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New Solar Metric Replaces FICO for Low-Income Households

In a recent development in the solar energy sector, a new qualification metric is being introduced to better assess eligibility for solar programs among low-income households. This innovative approach seeks to replace traditional FICO credit scores, which have been criticized for disproportionately disadvantaging low-income families. The new metric aims to make solar energy more accessible and equitable, marking a significant shift in how solar programs assess financial eligibility.

The Limitations of FICO Scores

FICO credit...

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Clean Energy Stakeholders Push to Preserve IRA Tax Credits

As the U.S. energy landscape shifts towards cleaner, renewable sources, stakeholders in the solar, storage, and broader clean energy sectors are intensifying their lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., aiming to secure the future of critical tax incentives introduced under the Inflation Reduction...


T&D Trends



Overhead 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 number of underground transmission line projects has exploded in recent years and the number of underground high-voltage power lines operating in the United States have dramatically increased.

To date, overhead lines, for the most part, have been first choice for utilities interested in adding new distribution to the power grid. Underground distribution has remained their second choice due to cost, accessibility, worker safety, and other reasons. However, the adoption of underground lines is gaining traction in the industry, due to their resistance to many forms of natural disasters, and the desire of many real estate developers to reduce the visibility of electrical infrastructure.

Despite the...

Overhead


ARCOS Callout and Scheduling Solutions

Using the ARCOS Callout and Scheduling solutions, GVEA’s supervisors, dispatchers and line workers, among others, will be able to plan, launch and track the status of automated, after-hours calls for emergency crews from their desktops, tablets and smartphones. GVEA will begin rolling out the...

Underground


Detecting Faults in Underground Networks

Enhancing protection using directional faulted circuit indicators BY CHRISTOPHER EVANICH, Thomas & Betts Underground electrical networks provide reliable service to end users, but create problems for utility personnel in locating faults. Electric utilities who utilize an underground network...

Infrastructure


The Three R's: Reducing the Environmental Impact of SF6

Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Gas is used as an electrical insulator and arc suppressant in high and medium voltage electrical equipment in the electrical power utility and industrial power industries. SF6 is also used in medical devices, metal production and other manufacturing applications. The same...