cycle maintenance and overhauls, spare parts stocked based on customer agreement,...

Fluorescent system.(technical guide)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2000... Fluorescent system technical guide assists users in selecting the correct fluorescent dimming components. The updated guide includes information on the company's lighting controls and ballasts, as well as compact fluorescent dimming ballasts....

Electronic ballasts.(for compact fluorescent lamps)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Electronic ballasts for the operation of compact fluorescent lamps come in three models that cover 12 major CFL configurations, ranging from 13 to 42 W. All three models feature color-coded, dual-entry connectors, permitting push-in lead...

Metal halide lamps.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Metal halide lamps feature exceptional color rendering quality and color stability, according to the manufacturer. Lamp types include 70- and 100-W E17; 39- and 70-W PAR 30; 70- and 100-W PAR 38; 39-W PAR 20; and 39-, 70- and 150-W T6/G12. All...

Motor controllers.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Motor controllers with added network interface capability continuously control the speed of 1/10-to 1-hp single-phase induction motors. The network interface module makes it possible to configure and interface with the motor control from remote...

Handheld motor rotation detector.
August 1, 2000... Handheld motor rotation detector determines the rotation of any electric motor in seconds. The compact device features a microprocessor able to sense the magnetic field of an energized motor and identify its rotational direction. The detector...

Mid-efficiency water heater and boiler.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Mid-efficiency water heater and boiler is available in 1000- and 750-MBH sizes suitable for hotels, restaurants, schools, prisons, assisted living, and office facilities. The 85% efficiency rating is the highest allowable for non-condensing...

Fiber glass batt insulation.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Fiber glass batt insulation is polyencapsulated and meets a variety of thermal and acoustical needs in new commercial construction and renovation and retrofit projects. Compared to non-encapsulated insulation, the batts significantly reduce the...

Insulation.(brochure)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Insulation for commercial, roofing, low-temperature, and geotechnical applications is detailed in a brochure that offers a description of the insulation products, features, benefits, and insulation systems. Illustrations depict applications for...

Lighting control system.(has Web-based tool)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Lighting control system comes with a web-based tool that extends lighting control to a personal computer. The software tool uses a web page with Microsoft ActiveX technology to replace traditional hardwired controls or telephone override...

Gen sets.(generator sets)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Gen sets offer more than 50 monitoring and control features for improved performance and reliability. Control system provides more than 200 diagnostic monitoring functions in addition to plug-and-play interoperability with most building...

Adjustable cycle timer.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2000... Adjustable cycle timer is suited for harsh conditions and is capable of cycling electrical loads repetitively with a minimum of 1/2 minute to a maximum of 15 one-half-minute increments for both on and off. The unit offers 31 different on times...

Electronic bypass.(with ac drive)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2000... Electronic bypass is fully integrated with the company's adjustable-speed ac drive to form a single unit that features a narrow profile and requires minimal panel space. The unit automatically protects the motor from input phase-loss conditions...

Surge protective device.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2000... Surge protective device provides transient voltage surge suppression for products operating on Ethernet data networks. The device comes with both RJ 45 input and output connectors. It provides low clamping voltages and the ability to withstand...

Pre-insulated piping.(for use in HVAC systems)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Pre-insulated piping for use in HVAC systems is insulated with PE-X foam that retains heat and cold equally. The piping can be used for hydro-cabled and mono-pipe heating installations as well as for domestic hot water distribution, hot or...

Comprehensive catalog.(Ballast Navigator)
August 1, 2000... Comprehensive catalog, the Ballast Navigator, is available on CD-Rom and the company's web site. The catalog includes all product lines with catalog numbers, wiring diagrams, and reference dimension drawings on one page. Product lines included...

Interior insulating window system.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Interior insulating window system easily retrofits inside a facility's existing windows. The added pane of glass and frame eliminate air infiltration while the thermal pocket of air created by the system works to decrease the effect of...

Infrared thermometers.(available with laser sighting)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Infrared thermometers are now available with laser sighting. The 401 offers laser sighting in a single-point beam, while the 411 features an 8-point circular sight. Temperature ranges and the distance to spot ratios (D:S) have increased by 20%,...

Smaller facilities.(programming software tool for HVAC networking)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Smaller facilities can achieve low-cost, easy-to-install HVAC networking by combining supervisory controllers with a programming software tool. Multiple supervisory controllers can be networked using existing Ethernet networks, enabling them to...

Internet-based tool.(for commercial and industrial buyers of natural gas)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2000... Internet-based tool for commercial and industrial buyers of natural gas recommends specific buying and hedging actions to reduce risk and exploit opportunities presented by weather-driven changes in gas prices. The service does not attempt to...

Marketplace.
August 1, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]