Electric Light & Power articles from July 2008

Electric Light & Power archives from July 2008

Commentary.
July 1, 2008... "You can get your electricity for free." That's what yard signs in Texas advertised when the state first deregulated. By "spinning," or switching from one retail electric provider to the next in a constant rotation, it was actually possible....

Support affinity groups to build a positive work environment.(Customer Service, Utility Style)
July 1, 2008... At the CS Week Conference this year in San Antonio, Texas, I had the opportunity to speak at the "Women in Utilities" meeting. Wow! Talk about an energizing experience. This was one exciting venue of women supporting women. My challenge to...

Wind and nuclear: 'tis beauty in the beasts.(Benefit of Counsel)
July 1, 2008... Energy policymakers must face three facts. First, for the foreseeable future the fuels for new power plants will be limited to coal (which will remain under constant attack), nuclear (which doubtless will as well), natural gas (although...

Five "not-so-easy" paradoxes of U.S. policy on anthropogenic climate change.(Taking It Into Account)
July 1, 2008... Since 1994, when the U.S. Senate ratified the 1992 U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, the U.S. has remained one of the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases and the single largest source of atmospheric greenhouse gases, but...

Digital directions: online editorial outreach is making an impact in a new media environment.(Lines of Communication)
July 1, 2008... Wilds and widgets. RSS feeds and releaselets. Viral marketing and vodcasts. Terms and phrases once considered techno-jargon have become common in households and boardrooms as digital communication catches on. With more than 820 million...

Utility Executive Course Provides Training for Industry Leaders.(NEWS/ANALYSIS)
July 1, 2008... The utility industry is undergoing dramatic changes. Faced with new technologies, aging facilities, baby-boomer retirements, environmental pressures and many other business concerns, emerging leaders may have difficulty assessing top issues to...

International investment flows into surging U.S. renewable energy market.(Industry Report)(Cover story)(Company overview)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The U.S. renewable energy market is large--and growing--and many international investors are starting to view it as the next hot global opportunity for investments and business expansion. Cumulative installed...

Business Acumen--not just for executives anymore.(Finance)(Company overview)
July 1, 2008... Recently, there's been a trend in the workplace toward managerial accountability with regard to corporate goals. Increasingly, even middle managers are expected to understand the company's financial objectives, make strategic decisions in their...

Loosening the reins: FERC takes new steps to encourage investment in the electric utility sector.(Finance)
July 1, 2008... Part I, A Summary of the New Rules In the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congress sought to more sharply define the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's jurisdiction over certain entities. In this regard, its focus was, among other things, on...

Utilities' decline continues.(Finance)
July 1, 2008... Thirty-five companies have remained positive year-to-date. However, the average is down 4.29 percent since Jan. 1, 2008. In May alone, the average was down 3.04 percent. Generally, utilities continued the decline that began in May 2008,...

Past due: a poor economy means unpaid utility bills, but there are strategies to improve collections.(Finance)
July 1, 2008... It's becoming a serious struggle for many people to pay their bills, fill their gas tanks and feed their families. Home foreclosures and high fuel prices have created an economic strain that is being felt across all sectors, even into the...

Integrating risk analysis with location and customer intelligence: forecast risk for weather, crime, terrorism and more.(Risk Management)
July 1, 2008... Utility companies are relying on location and customer intelligence solutions more than ever before to make more informed decisions about customers, infrastructure management, expansion plans and risks. From managing complex distribution...

Coal gasification, a promising technology: support for IGCC is resolving permitting challenges and enhancing performance.(Generation)
July 1, 2008... In 2007, more than 50 percent of the electricity in the U.S. was generated from coal-fired power plants, and according to estimates by the Energy Information Administration, coal-based power generation will continue to be the largest single...

Fuel cell Microgrids in the real world.(Renewables)
July 1, 2008... A new approach to power generation is on the horizon. Research, development and demonstration (RD&D) efforts are facilitating the deployment of microgrids, allowing multiple consumers to become connected microsource power suppliers that serve a...

GE becomes majority shareholder in emerging Solar Technology Company.(Renewables News Briefs)
July 1, 2008... GE Energy has increased its equity share in PrimeStar Solar Inc., an emerging solar thin-fill technology and manufacturing company. GE already held a minority equity share in the company, as announced in September 2007. Solar is playing an...

Arizona's largest renewable energy plant commences commercial operations.(Renewables News Briefs)
July 1, 2008... Arizona's largest renewable energy facility to date, a woodfired biomass energy plant located near Snowflake, Ariz., began providing commercial electricity to Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project customers in June. Owned and operated...

Largest U.S. single roof-mounted solar army to be installed in Atlantic City.(Renewables News Briefs)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority awarded Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM) a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Atlantic City Convention Center to install the largest single...

LIPA to launch ambitious Energy Efficiency Program.(Renewables News Briefs)
July 1, 2008... In an effort to reduce energy costs while keeping up with Long Island's growing energy demands, Long Island Power Authority President and CEO Kevin S. Law recently announced Efficiency Long Island. The 10-year, $924 million program kicks...

Duke energy expands wind operations, acquires Catamount Energy Corp.(Renewables News Briefs)
July 1, 2008... Duke Energy(NYSE: DUK) announced the acquisition of Catamount Energy Corporation from funds affiliated with Diamond Castle Holdings, LLC, a transaction that will significantly increase Duke Energy's wind energy operations. Catamount Energy...

PSE&G partners with four cities to test new energy efficient street lighting.(Renewables News Briefs)
July 1, 2008... Working with its municipal and county customers to explore energy efficiencies for New Jersey cities, PSE&G has begun testing new technologies in street lighting. The company is partnering with New Jersey cities and Essex County in a test...

ASU creates solar power laboratory to boost renewable energy Industry, improve environment.(Renewables News Briefs)
July 1, 2008... Arizona State University is strengthening its commitment to boost Arizona's economic development prospects in the renewable energy industry by establishing the Solar Power Laboratory to advance solar energy research, education and technology....

Paved with good intentions: as California develops rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it must be careful not to regulate landfill-gas power facilities out of existence.(Renewables)
July 1, 2008... Landfill-gas power facilities are a significant source of renewable energy in California. These facilities operate on a simple principle: as the organic waste in municipal solidwaste landfills decomposes, it generates significant amounts of...

Understanding enterprise asset management.(IT/CIS & CRM)(Interview)
July 1, 2008... With the latest enterprise asset management tools, utilities can consolidate existing systems and create more efficiencies. That could mean better management, more accurate compliance and best of all, cost savings, but what exactly is...

CS Week Conference sets new records.(IT/CIS & CRM)
July 1, 2008... Customer service professionals from more than 250 utilities gathered in San Antonio in May for the 32nd annual CS Week Conference. This was the first year of the conference's expanded workshop "footprint" that added new topic offerings, and...

2008 Expanding Excellence Awards--reflecting diverse projects and stunning results.(CS Week)
July 1, 2008... One of the genuine pleasures of CS Week is the announcement of the winners of the Expanding Excellence Awards. CS Week and Electric Light & Power initiated the awards last year to recognize innovation and excellence in utility customer service....

It takes a city: boulder offers a proving ground for a smarter way to do a smart.(T&D)
July 1, 2008... On the morning of May 15, 2008, a cheer rose up from the packed crowd inside the University Memorial Center on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, Colo. Xcel Energy Chairman, President and CEO Dick Kelly had just announced the...

Economics or geography: which subject provides your AMI education?(T&D)
July 1, 2008... Which of the following T&D infrastructure deployment strategies is seen as a reasonable course of action for an electric utility? --Building a dedicated substation for all customers --Installing commercial- and industrial- type meters...

Building a common consciousness: understanding how our minds make meaning.(Management Methods)
July 1, 2008... Does how we communicate in our organizations have to change? According to several researchers, the answer is a resounding "yes." Noted organizational development researcher Chris Argyris contends that global competitiveness requires...