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Substation Automation T&D


4 Benefits of Distribution Automation in a Decentralized Energy World

When dozens of utilities received stimulus funds for distribution automation projects in 2009, solar was barely a gigawatt-scale market in the U.S. Sandy was simply a lead character in Grease, not a superstorm that would prompt cities and states to reassess the future-readiness of their...

Energy Storage & Grid Integration


Smart Grid Network Best Practices

The Smart Grid is changing the way utilities generate, manage, and deliver electricity. The benefits are numerous as Smart Grid technologies help utilities save time, money, resources and improve customer service. If on the verge of Smart Grid innovation, electric utilities should follow the...

Utility Automation & Monitoring T&D


Underground Smart Grid

In recent years, the cost to bury high-voltage power lines has decreased dramatically. The American Transmission Company reports that installation costs for underground transmission lines (over 100 kilovolts) are now only 2.5 to 10 times the cost of an equivalent overhead line. Consequently, the...

Asset Management & Maintenance


The End of the Road for Transmission Incentives

In a significant shift, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has decided to abandon its transmission incentives policy, particularly the construction work in progress (CWIP) incentives. This decision marks a pivotal change in how transmission projects are financed and regulated,...

Smart Metering T&D


Writing Smart Grid Requirements

Managing change with positive thinking to make the most of investments BY JOHN MCDONALD, IEEE Senior Member, GE Energy Management - Digital Energy The process of writing requirements for Smart Grid-related technology purchases may appear simple and straightforward. It is not. As the technology...

Distribution Automation


Distribution Management Ecosystems

How utilities can yield significant operational benefits BY JEFF WALZ, Siemens Smart Grid As North American electric utilities continue to transform their existing electric delivery assets into a smarter grid, strong emphasis is placed on systems, products, and services that provide value in...

T&D Automation

Leveraging the Voice Radio Network for Data Transmission

Improving communications for electric utilities

BY MIKE KOCH, Motorola Solutions

Utility management has never been an easy profession. The stakes rose dramatically when the U.S. government designated energy and communications as two of the top industries of all 16 critical infrastructure industries. Utility managers must live up to the reality of this vital designation. Yet, this designation as critical infrastructure provokes potential contradictions with the realities of for-profit utilities that must also watch bottom-line costs...

T&D Automation Articles