Electric Light & Power articles from February 2003

Electric Light & Power archives from February 2003

Is deregulation dead?(electric industries)
February 1, 2003... To some doctors in this scenario, the patient has flat-lined. (Yet, no one wants to call it.) To others there may be hope for a flicker of brain function under that current coma. Either way, electric deregulation is a fractured,...

Playing to a tough crowd. (Commentary).(FERC)(Column)
February 1, 2003... FERC seems to be sweetening the pot when it comes to transmission investment. Last month, the commission proposed to allow additional percentage points on a utility's return on equity when it participates in a regional transmission organization...

"Reserve capacity". (Letters to the Editor).(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Our company went through a buyout completed just over a year ago. The new owners are particularly interested in investor return. The philosophy has been to reduce staff to the level to only be able to accomplish "base load" work. This term is a...

Time-of-use program--a ratepayer's view. (Letter to the Editor).(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... To Charles River Associates and Electric Light and Power: I happened to be given EL&P's article "Demise of PSE's TOU Program Imparts Lessons" published in January 2003, and thought I should respond as one of Puget Sound Energy's rate...

B&V to develop coal plant. (Projects and Contracts).(Black & Veatch)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Black & Veatch has been selected by the Wisconsin Public Service Corp. to provide engineering services in the development of one of the largest utility-owned coal plants in the U.S., according to the company. The 500 MW unit will generate...

ElectriCities, Southern announce agreement. (Projects and Contracts).(Southern Co. to be power resource manager)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ElectriCities and Southern Company announced an agreement for Southern to be the power resource manager for North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1, which consists of 19 municipal electric systems. Under the agreement, Southern will be...

TVA, Invenergy sign contract. (Projects and Contracts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... TVA has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Invenergy, a Chicago-based energy development company, to add 27 MW of wind power to the 2 MW Buffalo Mountain wind park in Tennessee.

Calpine, LIPA sign deal. (Projects and Contracts).(power purchase/sale agreement related to cogeneration plant expansion)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Calpine Corp. and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) will enter into a 16-year power purchase and sale agreement related to an 80 MW expansion of Calpine's existing cogeneration facility located on the campus of the State University of New...

Itron acquires Silicon. (Mergers and Acquisitions).(Silicon Energy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Itron Inc. has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Silicon Energy for a total consideration of $71.2 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of February 2003.

ArcLight captures wind. (Mergers and Acquisitions).(acquires electric power generating facility in Texas)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ArcLight Capital Partners has acquired the 34 MW Big Spring electric power generating facility in Texas.

Eaton acquires Commonwealth. (Mergers and Acquisitions).(Commonwealth Sprague Capacitor's power systems assets)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Eaton Corp. has purchased the power systems business of Commonwealth Sprague Capacitor. The purchase price was $6 million.

SCANA subsidiary granted increase. (Legal and Regulatory).(retail electric base rates)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SCANA Corp. reported that the Public Service Commission of South Carolina approved a 5.8 percent, or $70.7 million, increase in retail electric base rates for the company's principal subsidiary, South Carolina Electric & Gas.

NRC orders plants to enhance authorization. (Legal and Regulatory).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued orders to all 103 operating commercial nuclear power plants requiring that licensees enhance their authorization programs for individuals to gain facility access. The specific security measures...

One critical question: Will ferc be able to implement the SMD? (Guest Commentary).(Column)
February 1, 2003... I give FERC a lot of credit for continuing to pursue its restructuring agenda aggressively in the difficult political environment created by the combination of the California debacle and the Enron scandal. I am confident that implementation of...

SMD drawing RTO battle lines. (Guest Commentary).(Standard Market Design proposal from FERC)(Column)
February 1, 2003... Much controversy has surrounded the question of whether FERC's proposed Standard Market Design (SMD) is preemptive of the states on transmission issues. Some state regulators assert that SMD constitutes an unparalleled preemption of the...

Chairman Wood outlines FERC 2003. (Guest Commentary).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Federal regulators plan to finish work on Western energy markets in the first quarter of this year according to ferc chairman Pat Wood III. "The three key elements for a strong and secure energy market are the same in 2003 as they wer ein...

GIS software market sees dynamic growth. (News).
February 1, 2003... Worldwide GIS software revenue reached $1.1 billion in 2001, reflecting an increase of 14.3 percent over the previous year, according to a market study by Daratech Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based market research and technology assessment firm....

Industry uncertainty prompts utilities to build their own generation.(instead of contracting out back-up power)
February 1, 2003... The spectacular collapse of Enron, the failure of electricity restructuring in California, and uncertainty about federal energy regulation are prompting many U.S. utilities that need generation or backup power to build it themselves, according...

Don't sacrifice quality to the deity of the bottom line. (News).(discusses Deep Sea Electronics' quality standards for engine, generator and transfer swtich control modules)
February 1, 2003... In the power industry these days everyone talking quality: The buyers want better quality and the manufacturers want better quality. It's one of the goals both buyers and sellers can agree on in an otherwise unsteady market. New products...

GE awarded certification. (Legal and Regulatory).(Calgary plant)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... GE Power Systems' Calgary manufacturing facility has been recognized as a "partner in health and safety" by the government of Alberta. GE is one of 57 companies in the province to achieve this status.

Consumer group files opposition to SMD. (Legal and Regulatory).(Conference to Restore Just and Reasonable Electricity Rates files comments opposing standard market design with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Conference to Restore Just and Reasonable Electricity Rates has filed comments opposing the standard market design with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Among other things, the filing criticized the "profiteering and price...

ComEd announces good year. (Companies).(2002 was outage-free year for over 1.4 million customers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ComEd officials announced that 2002 was an outage-free year for more than 1.4 million customers, reflecting the company's best reliability performance since 1998. Additionally, 71 percent of ComEd's customers experienced one or no outages in...

EEI honors companies. (Companies).(Edison Electric Institute honored 8 member power firms for outstanding service restoration and recovery efforts in 2002)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) honored eight member power companies for outstanding service restoration and recovery efforts following severe storms and other extreme events in 2002. They are Cleco Power, Indianapolis Power & Light Co.,...

PPM Energy is coming. (Companies).(new name of PacifiCorp Power Marketing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... PacifiCorp Power Marketing, ScottishPower's competitive U.S. energy business, changed its name to PPM Energy.

Duke Capital Partners. (Executive Appointments).(F.T. Webster )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... F.T. Webster has been named president and chief executive officer.

NYISO. (Executive Appointments).(Richard Grossi will not seek re-election)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Richard Grossi will not seek re-election as chairman of the board of directors.

NorthWestern Corp. (Executive Appointments).(Gary G. Drook)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Gary G. Drook has been elected interim CEO.

DPL Inc. (Executive Appointments).(James V. Mahoney )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... James V. Mahoney has been named president.

Plug Power. (Executive Appointments).(David Neumann)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... David Neumann is vice president and chief financial officer.

SEMCO. (Executive Appointments).(Arthur L. Pendleton no longer with firm)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Arthur L. Pendleton, president and chief operating officer of the energy infrastructure construction division, is no longer with the company. Marcus Jackson will lead the unit until a successor is named.

Entergy Nuclear. (Executive Appointments).(Jerry W. Yelverton, CEO, to retire)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Jerry W. Yelverton, CEO, will retire March 31. Gary Taylor will assume the role of CEO.

EPRI. (Executive Appointments).(Ellen Petrill )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Ellen Petrill has been appointed program director of the Distributed Energy Resources Public/Private Partnership at the Electricity Innovation Institute, a non-profit affiliate of EPRI.

Unitil. (Executive Appointments).(William Aubuchon III resigns from board of directors)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... William Aubuchon, III has resigned from its board of directors. Dr. Sarah Voll will serve Aubuchon's unexpired term.

CERA. (Executive Appointments).(multiple personnel changes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Michael Zenker is director for North American natural gas. Philippe Frangules is director of business development. Marie Fagan is director, and Mike Farina is associate director.

Western Electricity Coordinating Council. (Executive Appointments).(Dennis E. Eyre to retire)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Dennis E. Eyre, CEO, will retire in 2003.

Canadian Gas Assoc. (Executive Appointments).(Michael Cleland )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Michael Cleland is president and CEO.

Sierra Pacific Resources. (Executive Appointments).(Michael W. Yackira)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Michael W. Yackira will be joining the company as executive vice president, strategy and policy.

Dynegy. (Executive Appointments).(Mike Mott, senior vice president and controller, resigns)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Mike Mott, senior vice president and controller, has resigned from the company for personal reasons. Holli Nichols, vice president and assistant controller, will assume controller duties on an interim basis.

iWatt. (Executive Appointments).(Ray Wallin)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Ray Wallin has been appointed chief financial officer.

Progress Energy. (Executive Appointments).(Mark Mulhern)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Mark Mulhern is senior vice president for Progress Ventures.

Duke Energy North America. (Executive Appointments).(Greg Harper)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Greg Harper to lead energy marketing as senior vice president.

Corporate liability insurance market struggles. (Finance).(Chubb Group of Insurance Companies' new insurance policy helps independent directors protect personal assets when they are sued)
February 1, 2003... Recent corporate scandals and the fall in stock values hit the corporate liability insurance market hard. Lawsuits against directors and officers of corporate boards have driven up the cost of so-called D&O liability insurance, prompting some...

Effective real estate strategies will become imperative for utilities. (Finance).
February 1, 2003... Public utilities' investments in real estate can yield risk-adjusted returns that are comparable to those generated by operating assets. Although utilities governed by PUHCA have limited ability to engage in real estate in the traditional...

AEP takes steps to strengthen balance sheet. (Finance).(American Electric Power)
February 1, 2003... Citing continued difficult wholesale market conditions that have depressed corporate earnings, American Electric Power (AEP) is implementing a plan designed to strengthen the company and improve short-term and long-term performance. "We...

Shifting natural gas supply and demand challenge infrastructure planning. (Electric & Gas Trading).
February 1, 2003... FERC's Office of Market Oversight and Investigation released its 2003 Natural Gas Market Assessment in late January. It included a discussion of the challenge of shifting supply and demand for maintaining sufficient delivery and transmission...

IntercontinentalExchange alleges NYMEX violates antitrust laws. (Electric & Gas Trading).
February 1, 2003... IntercontinentalExchange Inc. filed a suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the New York Mercantile Exchange Inc. (NYMEX) seeking to prevent NYMEX from abusing its monopoly power in the market...

Use of financial derivatives lags in U.S. electricity market. (Electric & Gas Trading).(daily average volume of energy-related futures contracts on New York Mercantile Exchange grew to 467,042 in first half of 2002)
February 1, 2003... The daily average volume of energy-related futures contracts on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) grew from approximately 7,340 in 1982 to 467,042 in the first half of 2002. Essentially all of these contracts involve natural gas and...

Natural gas supplies dropping faster than expected. (Electric & Gas Trading).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Frigid January weather that has taken the U.S. natural gas market by surprise could result in national storage capacity dipping to bullish 2001 levels by the end of heating season, according to ESAI in its February North American Natural Gas...

Security drives the industry toward standardization. (Transmission & Distribution).(energy-based firms explore additional measures to protect their valuable data)
February 1, 2003... As the security of our nation and its information continues to be threatened, many energy-based companies are beginning to explore additional measures to protect their valuable data. These companies are uncovering weaknesses in the technology...

Kiss the cook: How to be a T&D gourmet.(transmission systems can attract investment if proper planning is adhered to)
February 1, 2003... In most countries the experience in developing transmission systems has proved to be extremely difficult, not only because of the strong adverse reaction of local interests but also for a variety of other reasons. The restructuring and reform...

Systems integration can be part of an M&A strategy. (Information Technology Customer Systems).
February 1, 2003... Throughout the past decade, the electric utility industry has completed mergers and acquisitions on an unprecedented scale. Regulated utilities have grown their traditional businesses while expanding into other areas, including merchant energy,...

SCE program connects with the hard-to-reach. (Information Technology Customer Systems).(Southern California Edison)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Southern California Edison (SCE) took a rather ordinary load management program and gave it an anything-but-ordinary marketing approach to sign up its hard-to-reach rural and ethnic business customers. The result was over 7500 requests for...

Dissecting the North American market for distributed generation. (Generation).
February 1, 2003... Shortcomings in the electric power grid have proven to be problematic and costly in the information age, where five, six and even seven "nines" availability is becoming the norm rather than the exception. This issue has recently come to the...

Hydrogen gen-sets open new hydrogen economy. (Generation).
February 1, 2003... Standby and grid-tied generator-sets will play an increasingly important role in providing electric power into a centralized electric power distribution system. The many changes brought on by electric power deregulation, an aging electric power...

How to listen to an argument. (Management Methods).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The argument in question need not necessarily be a disagreement. The argument could be made by a salesperson trying to get you to buy something, a worker trying to persuade you to do something, a customer complaining, or a politician asking for...

Speaking tips. (Management Methods).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Few of us can hope to become Daniel Websters or Winston Churchills, but we can take steps to assure that when we do speak, people will pay attention. The trouble with most speeches is that they suffer from extraneous verbiage--too much...

Calendar events. (Management Methods).(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... FEBRUARY 23-26 Substation Equipment Diagnostics Conf. XI EPRI (415/455-9583) New Orleans MARCH 10-13 28th Int'l Technical Conf. on Coal Utilization & Fuel Systems DOE, ASME's Fuels & Combustion...

Primer on partial discharges. (Power Pointers).
February 1, 2003... Insulation failure is an accepted leading cause of electrical failures, so the testing and monitoring of insulation systems is considered a necessary practice. This month for Power Pointers, EL&P asked Eaton Cutler-Hammer to discuss the problem...