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Latest News From The T&D Industry

Pathways Initiative Proposes Regional Organization to Oversee Western Power Markets

In a landscape characterized by evolving energy demands and increasing pressure to transition to renewable sources, the Pathways Initiative is proposing a significant restructuring of power market oversight in the Western United States. This initiative seeks to create a regional organization that would manage and coordinate power markets, including the Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) and the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM). The proposal reflects a broader recognition of the complexities and challenges inherent in managing a...

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Climate Change News

Climate Change and Political Responses

As the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, discussions around climate change continue to shape the political landscape. Recent events have brought to light the complex dynamics between candidates, their environmental policies, and the lingering influence of former President Donald Trump’s...

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Utility News

Bruce Power expansion gets $50M in federal funding

In a significant move toward bolstering Canada's clean energy capabilities and addressing the increasing demand for electricity, the federal government has announced a $50 million investment in the expansion of the Bruce Power nuclear plant. This initiative marks a pivotal moment as Ottawa's most...

Utility News

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,...

Lineman Safety

fall protection testing

Testing Conditions and Guidelines for Personal Fall Protection Systems

1. PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS

(A) GENERAL TEST CONDITIONS

Lifelines, lanyards, and deceleration devices should be attached to an anchorage and connected to the body-belt or body harness in the same manner as they would be when used to protect employees, except that lanyards should be tested only when connected directly to the anchorage, and not when connected to a lifeline.
The anchorage should be rigid, and should not have a deflection greater than .04 inches (1 cm) when a force of 2,250 pounds (10.01 Kn) is applied.
The frequency response of the load measuring instrumentation should be 100 Hz.
...

The Hidden Risk Shift: Why Line Work Is Getting More Dangerous Even as Equipment Improves

The Paradox Facing Modern Line Work

By most measurable standards, line work should be safer today than it was a generation ago. Arc-rated clothing is more comfortable and more widely worn. Insulated tools are lighter, stronger, and better maintained. Work methods are more clearly documented, and safety rules are reinforced through training and audits. Yet serious injuries and fatalities continue to occur, often during routine tasks and often involving experienced linemen. This paradox suggests that the industry has focused heavily on improving protection while paying less attention to how risk itself has evolved.  

Risk Drift and the Normalization of...

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Safety Best Practices

Fall Protection: The ABCs of Connecting Devices

A personal fall protection arrest system (PFAS) is comprised of three vital components: an anchorage, body wear (full-body harnesses), and a connecting device (a shock-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline). The safety of at-height workers depends on these three components, and each one...
Safety Technologies

Electrical Safety for First Responders

 How Smart Grid technologies can become an electrical hazard to rescue workers Smart Grid technologies have risen to prominence in North America. Media outlets, industry experts, vendors, and utilities all echo the same positive sentiments regarding a digitized power grid. However, new...
Safety Technologies

Flame-Resistant Clothing Misconceptions

Misconceptions about using flame-resistant clothing BY DAN BONELLI, Cintas Corporation According to Michael Hyland, chair of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and vice president of engineering services with the American Public Power Association, a 1970s electrical utility commercial...