Electric Light & Power articles from November 2008

Electric Light & Power archives from November 2008

Events.(Conference news)(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... NOVEMBER Novermber 19-21 AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium 2008 American Wind Energy Association Palm Desert, Calif. www.awea.orE/events/ November 21 FERC Natural Gas Conference Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Washington,...

Commentary.
November 1, 2008... After two years of hearing presidential candidates discuss and debate issues, while "everyone who's anyone" in the political world speculated, analyzed and predicted the election's outcome, we've elected our 44th president. As I write this...

Participate in organizations that advance EE.(COLUMN: Customer Service, Utility Style)
November 1, 2008... Energy-efficiency program administrators have learned that by working together they can advance energy efficiency more rapidly by multiplying the effect of their funding dollars and at the same time achieve greater energy efficiency for the...

Reinvigorated integrated resource planning to keep lights on.(COLUMN: Taking It Into Account)
November 1, 2008... In a noteworthy and conflicting coincidence, the Department of Energy's (DOE) new multidisciplinary Energy Advisory Committee issued a draft report, "Keeping the Lights on in the New World," in which the committee bemoaned the lack of long-term...

Why not RFPs?(COLUMN: Benefit of Counsel)(Request for Proposals)
November 1, 2008... Most state energy policies have three major goals: maintaining system reliability (to avoid load shedding, brownouts and blackouts); incentivizing new in-state generation (in order not to be overly dependent on imported and less-efficient older...

2007 operating performance rankings: the nation's top plants keep getting better.(Industry Report)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 2007 operating performance numbers look pretty similar to the 2006 numbers. The nation's top performing power plants continue to operate efficiently, churning out the much needed megawatts that keep the country...

PPL wins utility of the year.(Profile)(Cover story)(Company overview)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PPL has my favorite marketing slogan of any U.S. utility: "Whenever you find the inspiration, we'll be there when the light comes on." Here at EL&P, our "light" lit a few months ago when discussing the annual...

The need for asset information management in the utilities industry.(Finance)
November 1, 2008... A technician is repairing a pump that needs to be operational immediately. Some of the parts are broken, and two bolts are missing. He's 80 percent sure which parts he needs, but the team familiar with the equipment isn't working this shift,...

Credit crunch hits home quickly.(Finance)
November 1, 2008... The credit crunch has driven down the value of companies involved in electricity and natural gas trading, and utilities do not need to have significant trading operations to be impacted by the the credit crisis. Reliant Energy was able to...

European utilities eye America.(Finance)
November 1, 2008... Most Americans know one bit of Wall Street wisdom: Don't mess with Warren Buffett. EDF, not being American, had to learn that wisdom the hard way. The finance god and the French utility powerhouse scuffled this fall over Constellation...

National agreement helps American Electric Power keep a grip on labor contracts.(Risk Management)
November 1, 2008... American Electric Power (AEP) is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP's transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the...

Where did the time go? Energy utilities face long-term memory loss.(Risk Management)(Company overview)
November 1, 2008... The U.S. Department of Labor says nearly half of the energy utilities workforce consists of baby boomers. As they will be nearing retirement in the next 10 years, a manpower shortage looms. Forward-thinking energy utilities have the opportunity...

Low-temperature geothermal technology expands clean energy reach.(Renewables)
November 1, 2008... The International Geothermal Association (IGA) reports that electricity has been generated commercially by geothermal steam since 1913, and its use to generate electricity has increased substantially around the world, especially in the past few...

The challenges faced by the U.S. nuclear industry.(Generation)
November 1, 2008... U.S. secretary of energy Samuel W. Bodman stated Oct. 8 to the U.S. Department of Commerce, "Expanding nuclear power in this country goes to the very intersection of our energy security, our national security and our economic security." ...

Meter data management: now that we have it, how do we use it?(IT/CIS & CRM)
November 1, 2008... Solomon, ancient king of Israel, is known for his wisdom--so much so that credit for possessing "the wisdom of Solomon" is still one of the greatest compliments a leader or judge can be given. Yet do you ever get the feeling that Solomon might...

Let education drive your economic engine.(CS Week)
November 1, 2008... The economic turmoil of recent weeks has disrupted both personal and business equilibrium. As financial institutions have morphed or disappeared and investors question which way to turn, the IOUs, municipalities and cooperatives throughout...

SVCs: modular, mobile and cost-effective power quality solutions.(T&D)
November 1, 2008... Every day, employees of large and small U.S. electric utilities pick up the phone to hear customers say, "We're putting in a new mining operation," or, "We're building a large new recycling facility at the edge of town." New service or...

Long-term approaches to vegetation management.(T&D)
November 1, 2008... Managing a 70,000-square-mile utility system is difficult--especially when every mile of line must be inspected annually. The only way to comply with federal and state mandates, address environmental concerns and keep power flowing to customers...

Research and biodiversity continue at State Game Lands 33.(T&D)
November 1, 2008... The potential impact of vegetation management herbicides has been studied almost as long as they have been used. Back in 1953, a vegetation management research project was initiated in Pennsylvania--State Game Lands 33 Research and...

How do you build manager bench strength?(Management Methods)
November 1, 2008... Most people are promoted into management based on their ability to excel in specialist work. Unfortunately, those same specialist skills and experience do little to prepare people for the management and leadership challenges they face as they...