Energy User News articles from July 1999

Energy User News archives from July 1999

Price Spikes Jolt New England.(hot weather causes energy use surge)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... HOLYOKE, MASS.--New Englands' newly restructured spot power market, operational since May 1, saw electricity prices soar to 30 times their normal levels the second week of June due to unseasonably hot temperatures, mirroring a situation which...

Future Looks Bright for Lighting Technology.
July 1, 1999... Energy User News held its first lighting trends forum, entitled "Bright Ideas," in San Francisco during LightFair '99. Leading industry experts discussed major issues ranging from breakthroughs in lighting technology to the need for lighting...

Report Card on Renewables.(renewable energy sources)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... WASHINGTON, D.C.--If government-supported renewable technologies have exceeded their projections for cost reduction in the past 30 years, why haven't these environmentally friendly energy alternatives established a larger presence in the...

Dynegy Inc.(merges with Illinova Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Dynegy Inc. and Illinova Corp. announced a $2 billion merger combining the Houston-based energy marketer/supplier with the gas and electric utility to create a full-service energy company with $17 billion in annual revenues. Also, Illinova...

Duquesne Enterprises.(and North American Power Brokers Inc. offering power auctions via the Internet)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Joining a number of on-line services for buying and selling power, another Web site has surfaced: Duquesne Enterprises and North American Power Brokers, Inc., are now offering low-bid auctions for the retail procurement of natural gas and...

New York Governor George Pataki.(sponsors incentives for environmentally-friendly building practices)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Income tax credits ranging from 5 to 8 percent of construction/renovation costs for "green" buildings have been proposed In legislation sponsored by New York Governor George Pataki. The bill, expected to pass this year, contains additional...

The Department of Energy.(sponsors heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration technology research)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... The Department of Energy has agreed to provide $1 million this year to help kick off a major research initiative for "pre-competitive" heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration technology. The program is being directed by the...

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.(state officials asked by environmental groups to allocate EPA emission credits to building owners)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... State environmental officials in Kentucy and Wisconsin have been asked by an environmental group to award emission allowances to not only major polluters, but to all building owners achieving emission reductions through energy efficiency and...

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.(to build cogeneration facility in Calvert City, KY)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... A new cogen facility is planned for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.'s Calvert City, Ky., plant. Gas-turbine and heat-recovery technologies will combine to produce 26 megawatts of electricity and up to 500,000 pounds per hour of steam.

Johnson Controls, Inc.(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... The U.S. Army recently awarded a 25-year federal contract to Johnson Controls, Inc., to save energy and reduce emissions for its medical command facilities across the country and in Puerto Rico.

Shell Introduces WeatherProof Bill.(energy bill guaranteed regardless of the weather)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Shell Energy Services and other energy suppliers now offer risk-management tools for end-users, such as the "Weatherproof Bill," a predetermined, guaranteed energy bill that does not change regardless of the weather. Offered by the...

White House Praised for Climate Change Commitments.(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... WASHINGTON D.C.- An energy-conservation coalition, frequently critical of the federal government's energy usage, recently applauded the government's progress in setting a target for greenhouse gas reductions. The government action--which...

AlliedSignal Buys Honeywell.(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... With AlliedSignal's recent decision to acquire Honeywell, a new industrial giant with combined revenues of $24 billion should be added to the Fortune 50. The friendly merger directs the new company to retain the name Honeywell, however,...

Congress Questions Y2K for Oil and Gas Industry.(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... WASHINGTON D.C.--Despite the oil and gas industry's insistence that its year 2000 remediation efforts are on track, a recent congressional report expresses concern that the industry's computer and control systems will not be ready before the...

The Next Big Thing.(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... While deregulation of the utility industry may be today's hot topic, another concept has surfaced with much less fanfare. It's a theory that could make deregulation look like a footnote in the history of energy. That idea is sustainability. ...

Mastering Multiple Facilities.
July 1, 1999... Managing multiple, dispersed facilities can present unique challenges for building owners and managers. While standardization and national contracts help alleviate some of the repetitious work, planning for change is a major issue. Energy User...

Resources for Multi-Site Managers.
July 1, 1999... David L. Noller is president of the Laguna Beach, Calif.-based Institute for Multisite Energy Consumers. Previously, he was with the Ralphs supermarket chain. EUN: What special skills are unique to multiple-facility managers, as opposed to...

FERC Moves to Avoid Summer Power Crisis.
July 1, 1999... WASHINGTON, D.C.--The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has taken two actions of significance to all U.S. energy users-one intended to help avoid a repeat of last summer's power crisis in the Midwest; the other, a move that will...

Sequel for Power Shoppers.
July 1, 1999... WASHINGTON, D.C.--To help property professionals take advantage of the emerging competitive energy marketplace, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International has published a primer, "Power Shopping II: Generating value." ...

Strategies for the Big Leagues.
July 1, 1999... Changes in the way energy is generated, distributed, and purchased are creating opportunities for major players While it's obvious that energy is a crucial ingredient in virtually every industry and business, the largest energy users tend...

Playing it Cool.
July 1, 1999... Thermal energy storage systems gain popularity by shaving peak loads For energy managers today, thermal energy storage (TES) systems have become an increasingly attractive method to save on the cost of cooling their buildings. Although...

Bright Future for Hybrid Plants.
July 1, 1999... Linda Factor is a freelance writer based in Wilmette, Ill. Energy pricing will most likely favor those who remain flexible Hybrid chiller plants--plants that use one or more energy source--are becoming more and more attractive to...

Making Energy Costs Predictable.
July 1, 1999... John Echols is chief financial officer with Houston-based Enron Energy Services, Inc. An understanding of market dynamics and energy-management options helps building owners and managers beat risk Is your organization in the risk...

Matching Motors and Drives.
July 1, 1999... Motor-drive compatibility and long power leads affect motor performance and longevity at textile plant PINEVILLE, N.C.--To increase motor efficiency and deal with motor failures that exceeded 50 percent, operators of manufacturer...

Uninterruptible Power for Uninterruptible Service.
July 1, 1999... Reliable customer service and lower energy costs are dual goals JACKSONVILLE, FLA.--Customers who call toll-free numbers expect prompt service. If their calls don't get through or their requests go unanswered because of a power outage, a...

TLV Corp.
July 1, 1999... Computerized steam-trap management system consists of TM5 hardware, an ultrasonic and temperature testing instrument, and Windows 95 software. Unit makes judgments in 15 seconds per trap, and analyzed data can be exported to other OLE type...

Endress + Hauser.
July 1, 1999... Non-contact, high-performance, radar-level gauge is an alternative to conventional measurements such as displacers, floats, and differential-pressure transmitters. Gauge can be more effective in applications where capacitance and ultrasonic...

Crouse-Hinds Div., Cooper Industries Inc.
July 1, 1999... Corrosion-protection kits protect cable fittings from corrosive elements such as salt spray and moisture. Cold Shrink (protective covering, made of EPDM rubber) is quickly and easily applied by sliding the cover over the cable while fitting and...

Fluidyne.
July 1, 1999... Retractable insertion-vortex flowmeter has no moving parts and a proprietary microprocessor-based sensor for accuracy at low flow (0.3 ft/sec). The meter can be installed without a process shutdown. Hydro-Flow Model 3100 by Fluidyne.

U.S. Electrical Motors.
July 1, 1999... Energy-efficient electric motors meet the '97 efficiency levels of EPAct in the United States, NOM 74 of Mexico, and CSA of Canada. Motor covers 140-440T frames, 1 through 200 hp, 3,600-900 rpm, and two pole through eight pole. Also available...

Wavetek Corp.
July 1, 1999... Heavy-duty meter is designed to withstand damage from water, dust, chemicals, impact and voltage transients, and spikes. Ideal for electricians, electrical contractors, industrial plant personnel, and HVAC/R installers and servicers, meter is...

Sola/Hevi-Duty.
July 1, 1999... Linear-power supplies with easy-to-screw terminations replace time-consuming solder connections. Reduces power-supply installation by at least 50 percent and servicing and maintenance is made quicker and easier. SL linear power supplies by...

GMW Associates.
July 1, 1999... CNA module for use with a distributed I/O system using fiber-optic communication can be placed adjacent or near an item to be measured or controlled and is electrically isolated from other system components by the use of fiber-optic...

Andantex.
July 1, 1999... Two-speed gear boxes for machine-tool spindle drives extend the constant power range of spindle-drive motors by providing maximum torque output at low-speed without increasing motor capacity. Power capacity is from 8 to 50 lip. MSD drives by...

Baldor Motors and Drives.
July 1, 1999... Line of efficient motors meet or exceed the new GEE rebate levels and are balanced to half of the NEMA allowable vibration level. Wound with spike-resistant wire, the motors are up to 100 times resistant to transient voltage spikes, high...

Bayside Motion Group.(introduces MFM Rotary-Servo Motors)
July 1, 1999... Rotary motors deliver high-continuous torque and peak torque in a unique space-saving design. Winding configuration provides maximum copper fill per slot with low-thermal resistance. Available in 4 frame sizes from 40mm to 115mm or in select...

Virginia Transformer.(introduces liquid-filled transformers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Liquid-filled transformers are custom designed and manufactured for each application. Offers numerous benefits, including less contamination because electrical components are immersed under oil in a controlled environment, reduced maintenance,...

American Aerospace Controls, Inc.(introduces current transducer series 943A)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Non-intrusive, magnetically isolated current transducers are designed to monitor DC and/or AC current. Output quickly changes polarity and magnitude to recreate a current waveform, and a five-position terminal barrier is provided for output and...

Grand Valley Automation, Inc.(introduces variable-air-volume zone controller)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Variable-air-volume (VAV) zone controller can be used on a Lon-Works open-protocol network or operate as a "standalone" controller. It has built-in customizing options for field configuration and can be used with most VAV-box applications....

Cutler-Hammer.(introduces IQ Analyzer Model 6200)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Meter and analyzer features waveform display at the device and the ability to detect sub-cycle voltage disturbances. Model can monitor harmonic parameters, including voltage, current magnitudes, and phase angles, plus transient voltage...

ABB Industrial Systems, Inc.(introduces direct-torque-controlled AC drive)
July 1, 1999... Medium-voltage AC drive features a new power semiconductor-switching device called Integrated Gate Communicated Thyristor (IGCT) said to reduce the drive's size and cost while boosting the controller's efficiency and reliability....

Cyberex LLC.(introduces MVDTS 1.5 Digital Transfer Switch)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... Medium-voltage transfer switch, available in 4, 15, and 27 kV, is designed to protect large industrial facilities. The digital transfer switch provides seamless power transfers between AC sources in less than 1.5 cycles (25 milliseconds), due...

AFFC Cable Systems, Inc.(introduces MC cable)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... A type MC cable manufactured with an oversized neutral conductor or one neutral per phase for three-phase/four-wire power supply systems, helps minimize the effects generated by non-linear loads. Super Neutral Cable by AFFC Cable Systems, Inc.

KSB Armaturen GmbH.(introduced high-pressure globe valve)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... High-pressure globe valve features a single-piece body without a separate cover and is designed for power station, industrial, and process engineering applications. Easy to assemble and dismantle, the valve is fitted with a bayonet-joint...

Mikron Instrument Co., Inc.(introduces thermal-imaging system)(Brief Article)
July 1, 1999... High-performance, thermal-imaging system is designed specifically for high-temperature applications in the range of 500 to 3000[degrees]C. Pixel- array detector unit produces high-resolution images which are not obscured by "blooming" caused by...

Harger Lightning Protection.
July 1, 1999... Lightning-protection product line includes a new design of bases, air terminals, clamps, fittings, and conductors. Lighting protection products by Harger Lightning Protection.

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
July 1, 1999... Variable-frequency drives for exclusive use with HVAC systems in commercial and industrial buildings use control circuitry to boost operating efficiency in standard induction-motors that are part of a management system. This minimizes energy...

Love Controls.
July 1, 1999... Microprocessor-based temperature and process-limit control offers easy-to-read and continuous process/temperature displays. Device can be controlled automatically or manually.16L Series Microprocessor Based Temperature and Process Limit Control...

Chloride Power Electronics.
July 1, 1999... Single-phase uninterruptible power system (UPS) is available with 4- to 12-kVa ratings and combines security with low life-cycle costs. The Synthesis extends the existing product line and incorporates both line interactive and double conversion...

GasTech Inc.
July 1, 1999... Gas-detection transmitters use dual-infrared technology for detection of hydrocarbon gases and are suitable for installation in Class I, Division 1, Group B, C, and D hazardous locations. Design provides long-term stability, eliminating the...

MDF Cable Bus Systems.
July 1, 1999... Cable bus systems for high current, electrical busway applications (1,000 to 6,000 amps), and AC and DC systems from 600 volt to 35 kV are available as complete engineered systems. Applications include service entrances, primary and secondary...

Zenith Controls.
July 1, 1999... Power-monitoring and control system combines the Energy Commander line of paralleling, switchgear, distribution, ZTS series transfer switches, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software. The system allows an operator to...

Avtron Manufacturing Inc.
July 1, 1999... Trailer-mounted load bank designed for high-power mobile testing of AC-generating systems at multiple sites is a compact, low profile package. Capable of testing systems up to 1,250 kW, the K580 has load contactors enclosed in a...

Powergy.
July 1, 1999... Power-conditoning system is a cost-effective, easy-to-install package that provides capabilities previously available only to the largest installations. Clean-power system provides power-factor correction, surge and spike suppression, and noise...

MGM Transformer Co.
July 1, 1999... Transformer for non-sinusoidal harmonic loads carries the UL listing for K-Factor application for 15 to 1,500 kVa, and K-4 to K-SO. Once the harmonic content of the load is known and/or a K-Factor specified, the appropriate NSHL transformer can...

Power Integrity Corp.
July 1, 1999... Electrical-distribution panel provides management for power and grounding of sensitive electronic equipment. The panel offers surge, spike, and lightning protection and provides battery backup (UPS) for the POS and backroom computers. Designed...

PULSE-START METAL-HALIDE LAMP.
July 1, 1999... PULSE-START METAL-HALIDE LAMP produces 80,000 lumens with a life rating of 12,000 hours in an enclosed, clear, base-up version for municipal, commercial, and industrial applications. Another version, a 750-watt, energy-efficient lamp, provides...

RECESSED FLUORESCENT LUMINAIRES.
July 1, 1999... RECESSED FLUORESCENT LUMINAIRES feature optical precision, energy efficiency, and modem architectural style. Ideal for offices, conference rooms, libraries, and retail merchandising, optics provide soft lighting and balanced brightness with no...

SIGNAGE PACKAGE.
July 1, 1999... SIGNAGE PACKAGE delivers light in a variety of colors from illuminator through coupler and fiber-optic cable that is fastened to etched acrylic or glass sign. Illuminator projects one or multiple colors through color wheel for visual effects in...

ADAPTIVE SENSOR.
July 1, 1999... ADAPTIVE SENSOR combines ultrasonic and infrared sensing for varied operation range. Designed for office settings, microprocessor intelligence self-adjusts to occupancy environment. Eliminates false-on and false-off for simple installation and...

FIXTURES WITH 420-WATT.
July 1, 1999... FIXTURES WITH 420-WATT compact fluorescent lamps offer an alternative to high-energy consuming, standard style high-bay fixtures. Fixtures supply 25,6000 lumens and 85-percent lumen maintenance for an average 25 to 40 percent energy savings...

EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND EXIT SIGN.
July 1, 1999... EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND EXIT SIGN products don't need to be opened for installation and can be mixed and matched for specific applications. Batteries are already connected, wiring has been routed through the top, and chevrons can be removed from...

HIGH-FREQUENCY DIMMING.
July 1, 1999... HIGH-FREQUENCY DIMMING electronic ballasts for T-8 lamps are ideal for atriums, conference rooms, and other areas where energy savings can be maximized. Dimming ballast allows continuous dimming from 100-percent to 5-percent light output....

DECORATIVE EMERGENCY LIGHT.
July 1, 1999... DECORATIVE EMERGENCY LIGHT is sealed in a rugged, corrosion-resistant, thermoplastic, non-yellowing housing. Its dual-voltage capability of 120 or 277 VAC and use of two 6-watt tungsten DC lamps delivers two hours of emergency light powered by...

METAL-HALIDE LAMP.
July 1, 1999... METAL-HALIDE LAMP passes U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test for hazardous waste. Eliminates traditional quartz arc-tube technology in favor of ceramic arc-tube technology. Lamps are...

SERIES OF ELECTRONIC BALLASTS.
July 1, 1999... SERIES OF ELECTRONIC BALLASTS offer instant-start operation of T-8 linear fluorescent lamps. Small dimensions create possibilities for low profile and reduced-size fluorescent fixture designs, particularly for indirect and specialty lighting...

OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURE.
July 1, 1999... OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURE uses flowing forms and is comprised of wall-mount lighting fixtures in geometric shapes of a circle, square, and oval. Features models with varying diameters up to 13 inches that accommodate a wide choice of lamping...

LINEAR FLUORESCENT T-8 LAMP.
July 1, 1999... LINEAR FLUORESCENT T-8 LAMP is compliant with TCLP test and provides 20 percent longer lamp life than standard T-8 lamps as well as increased lumen output and higher maintained lumens. Phosphor and coating technology improve color rendering....

DEGREE DAYS FOR SELECTED CITIES.
July 1, 1999... DEGREE DAYS FOR SELECTED CITIES May Monthly Monthly Deviation Monthly Deviation City Total From Norm From Last Year Albuquerque ...

RANKING OF GAS UTILITY PRICES BY STATE INDUSTRIAL.
July 1, 1999... RANKING OF GAS UTILITY PRICES BY STATE INDUSTRIAL Rank State Price/Mcf 1. New Hampshire $6.73 2. Maine $6.05 3. Ohio ...

SPOT MARKET GAS: POSTED PRICES.
July 1, 1999... June prices reported by the Natural Gas Clearinghouse. Prices represent estimated median prices for one month spot transactions ranging at the indicated receipt points. Prices are not otters. Pipeline 6/99 5/99 4/99...

PRICE WATCH.
July 1, 1999... No. 2 oil for July delivery fell by 3[cent] to 40[cent] per gallon on the NY Mercantile Exchange (through June 4). No. 6 oil's posted price fell by 67[cent] to $17.83 per barrel (10. sulfur; Spot-market Texas crude traded at $17.33 on June 4...

The Anonymous Supplier: Retail Energy and the Internet.
July 1, 1999... If the delivery of energy is guaranteed, end-users shouldn't be concerned with who the supplier is, but rather with the price and, perhaps, how the commodity is purchased. As more and more states restructure their energy laws, new means of...