Utility Automation & Engineering T&D articles from April 2009

Utility Automation & Engineering T&D archives from April 2009

The green grid.(From the Editor)(Vegetation management in electric utilities)(Editorial)
April 1, 2009... Spring never comes too early for me. I am always ready for longer, warmer days, even though they mean I must get started on a long list of labor-intensive outside jobs. In Oklahoma, longer, warmer days are perfect for growing weeds, especially...

TechAdvantage meets Mardi Gras.(NOTES)
April 1, 2009... This year, the TechAdvantage Conference & Expo coincided with the opening of Mardi Gras in a wet and rainy February down New Orleans way. During my three days in The Big Easy, I ran into five Mardi Gras parades (four entirely by accident), one...

Q4 T&D market index reflects broad economic slowdown.(NOTES)
April 1, 2009... Denali Intelligence, a market research firm for sourcing professionals, recently released its 2008 fourth quarter (Q4) T&D Market Index. The Denali Intelligence T&D Market Index is based on detailed analysis of 11 critical spend categories that...

Smart grid's impact on customer adoption and market participants.
April 1, 2009... Undoubtedly, all things smart grid will dramatically change the landscape of the electric industry. While all this is needed, it begs two related questions, what about customer adoption and the impact on market participants? One of the key...

Eye on Europe.(trade show)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... POWERGRID EUROPE OPENS WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE IET: The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) will open POWERGRID Europe 2009 with an end-to-end discussion of the T&D industry at this collaborative turning point. The IET session...

Your tech needs to talk: resolving intelligent network interoperability challenges.
April 1, 2009... As the power and information technology industries work together to breathe life into the shared vision of a smart grid, there is no question that modern utility intelligent networks (UlNs) can help utilities achieve their smart grid...

It's good to be King: an interview with the president of National Grid, U.S.(united states)(Interview)(Editorial)
April 1, 2009... Here at Utility Automation and Engineering T&D magazine, we've always concentrated on technology--all the elaborate, expensive, intricate systems that move power from the plant to your home. But, technology doesn't come about from thin air; no...

Integrating variable renewable generation in utility operations.
April 1, 2009... Climate change, global recession, energy and water security are among the web of challenges in today's world. Undoubtedly, the first, climate change, is inextricably linked to the others and is perhaps the greatest challenge. One way to...

The Field PC from PMI.(GIS/MOBILE COMPUTING)
April 1, 2009... The Field PC from Power Monitors, Inc. (PMI[R])--a perfect match for the unforgiving world of outdoor data collection, real-time information analysis, and wireless connectivity. The Field PC adds a new dimension to the concept of a...

Environment determines choice of computer.(GIS/MOBILE COMPUTING)
April 1, 2009... The computer has moved from the office into the field. Today, people who perform GIS functions in demanding environments use rugged mobile computers that are specifically designed to guard against water and dust, operate in high and low...

Moducom lowers communication costs through advanced technology.(GIS/MOBILE COMPUTING)
April 1, 2009... WHY IS MODUCOM THE MOST COST. EFFECTIVE & ADVANCED DISPATCH CONSOLE ON THE MARKET? When you are looking for cost-efficiency, you can't just look at price. You have to look at the total value and long term costs of the entire console...

Field force transformed for the 21st century.
April 1, 2009... Utilities with large and distributed field workforces have long used the latest mobile technologies to improve customer service and increase worker productivity. In the past 10 years, more than 80 percent of such companies in North America and...

Using AMI for outage notification at PECO.(advanced metering infrastructure)(PECO Energy Co.)
April 1, 2009... Outage management process improvement is one of the most sought-after benefits of implementing an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solution, according to a recent Chartwell AMI report. To realize AMI-related outage-management benefits, a...

Safety in the field: herbicide best-management practices.
April 1, 2009... Transmission and distribution lines are assets for utility companies, so managing the vegetation along those lines is necessary asset management. Vegetation management is often one of the largest maintenance line items in electric utility...

Pull-out shelves cabinet.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2009... Brooks Utility Products Group has added ergonomics to the conveniences of primary metering cabinets with its new ELECTRAK, a galvanized steel cabinet with roll-out shelves that can hold up to 400 pounds. The design means that utility workers...

Brush cutter web site.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2009... A new Geo-Boy Brush Cutter Web site was recently unveiled by land-clearing and utility ROW maintenance equipment manufacturer, Jarraff Industries, of St. Peter, Minn. The site features an intuitive navigation system that allows users to quickly...

Digital Voltage Indicator.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2009... HD Electric Co.'sDVI-100T Digital Voltage Indicator with Capacitive Test Point Mode is a new addition to the Digital Voltage Indicator line. This unit is a direct-contact, compact instrument designed to read the voltage on a conductor up to...

Modular wiring device.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2009... The Arrow Hart modular wiring device by Cooper Wiring provides superior speed and consistency to lower installation costs. The modular connections increase trim-out speed more than 2 to 1. In addition, connector leads are prepped, stripped and...

Weather tracking software.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2009... DTN/Meteorlogix, the leading business information services company focused on agricultural, energy and weather business markets, announced that ACCIONA Energy North America, a leader in renewable energies including wind power and wind parks has...

Calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2009... APRIL 19 22 2009 Geospatial Infrastructure Solution Conference GITA www.gita.org/gis/ Tampa, Fla. 22 23 Wind Power Transmission and Distribution 2009 VIBevents www.windpowertd-events.com Glasgow, UK 27...

One alternative to new power generation infrastructure: demand response.
April 1, 2009... Building excess power generation infrastructure can ensure a consistent supply of electricity during unexpected system emergencies. Unfortunately, such generation is expensive to construct and often lies idle and unused. The possibility that a...