Utility Automation & Engineering T&D articles from July 2006

Utility Automation & Engineering T&D archives from July 2006

Wind on the wires?(FROM THE EDITOR)(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... Spirits, numbers and expectations were high at WindPower 2006 in Pittsburgh this year. Approximately 5,000 attendees (an all-time high) at the American Wind Energy Association's annual conference and exhibition celebrated two back-to-back...

Transmission a hot topic at EEI's annual meeting.(NEWS)(Edison Electric Institute)
July 1, 2006... James Rogers, president and CEO of Duke Energy, has been elected chairman of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the national trade association of shareholder-owned electric companies, international affiliates and industry associates...

Record attendance seen at ABB's Automation World.(NEWS)(ABB's Automation World Conference & Exhibition)(Conference notes)
July 1, 2006... From May 8 through May 11, over 2,500 people from more than 40 countries gathered at the Hilton Americas in Houston to attend ABB's Automation World Conference & Exhibition, an event ABB sponsors for its own companies, investors, vendors,...

Wind has "arrived," but will transmission follow?(NEWS)
July 1, 2006... A distinct sense of pride permeated the air at Pittsburgh, Pa.'s David L. Lawrence Convention Center when the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) conducted its annual conference and exhibition there in June. The event attracted more than...

E.ON Sweden selects metering system.(NEWS)(E.ON Sverige AB)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Sweden's largest utility, E.ON Sverige AB, has selected Echelon's NES System for deployment to 370,000 customers in the Malmo, Orebro and Stockholm areas. Echelon expects shipments to begin in the fourth quarter of 2006 and continue throughout...

California ISO plans for renewables boom.(NEWS)
July 1, 2006... With thousands of megawatts in new wind, geothermal and solar generation due on line in California over the next five years to meet the state's renewable generation targets, the California ISO is working on a comprehensive strategy to integrate...

Illinois muni selects Cellnet for AMI.(NEWS)(advanced metering infrastructure)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Cellnet Technology Inc. has executed an agreement with City of Geneseo, Ill., as its advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) provider. The contract calls for the deployment of the Cellnet wireless mesh network radio infrastructure, new electric...

Black & Veatch identifies 'big 10' challenges to electric industry.(NEWS)
July 1, 2006... The electric industry and its regulators--after years of restructuring--now face an unprecedented set of 10 challenges which, if not adequately addressed, could threaten power system integrity and lead to significant rate increases, according...

Asplundh brings e-vegetation management solution to market.(NEWS)
July 1, 2006... Asplundh Tree Expert Co. has signed a license and distribution agreement to bring its eVMS (electronic vegetation management solution) to its customers in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. The solution allows...

The current status of control system cybersecurity.
July 1, 2006... Much has been written lately concerning control system cybersecurity. Most often, it has been referred to as SCADA security. The purpose of this article is to attempt to bring some clarity and understanding of the issues. Currently, there is...

Bridging the office and the field.
July 1, 2006... Within the North American utility industry, the marketplace for mobile workforce management (MWFM) applications is robust. For the last two years in North America, utilities have issued more RFPs for MWFM than back-office work and asset...

How 'microgrids' are poised to alter the power delivery landscape.
July 1, 2006... The electric power industry is in the midst of a critical period in its evolution. The re-regulation of the industry has resulted in the creation of self-locating merchant generation and wholesale electric power markets that are using the...

KCP & L protects underground network grid through automation.
July 1, 2006... In 2003 and 2004, Kansas City Power & Light's (KCP & L's) network customers experienced several outages, jeopardizing the utility's goal to maintain great customer relations and a high quality of service. In addition, concern arose when three...

Wisconsin electric co-op embraces in-house thermography.(GETTING EQUIPPED)(Adams Columbia Electric Coop.)
July 1, 2006... The Adams Columbia Electric Cooperative (ACEC) serves about 35,000 members in 12 mostly rural counties in central Wisconsin. Many members are dairy farmers, but the cooperative also serves about 13,000 seasonal residences, 600 irrigation...

Spill prevention.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Andax Environmental Corp. offers a solution for fully containing transformer oil leaks: the Transformer Sac. This heavy duty containment system completely encapsulates the transformer--catching and containing oil leaks at the source. The Sac...

Mobile GIS.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Tensing USA announced the availability of its SPY .NET suite of mobile products, a mobile GIS solution based on the Microsoft .Net framework. This platform-independent suite will run on any Windows-driven device that utilizes the .NET Framework...

Panel-mounted meter.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Yokogawa Corp. of America introduces the PR300, a new addition to the POWERCERT family of panel-mounted power and energy meters. It was developed for worldwide use with universal mounting options (DIN or ANSI), universal wiring from lp2w to...

Wood pole repair.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... GRA Services International has developed a twin sleeve, pre-molded fiberglass restoration system for both wood and composite utility structures. GRA Services' fiberglass repair system (FRS) is easy to install, requires limited crew size and...

Ethernet switch module.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... GarrettCom Inc. has integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports into its line of Magnum 6K Series managed Ethernet switches to provide a clean and cost-effective solution to supporting PoE appliances. GarrettCom's expanded PoE offerings now...

Mobile application.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Intergraph Corp.'s OneMobile application for utility and communications companies provides an end-to-end, real-time information link between field service technicians and the corporate back office. Until now, field personnel have had to rely on...

Cutout tool.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... A unique 4-way hot line tool for cutout fuseholders provides a simple means for full control during all operations. Chance introduced the lightweight, one-piece casting to perform all functions required: lift out, placement, opening and closing...

Platform-independent SCADA.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution Inc. announces a new release of its Spectrum Power TG platform-independent SCADA solution. The new version supports a 32-bit Linux operating system, which allows the user to deploy personal computer...

Optical current sensor.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... NxtPhase T & D Corp. has introduced the NXCT-F3 flexible optical current sensor. The latest addition to the NxtPhase range of optical CTs, the NXCT-F3's flexible, fiber optic head wraps around high voltage bushings, generator bus or other...

Distribution Planning.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... LODESTAR Distribution Planning is a web-based product built specifically for electric and gas distribution companies. LODESTAR Distribution Planning is an intuitive application that enables energy companies to plan for future equipment needs...

Rigging sling.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Safe Shop Tools Inc. has a new version of its BoaGrip below-the-hook rigging sling. The BoaGrip uses patented grippers to hold tight to the shaft of any kind of utility pole: tapered or straight; metal or wood; wet or dry. When the BoaGrip is...

Meter security.(NEW PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2006... Brook Utility Products Group is expanding its line of high-security meter security devices. One new line of products being introduced is the I-3 and I-4 Series of stainless steel barrel locks that are comparable to the Jimi/3 Dot and the Mark...

Calendar.
July 1, 2006... DistribuTECH 2007: The utility industry's most comprehensive conference on automation, information technology and T & D engineering. Feb. 4-6, 2007. San Diego, CA // Phone: 918.832.9265 // www.distributech.com SEPTEMBER 11-12 Smart...

Future-proofing distribution.(SMART ENERGY PERSPECTIVES)
July 1, 2006... Last month, we talked about the smart grid at the tipping point--about the convergence of changes, regulations and technical advances driving a new era of grid modernization. This time, I'd like to focus on what distribution utilities are doing...