Electric Light & Power articles from October 2003

Electric Light & Power archives from October 2003

Original equipment manufacturers take stock.(T&D)(John Sullivan of ABB, Ken Reuter of ALSTOM)(Interview)
October 1, 2003... In September, EL&P spoke with John Sullivan, president of the Power Technologies Division USA for ABB and Ken Reuter, vice president of sales for ALSTOM, about the state of the equipment market for transmission and distribution (T&D). ...

Original equipment manufacturers take stock.(generation)(Hector Ponce of Mitsubishi Power Systems, Tony Satterthwaite of Cummins)(Interview)
October 1, 2003... EL&P spoke with Hector Ponce, executive vice president of operations for Mitsubishi Power Systems, and Tony Satterthwaite, vice president of Cummins' commercial generator set business, about the state of the equipment market for generation. ...

On the lighter side.(commentary)(amusing energy anecdotes)
October 1, 2003... The past month offered up several instances of news related to the energy industry that were downright amusing to me. I hope you'll enjoy these as much as I did. First, Russian President Vladimir Putin obviously misjudged his audience when...

Was David Wittig's conviction truth or consequences?(news)
October 1, 2003... In July, David Wittig, former Westar Energy CEO, was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of money-laundering and four counts of submitting false bank documents by a federal court in Kansas City, Kan. Clinton O'Dell Weidner II,...

Are there microbial answers to carbon emissions?(news)
October 1, 2003... What do floating patches of sediment in the beautiful blue Bahamian waters have to do with controlling carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere? Probably more than you would think, a team of scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)...

While wholesale market platform is debated, other FERC initiatives move ahead.(News)
October 1, 2003... The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) plans for a new wholesale power market platform (WMP) have captured the attention of the power industry for the past year. During the same time, however, a number of other, more narrowly focused...

Benefit of counsel: the coop knee-jerk.(News)
October 1, 2003... An investment banker, having toyed with cooperative acquisitions for a number of years and recognizing the benefits that will accrue to all parties involved, recently called me, dumbfounded that acquisition offers were not welcomed by coop...

Blackouts, electrical systems and common sense.(news)
October 1, 2003... Before modern computers became available, it was pretty difficult to develop load flow studies. Therefore, "base load" studies were developed and seat of the pants methods were used to operate a "real time" system using "base load" studies. ...

Pipeline capacity trading markets experience shifting dynamics.(electric & gas trading)(Illustration)
October 1, 2003... It is no surprise that the changing landscape of energy merchants has impacted the pipeline capacity marketplace. What is a surprise is that liquidity in the spot, or prompt markets, is as strong as ever. This is generally attributed to the...

Customer profitability analysis.(Illustration)
October 1, 2003... Today, forward thinking retail energy executives are realizing that beyond managing a portfolio of products, they need to manage a portfolio of customers. They are taking the concept of measuring profit and loss by product, by brand and even by...

Hot picks in energy stocks.(finance)
October 1, 2003... Wall Street remains cautious regarding the energy sector as a whole, with most investment and research firms holding a "neutral" rating on the industry group. However, there are some individual issues that warrant merit, qualifying as a "hot...

Exclusive to EL&P: composite energy index increases more than 16 percent for 2003.(finance)
October 1, 2003... 2003 continues to be a strong year for utility-related stocks and stocks in general. The C Three Group's Composite Energy Index is up 16.3 percent for the year, slightly outpacing both the S&P 500 (15.8 percent) and the Dow Utilities (14.2...

Exelon aims to buy Illinois Power.(Finance Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Exelon aims to buy Illinois Power: Exelon is in talks to buy Illinois Power from Dynegy Inc. for an undisclosed amount. If its acquisition succeeds, it will switch Illinois Power to the PJM Interconnection LLC. Dynegy had already committed...

Progress Energy sells gas distribution co.(Finance Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Progress Energy sells gas distribution co.: Progress Energy completed the sale of a local natural gas distribution company, North Carolina Natural Gas Corp., to Piedmont Natural Gas Co., Charlotte, N.C., for proceeds of $425 million, which it...

K.C. investment banking firm completes deals for two coop clients.(Finance Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... K.C. investment banking firm completes deals for two coop clients: Christenberry Collet & Co. served as financial advisor to Midwest Energy Inc. in its acquisition of certain electric service territory from Westar Energy Inc. and to Home...

Blackout not expected to affect near-term credit quality of electric utilities.(Finance Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Blackout not expected to affect near-term credit quality of electric utilities: Moody's Investors Services did note, however, that several issues could impact credit quality in the future, such as potential changes in public policy...

Top customer service issues facing utility professionals.(information technology customer systems)(Industry Overview)
October 1, 2003... The past few years have seen utilities getting back to the basics. As such, there s more emphasis on providing topnotch customer service and products related to the core business. Chartwell research reveals some recent issues facing today's...

The business problem: uncollected bad debt severely compromises your bottom line. And just like the weather, nothing can be done about it.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2003... Assessing and resolving delinquent accounts is challenging if you operate in regulated utility environments. Unlike banks and credit card companies, who virtually have a free hand in collecting and recovering bad debt through a myriad of...

The business solution: you can instantly recover millions of dollars of bad debt through InoVision's proven solution for utilities.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2003... When an account is sent to bad debt recovery, it is valued at zero, and any recovery is considered ancillary income. InoVision takes this process one step further, creating a finite life for accounts receivable for regulated industries and...

Strategically tangible benefits: a win-win proposition on all strategic fronts including bottom line and cash flow optimization, fair and equitable treatment of the customers, and improved workforce utilization.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2003... Through its proprietary accounts receivable management solution, InoVision offers a proven and safe way for utility credit managers to resolve past due accounts to minimize losses and cost while maximizing income. The results extend far beyond...

Utilities' IT spending shows recovery: priority is fixing vs. replacement.(IT executives roundtable)(information technology)(Interview)
October 1, 2003... IT spending at most utilities over the last two years or so has been limited, to say the least. For many IT vendors, sales have been anything but stellar in this sector. However, there appear to be some signs of revival. IDC, a global...

Intermountain gas company selects customer watch[TM] Software.(Conversant provides customer care and billing software)
October 1, 2003... For more than ten years Intermountain Gas Company in Boise had been searching for appropriate technology to replace their reliable, yet aging, legacy system. With 240,000 natural gas customers throughout southern Idaho, the company...

Enhance your business with new payment options.(Utilities could benefit from using MasterCard cards)
October 1, 2003... Through deregulation, federal and state government reforms and rising competition, utilities are faced with tough challenges. There is increasing pressure to reduce costs and increase operating efficiencies, while at the same time, providing...

PACE accuses USEC of "bumbling" at uranium enrichment plant.(generation)(U.S. Enrichment Corp. faces at least two more years of weak profits and high debt)
October 1, 2003... Nashville, Tenn. The U.S. Enrichment Corp., operator of the nation's only remaining uranium enrichment plant, faces at least two more years of weak profits and high debt, while lacking the ability to finance construction of a new...

Dana expands.(Quick facts: the fuel cell market)(Dana Corp. is opening new Fuel Cell Support Centers in Rugby, England, and Toyohashi, Japan)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Dana expands: Dana Corp. announced that it is expanding its global engineering network by opening new Fuel Cell Support Centers in Rugby. England. and Toyohashi, Japan, The two new support centers complement facilities in Neu-Ulm. Germany:...

PolyFuel receives grant.(Quick facts: the fuel cell market)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... PolyFuel receives grant: PolyFuel, a provider of fuel cell membrane technology for portable applications, announced that it has been awarded a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Advanced Technology...

GTI reports results.(Quick facts: the fuel cell market)(Gas Technology Institute, in cooperative program with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), develops membrane for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... GTI reports results: Gas Technology Institute (GTI), in a cooperative program with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), reported that a new membrane developed by GTI for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells has substantially improved direct...

Avista receives certification.(Quick facts: the fuel cell market)(Approval for its 1 kW Independence 1000 fuel cell product)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Avista receives certification: Avista Labs has received approvals from CE and CSA for its 1 kW Independence 1000 fuel cell product. The CE mark on a product indicates that a company has met all applicable performance and safety requirements for...

Harvest has successful demonstration.(Quick facts: the fuel cell market)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Harvest has successful demonstration: Harvest Energy Technology Inc. (HET) announced the successful demonstration of its Steam Methane Reformer (SMR) fuel processor at the Canadian National Exhibition during the 'Green Day' event held at the...

Delphi tests coal.(Quick facts: the fuel cell market)(Delphi Corp. shows that its Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance Generation-2 solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) can use coal derived fuel gas for power)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Delphi tests coal: Delphi Corp. has proven that its Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Generation-2 solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) can use coal derived fuel gas for power. The feasibility study took place in June 2003 at the Power...

Sustainable energy expands customer base.(Quick facts: the fuel cell market)(Sustainable Energy Technologies delivers several bi-directional, grid-interactive inverters to a leading developer of stationary fuel cell systems)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Sustainable energy expands customer base: Sustainable Energy Technologies announced that it has completed deliveries of several bi-directional, grid-interactive inverters to a leading developer of stationary fuel cell systems. The product...

NREL team wins awards.(Generation Briefs)(National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and First Solar are chosen to receive 2003 R&D 100 award from R&D Magazine )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... NREL team wins awards: The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and First Solar have been selected to receive a 2003 R&D 100 award from R&D Magazine for developing a new process for depositing semiconductor...

HECO puts out RFP.(Generation Briefs)(Renewable Hawaii Inc issued renewable energy request for proposal for islands of Maul, Molokai and Lanai)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... HECO puts out RFP: Renewable Hawaii Inc., the renewable energy subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) issued a renewable energy request for proposal (RFP) for the islands of Maul, Molokai and Lanai. Proposals are due by Dec. 4, 2003, with...

GE upgrades turbines.(Generation Briefs)(GE Aero Energy gets contract to upgrade gas turbines at Northland Power Income Fund's cogeneration plant in Iroquois Falls, Ontario, Canada)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... GE upgrades turbines: GE Aero Energy, a GE Power Systems business, has been awarded a contract to upgrade gas turbines at Northland Power Income Fund's cogeneration plant in Iroquois Falls, Ontario, Canada. Under the terms of the contract, GE...

Cinergy to reduce greenhouse gases.(Generation Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Cinergy to reduce greenhouse gases: Cinergy Corp. has pledged to voluntarily take actions stabilizing its greenhouse gas emissions at five percent below 2000 levels in 2010 through 2012. To achieve this goal, Cinergy is partnering with...

FPL asks for more.(Generation Briefs)(Florida Power & Light Co. needs to increase its power resources in 2007)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... FPL asks for more: Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) stated that it will need to increase its power resources in 2007 to respond to significant growth in the state. Both utility-owned plants and merchant power are being considered. Final...

Transmission right-of-way transforms into wildlife habitat.(transmission & distribution)(Atchafalaya River Basin, Entergy power lines and a wildlife refuge co-exist where Entergy's Webre-Richard 500 kV transmission line crosses part of Louisiana's Sherburne Wildlife Management Area)
October 1, 2003... In Louisiana's ancient upper Atchafalaya River Basin, Entergy power lines and a wildlife refuge co-exist where the New Orleans-based energy company's Webre-Richard 500 kV transmission line crosses part of Louisiana's Sherburne Wildlife...

Study says size does matter.(T&D Briefs)(Importance of good management in utilities)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Study says size does matter: A recent study by R.J. Rudden Associates, which looked at the T&D operations of more than 100 utilities in 1996 and 2002, concluded that size does matter, but good management matters more. The author of "T&D...

Itron, SmartSynch team.(T&D Briefs)(Itron reaches deal with Madison Gas & Electric for the latter to buy 1,200 solid-state electricity meters equipped with SmartSynch's SmartMeter technology)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Itron, SmartSynch team: Itron has reached an agreement with Madison Gas & Electric for the Wisconsin-based utility to purchase 1,200 solid-state electricity meters equipped with SmartSynch's SmartMeter technology. The utility recently completed...

New Brunswick implements StakeOut.(T&D Briefs)(StakeOut is MiniMax Corp's field design system)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... New Brunswick implements StakeOut: MiniMax Corp. announced that New Brunswick Power will implement StakeOut, the company's field design system. New Brunswick Power plans to use StakeOut to improve communication between their five regional...

Cobb to deploy Intergraph.(T&D Briefs)(Cobb Electric Membership Corporation buys Intergraph's InService suite )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Cobb to deploy intergraph: Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (Cobb EMC) has purchased Intergraph's InService suite for outage and mobile workforce management. Cobb EMC, located in Marietta, Ga., will use InService to replace its manual...

Dynegy chooses OM.(T&D Briefs)(OM will provide systems and operations solutions for Dynegy's entry as active participant into Midwest ISO market)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Dynegy chooses OM: Dynegy has selected OM to provide systems and operations solutions for Dynegy's entry as an active participant into the Midwest ISO market. OM will provide Dynegy with POMAX Administrator, which offers trading, contract...

Chicago Ridge to go demand response.(T&D Briefs)(Electric City enters into deal with Chicago Ridge to participate in development of 50 MW power curtailment system for Commonwealth Edison)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Chicago Ridge to go demand response: Electric City has entered into an agreement with Chicago Ridge to participate in the development of a 50 MW power curtailment system for Commonwealth Edison.

Southern increases commitment.(T&D Briefs)(Extends Power of Flight bird habit conservation partnership with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Southern increases commitment: Southern Company recently extended its Power of Flight bird habit conservation partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for another four years. Also, the company announced a separate partnership...

What employees want.(management methods)(Guidelines for how managers should communicate with employees)
October 1, 2003... An informal survey of workers in various industries confirms what most managers have long suspected--communications between them and their people could be vastly improved. The employees were asked to appraise their managers' methods of...

How bright art thou? Power quiz on industry abbreviations.
October 1, 2003... 1 MW stands for... A.) mashed watts B.) megawatts C.) mercurial watts 2 AC/DC is... A.) alternating current/direct current B.) a bad 1980s metal band C.) allotted circuit/direct circuit 3 The abbreviation...

Events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... OCTOBER 21-24 EMACS 2003 Chartwell (800/432-5879) www.emacsconference.com Orlando 27-28 Mexican Energy Center for Business Intelligence (781/939-2490) www.cbinet.com Houston NOVEMBER 2-7...