Smart Grid Observer

Grid Modernization

NYPA and AT&T to Assess Climate Change Impact on Utility and Telecommunications Industries
September 2, 2021

"The utility and telecommunications industries are interdependent, especially in an emergency, and this collaboration will help us both be able to mitigate potential costly events related to our climate," said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA's president and CEO. "As part of this climate study, researchers will use hyper-localized climate data to help inform and plan smart infrastructure investments for optimal resiliency and reliability. This will help us be better positioned to be more prepared for climate-based events." more

Duquesne Light Company Investing in New Technology to Enhance Grid Capacity and Reliance
September 1, 2021

Duquesne Light Company recently partnered with LineVision to install no-contact sensors on several transmission towers across DLC's service territory, which serves 600,000-plus customers. The pilot project, which began in July, uses real-time and forecasted dynamic line ratings to monitor transmission conductors and uncover additional grid capacity with the purpose of making service more resilient, efficient and affordable. more

California ISO Launches New Tools for More Refined Grid Outlook
August 30, 2021

Resource adequacy (RA) is capacity owned or contracted by utilities and other load-serving entities and obligated for the reliable operation of the grid. Any energy needed beyond that must be procured in the market. With the new data, users can monitor the amount of RA capacity that is available compared to the forecasted needs of the system. more

Gridmetrics Launches Power Event Notification System (PENS)
August 24, 2021

PENS utilizes a unique dataset to provide near real-time, hyperlocal insights into the availability and quality of power from the electrical grid. By providing an observational view of the state of power in the last mile of the distribution grid, PENS aids in the identification of power vulnerable populations or facilities. more

Hitachi ABB Power Grids Launches Next-Generation Grid Stabilization Solution
August 23, 2021

The SVC Light Enhanced solution comprises an SVC Light STATCOM which provides vital reactive power to balance the impact of renewables. It also incorporates supercapacitors which store hundreds of megawatt-seconds of energy and automatically release it within milliseconds when disturbances occur, thus reducing reliance on conventional power plants. more

PowerSecure Partners with Endeavour to Scale Next-Generation Power Infrastructure
August 19, 2021

PowerSecure, a Southern Company subsidiary, this week announced a new strategic partnership with sustainable infrastructure company Endeavour to roll out Endeavour's patented GridBlock platform for utilities. GridBlock technology simplifies integration of photovoltaics, energy storage and advanced DC services such as electric vehicle fleet charging, while also providing new tools to improve grid resiliency. more

New NYPA Application Monitors Grid Stress and Detects Power Outages in Real Time
August 16, 2021

The New York Power Authority (NYPA), along with partners in a U.S. Department of Energy-funded project, developed a monitoring and analytics application that uses phasor measurements unit (PMU) data streams to provide a real time assessment of the state's electric grid stress and forward intelligence about impending problems to system operators. more

GridWise Alliance Praises Senate Bipartisan Infrastructure Group on Electric Grid Investments
August 11, 2021

"We are excited to see more than $70 billion in funding that is in line with the GridWise Alliance's recommendations for grid investments," said Karen Wayland, CEO of the GridWise Alliance. "The Senate has recommended $11 billion for grid resilience and $3 billion to enhance grid flexibility, among many other programs. more

PG&E Briefs Financial Community on the Company's 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Work and Future Infrastructure Plans
August 10, 2021

Approximately 150 members of the financial community received an in-depth briefing at PG&E's Wildfire Command Center in San Ramon, Calif., where company leaders track daily progress in key areas such as electric system hardening, miles of power lines cleared of vegetation and trees, equipment inspections, weather status, and future risk-reduction work plans. more

Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company Uses AI to Assess and Repair Distribution Pole Damage
August 5, 2021

As part of its grid enhancement program, OG&E will leverage collaborative AI-powered image recognition technology that enables engineers to complete distribution pole inspections with greater accuracy and helps to reduce manual review of images. more

Exelon Utilities Announces Goal to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions By 2050
August 5, 2021

Exelon Utilities this week announced it will reduce its operations-driven emissions 50 percent by 2030 and ultimately to net-zero by 2050 as part of its continuing efforts to address the climate crisis. A division of Exelon Corporation, Exelon Utilities is composed of Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and PEPCO. The six utilities deliver electricity and gas to more than 10 million customers across five states and the District of Columbia. more

AES Collaborates with X, the Moonshot Factory on New Grid Virtualization Technologies
August 4, 2021

The AES Corporation recently announced that it is working with X, the moonshot factory (formerly Google X) to develop tools that enable additional clean energy resources to come onto the grid at a faster pace while improving grid reliability, optimizing operations and reducing costs. AES and X are using the tools to simulate and virtualize AES' distribution grids in Indiana and Ohio. The near real-time grid virtualization technologies will improve the customer experience by testing new ideas, optimizing the grid for renewables, improving reliability and building new efficiencies into the system. more

The 50 States of Grid Modernization Q2 2021: States Explore Market Reforms and Mechanisms to Accelerate Storage and Microgrid Development
July 29, 2021 | North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC)

The report finds that 47 states, as well as the District of Columbia, took actions related to grid modernization during Q2 2021, with the greatest number of actions relating to energy storage deployment (66), utility business model reforms (40), smart grid deployment (39), distribution system planning (33), and energy storage interconnection rules (31). more

California PUC Issues Draft Distributed Energy Resources Action Plan
July 26, 2021

The California Public Utilities Commission on July 23 issued a Draft Distributed Energy Resources Action Plan 2.0, intended to coordinate development and implementation of policy, and will host a public workshop to discuss the draft and solicit comments. The Action Plan will serve as a roadmap for CPUC decision-makers, staff, and stakeholders to facilitate forward-thinking policy and maximize ratepayer and societal value in an anticipated high-DER future. more

Atlantic City Electric Receives Approval to Build Smart Energy Network in South Jersey
July 15, 2021

Atlantic City Electric has received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to build a Smart Energy Network across the company's entire South Jersey service area, including upgrading the local energy grid and installing smart meters to enhance local energy grid reliability and resiliency and improve the customer experience. more

TVA Replacing Natural Gas Units, Supports Solar Growth
July 12, 2021

"TVA is a national leader, with 63% carbon-free generation and nearly 50% more renewable energy generation than our next closest regional peer," said Jacinda Woodward, senior vice president, Power Operations at TVA. "Natural gas helps us achieve a 70% reduction in emissions by 2030, 80% by 2035 and we believe it is possible, with new technologies, to achieve net-zero by 2050." more

Hydro One Invests in Smart Devices as Part of Grid Modernization
July 12, 2021

Since implementing the program in 2018, Hydro One has added more than 2,300 smart devices to its system, with plans to install approximately 500 devices this year. Energizing these smart devices in communities across the province has avoided 20 million customer minutes of power interruptions, the company reports. Currently, smart devices are deployed in 10 per cent of Hydro One's service territory. more

Landis+Gyr and National Grid Sign Contract for Landmark Grid Modernization Project
July 5, 2021

National Grid will deploy approximately 1.7 million advanced electricity meters and 640,000 smart gas meter modules across its Upstate New York service territory. Landis+Gyr's Gridstream Connect platform will provide networking, edge intelligence at meters and devices, enhanced access to energy usage information and grid analytics. more

GridWise Alliance Renews Call for Congress to Make Significant Investments In Nation's Electric Grid
June 30, 2021

Thirty-seven participants in the Grid Infrastructure Advisory Council, created by GridWise Alliance earlier this year, and GridWise member organizations signed-on to the 2-page request, which offers recommendations on how investments in the nation's electric system will make the grid more resilient, secure, and flexible. Collectively, the signatories on the letter represent $4 trillion of market capital, employ 1.6 million people in the United States, and represent 825,000 union workers. more

EPRI and Electric Industry Launch Initiative to Help Ensure Sufficient Electricity Supply
June 30, 2021

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) this week announced a new initiative to help ensure the ongoing ability to meet electricity demand by better anticipating and assessing risks to power supply resources due to extreme weather and other hazards. The initiative is designed to address emerging resource adequacy risks illustrated by recent power disruptions in areas including Texas and California. more

Consumers Energy Announces Plan to End Coal Use by 2025; Lead Michigan's Clean Energy Transformation
June 24, 2021

Consumers Energy this week announced a sweeping proposal to stop using coal as a fuel source for electricity by 2025, 15 years faster than currently planned. The plan would make the company one of the first in the nation to go coal-free and provide a 20-year blueprint to meet Michigan's energy needs while protecting the environment for future generations. more

Dominion Energy Virginia Focusing on Second Phase of Grid Transformation Plan
June 23, 2021

With Phase I of the Grid Transformation Plan (GT Plan) currently underway, Dominion Energy Virginia is now focusing its efforts on the second phase of the plan to provide smarter, stronger and greener energy solutions to customers. A new proposal filed with the State Corporation Commission (SCC) on June 21 outlines plans for Phase II and includes approximately $669 million in capital investment for the years 2022-2023. more

Con Edison Sustainability Report: Clean Energy, Climate Resiliency Key to Building Lasting Value
June 21, 2021

Through its Clean Energy Businesses, Con Edison reports that it is the second-largest generator of solar power in North America and the seventh largest worldwide. The company has committed to supplying its customers with 100 percent clean electricity by 2040. It has lowered its own carbon emissions by more than half since 2005, and supports New York's aggressive goals for climate change, clean energy and electric vehicles. more

PUCO Approves AES Ohio Settlement Agreement including Smart Grid
June 17, 2021

The order approves implementing Phase 1 of the AES Ohio Smart Grid Plan with a commitment to file Phase 2 within three years. AES Ohio now has resolution in other associated matters and a clear path to begin executing the company's plans to modernize its electric grid, providing all customers with benefits such as fewer outages and enhanced communication. The company plans to invest $249 million in capital projects over the next four years. more

TVA Accepts Bids for New Utility-Scale Solar and Battery Projects
June 15, 2021

The Tennessee Valley Authority is building the energy system of the future, and is calling on the nation's top utility-scale solar and battery storage developers to submit proposals for projects that can be completed by the end of 2024. Proposals must be submitted by July 20, 2021. Developers can review TVA's request for proposal and submit bids at www.tva.com/Information/Doing-Business-with-TVA. TVA will announce the selected projects this winter. more

ConEd Makes $1.5 Billion Investment in Grid Modernization
June 3, 2021

Con Edison has completed projects throughout New York City and Westchester County to maintain its network reliability while continuing to lead the state's shift toward renewables and other clean technologies. The company invested $1.5 billion on new cable, transformers, network protectors, switches and other components that make its electric-delivery system robust. more

Canada Invests Over $960 Million in Renewable Energy and Grid Modernization Projects
June 3, 2021

The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) supports building Canada's low-emissions energy future and a renewable, electrified economy through projects that focus on non-emitting, cleaner energy technologies, such as storage, and modernizing electricity system operations. more

EPRI Launches New Tool to Increase Grid Flexibility for the Clean Energy Transition
May 26, 2021

The tool provides a free, publicly accessible, open-source platform for calculating, understanding, and optimizing the value of DER based on their technical merits and constraints. DER-VET was developed in collaboration with the California Energy Commission (CEC). An extension of EPRI's StorageVET tool, DER-VET supports site-specific assessments for energy storage and additional DER technologies. more

Salt River Project Selects Emerson for Distribution Grid Modernization Project
May 26, 2021

Salt River Project (SRP), the largest electricity provider in the greater Phoenix area, has selected Emerson's OSI digital grid solutions to manage its distribution power grid, optimize operations and incorporate a growing supply of distributed energy resources. Emerson's technologies and smart grid platform will coordinate the utility's distribution operations that provide power to more than 1 million customers in central Arizona. more

Voters Across Six Key States Support Investments In Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Clean Energy, And Care Economy To Rebuild Economy
May 25, 2021

A survey of 1,607 registered voters, conducted by Hart Research from April 5-13, showed 90% percent of voters across six key states and across the political spectrum prioritize repairing and modernizing America's aging physical infrastructure and rebuilding and retooling American manufacturing to build more products and technology here in the United States, according to a new survey released this week by the BlueGreen Alliance. view survey results

Hawaiian Electric Develops Plan to Ramp Up Rooftop Solar, Other Customer Resources to Meet 100% Clean Energy Goals
May 11, 2021

"We simply do not have enough open land to sustainably balance renewable energy with other vital needs such as housing and local food supply. It's critical that all customers participate in this energy transformation in a fair and equitable way, even if they're unable to install rooftop solar," said Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president for customer service and public affairs. more

DOE Announces Up to $8.25 Billion in Loans to Enhance Electrical Transmission Nationwide
April 28, 2021

In support of the Biden Administration's commitment to modernize the nation's power grid and infrastructure and deliver 100% clean energy to businesses and homeowners by 2035, the U.S. Department of Energy this week announced the availability of up to $8.25 billion in loans from its Loan Programs Office (LPO) and the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) for efforts to expand and improve the nation's transmission grid. more

Results from the Energy Transition Project DESIGNETZ Presented
April 12, 2021

After more than four years of research and development work, the DESIGNETZ project (part of the SINTEG funding program), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and led by E.ON, presented its results today. 46 project partners have been working together since the beginning of 2017 in the model regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland to develop scalable solutions that can be used to realize a sustainable, secure and at the same time cost-efficient energy system. more

How Electric Industry Prices Resilience is Imperative to Withstand, Recover from Future Threats
April 6, 2021 | EPRI

In the wake of a record-setting hurricane season, extensive wildfire impacts, extreme winter weather that left millions without power, and rapidly evolving cybersecurity threats, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) recently released the results of a collaborative study on the value of grid resilience. The report culminates a year-long research project aiming to help industry stakeholders better determine the value of grid investments designed to enhance resilience against future threats. more

Intertrust Launches CleanGrid Toolkit for Energy Data Applications
April 5, 2021

Intertrust this week announced CleanGrid -- a new Intertrust Platform toolkit that helps energy companies and their vendors develop data-driven energy applications. The toolkit leverages Intertrust Platform's innovative features -- including data virtualization and data interoperability, data governance and secure execution environments -- and helps energy companies support consumer protection, data privacy, and other regulatory policies. more

EPRI CEO: An Integrated Approach is Key to Improving Resilience
April 1, 2021

In the wake of the Texas power crisis, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) President and CEO Dr. Arshad Mansoor said improved forecasting, cross-sectoral integration and a greater focus on the emerging roles of consumers and communities are key to improving the resilience of the nation's energy infrastructure. "Texas has just made it very clear - somebody needs to own an integrated view of resiliency across water, gas and electric," he said. more

Solving the Challenges of Integrating DERs into Grid Operations
March 31, 2021

When scaling to incorporate tens of thousands or millions of grid edge devices, utilities do not have the culture, technical expertise or processes necessary -- yet it is a critical learning process and absolutely required for success, according to according to James Mater, Co-Founder of QualityLogic. SGO talks with James about these and other critical issues surrounding standards in the evolving distributed energy industry. more

New Study Finds Power Reliability Continues to Hinder U.S. Companies Year Over Year, Sparking Need for Grid Investments
March 31, 2021

The report by S&C Electric and Frost & Sullivan revealed a dramatic increase in companies reporting short-duration outages as their most common power outage. Companies affected by momentary outages lasting less than five minutes jumped from 20 percent to 40 percent in one year, signifying outages are becoming more prevalent and noticeable because of their impact on operations. more

AEP Releases Climate Scenario Analysis
March 23, 2021

In February, AEP announced a new goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an interim target to cut emissions 80% from 2000 levels by 2030. AEP plans to add more than 10,000 megawatts of new renewable resources to its generation portfolio by 2030 and is investing in a smarter, more modern power grid and new energy technologies to help reach these goals. more

California Releases Report Charting Path to 100 Percent Clean Electricity
March 15, 2021 | CEC, CPUC and CARB

To reach 100% carbon-free energy by 2045, California will need to sustain its expansion of clean electricity generation capacity at a record-breaking rate for the next 25 years. On average, the state may need to build up to 6 gigawatts of new renewable and storage resources annually. By comparison over the last decade, the state has built on average 1 GW of utility solar and 300 megawatts of wind per year. Over the next three years, electricity providers regulated by the CPUC will add another 8 GW of clean energy resources. more

Work Underway to Enhance Penn Power's Electric System
March 11, 2021

Upgrades are part of Penn Power's second phase Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP II) and will benefit more than 25,000 customers in western Pennsylvania. The company's investments to upgrade the local energy grid have successfully reduced the number and length of outages customers experience by 20% in areas where work has been completed. more

White Paper: Why (and How) America Should Upgrade Our Vulnerable Electrical Grid
March 2, 2021 | IEEE-USA

"Today's electrical grid faces challenges as it transitions to a modern infrastructure that meets our needs in the 21st century," said Will Robinson, Vice President of Government Relations, IEEE-USA. "The grid must become more sustainable, resilient, and reliable, while remaining affordable to all customers. New threats require new approaches, and this report shows how we can get there." more

Electric Grid of the Future Should Prioritize Sustainability, Resiliency, Equity, Reliability, and Security, Says New Report
March 1, 2021

A new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides comprehensive recommendations for improving the U.S. electric power system so that it can adequately provide electricity to the nation in a safe, reliable, clean, resilient, and equitable way, especially as the U.S. pursues decarbonization of the energy supply. The report also recommends ways to accelerate innovations in technology, policy, and business models as global supply chains shift. more

Ameren Missouri Files Updated Smart Energy Plan with Missouri Public Service Commission
February 22, 2021

The $8.4 billion plan supports grid modernization efforts over the next five years, including installation of more than one million smart meters, more renewable generation, programs to stimulate economic growth for communities across Missouri and infrastructure upgrades that bolster reliability while enabling clean energy generation. more

EPRI CEO: In Wake of Texas, Electric Grid Planning Expected to Change to Address Climate Risk
February 19, 2021

EPRI recently released a technical report about the impacts of extreme events on the grid. EPRI scientists and engineers concluded that grid operator planning processes, including resource adequacy planning, typically don't consider extreme climate scenarios that a resilient grid must be able to handle going forward. Traditional planning processes do not represent how resources actually perform under extreme conditions. more

mPrest Collaborates with Microsoft to Empower the Digital Transformation of the Energy Industry
February 19, 2021

The collaboration will leverage the flexibility of cloud capabilities and the power of SaaS to deliver mPrest's orchestration and optimization platform on Azure to leading energy companies. It is seen as significantly expanding the adoption of cloud in Operations Technology (OT) and the integration between IT and OT in power utilities and other emerging energy market players around the world. more

Fluence's AI-Enabled Market Bidding Platform Selected to Optimize 182.5 MW Battery Energy Storage System in California
February 18, 2021

Using artificial intelligence, advanced price forecasting, portfolio optimization and market bidding algorithms, the software will ensure the system is responding optimally to market and reliability needs in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) wholesale market. By providing asset and portfolio managers with updated price forecasts and optimized bids every hour, PG&E will maximize the value of the asset for PG&E customers. more

Twelve States Announce Action Steps to Plan for Grid of the Future
February 15, 2021

The joint NARUC-NASEO initiative - the Task Force on Comprehensive Electricity Planning - presented findings on how states can lead the way in bringing together utilities and stakeholders to plan the grid of the future, impacting how billions of dollars will be invested on behalf of customers. The U.S. Department of Energy provided key support throughout the initiative. more

MPSC, EGLE Join 11 Other States to Examine Planning for Power Grid Amid Transition to Clean, Distributed Energy Sources
February 12, 2021

The Michigan Public Service Commission and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy participated in the nationwide Task Force on Comprehensive Electricity Planning, a joint effort by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). State energy officials from Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota and other states participated in the task force, which has been meeting since November 2018. more

SSEN Trials Innovative Technology to Predict and Prevent Power Cuts
February 3, 2021

Distribution Fault Anticipation (DFA) systems work by using high levels of sampling rates to identify network faults before they interrupt customers' power supplies. The DFA-Plus device monitors voltage and current on electricity circuits to detect the smallest of disturbances -- which traditional network protection systems may miss -- and then matches any abnormal waveforms with a cataloge of data to identify the most likely causes of the anomaly. more

RTE and IEA Publish Study on the Technical Conditions Necessary for a Power System With a High Share of Renewables
February 3, 2021

A new joint analysis commissioned by the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the IEA (International Energy Agency) and RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Electricité) describes four essential areas that policy makers must address when wind and solar PV start to dominate electricity generation: power system strength, system adequacy, operational reserves, and grid development. more

NYPA Trustees Advance Multi-Year Infrastructure Upgrade Projects to Strengthen Clean Energy Generation and Transmission Assets
January 29, 2021

The upgrade and modernization programs will advance NYPA's utility-wide digitization efforts and are foundational to NYPA's strategic plan, which was recently updated to strengthen the Authority's role in advancing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. more

Groundbreaking Flow Battery Project Helping to Advance Clean Energy Microgrids
January 25, 2021

Two years after becoming the first battery of its kind to be connected to the California grid to help support reliability and maximize the use of clean energy, the vanadium redox flow (VRF) battery based at a San Diego Gas & Electric substation is again breaking new ground. This time, the emerging battery technology is being tested as a means to help achieve zero-emission microgrids. more

Itron and Versant Power Collaborate to Modernize Electricity Grid in Maine
January 20, 2021

Itron, Inc. this week announced that Versant Power, an electric transmission and distribution utility serving nearly 160,000 customers in northern and eastern Maine, will deploy Itron's multi-purpose solution, including an IoT network and more than 160,000 distributed intelligence-enabled meters, to modernize its electricity grid. Versant Power plans to initiate some project activities in 2021 and meter installations are scheduled to begin in 2022. more

Latest Electrification Futures Study Report Explores How U.S. Power System Could Evolve With Widespread Electrification
January 18, 2021 | National Renewable Energy Laboratory

The EFS is a multiyear collaborative study designed to assess the potential impacts of widespread electrification in the United States. The study examines how future electrification could affect different parts of the energy system, including demand sectors (buildings, industrial, and transportation) and the electricity sector. more

City of Columbus, Ohio Upgrades to Smart Utility Network from Sensus
January 15, 2021

Both the city's Division of Water and Division of Power will share an integrated communication network.The technology upgrade will accurately measure water and electricity consumption, and rapidly detect leaks or power outages for over 1.2 million residents in and around Ohio's capital city. more

DOE Announces an Additional $47 Million in Funding for Commercial Scaling of Transformational Energy Technology Projects
January 13, 2021

"ARPA-E's SCALEUP program builds on the research and development mission of the agency to help take transformational energy technologies out of the lab and into the market," said ARPA-E Director Lane Genatowski. "These selections directly address the challenge that so many early-stage energy concepts face in scaling and will help awardees to bridge the dreaded "Valley of Death" and continue on the path of commercialization." more

PSE&G Gets Green Light to Provide Smart Meters in New Jersey
January 8, 2021

Public Service Electric & Gas received approval this week from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to invest approximately $700 million during the next four years to provide its 2.3 million electric customers with smart meters. The decision clears the way for the largest installation of smart meter technology in New Jersey history. more

GridWise Alliance Calls on Congress to Invest $50 Billion in the Nation's Electric Grid
December 18, 2020

The GridWise Alliance recently released its comprehensive "Policy Framework for Grid Investments in Economic Recovery", which specifically outlines the need for $50 billion in federal spending for grid modernization. This figure, a doubling from initial calls in September for $25 billion, highlights significant increases in infrastructure and manufacturing investments to help the country meet ambitious climate goals, build resilience, secure the grid against malicious attacks, and replace aging infrastructure. more

White Paper: California's Clean Energy Future - With More Solar, Batteries and EVs - Requires Reimagining the Power Grid
December 10, 2020 | Southern California Edison

"As electricity fuels a larger part of the economy, we must reimagine what the grid should look like in the future and how it will need to function in new ways to meet expanded needs," said Kevin Payne, president and CEO of SCE. Key changes for SCE include recognizing the increasing diversity of different regions' needs and moving from uniform grid architectures to more region-specific, modular grid designs. more

New Survey Finds More Countries Turning to Macro Grids to Enable Energy Transition
November 24, 2020

"Despite multiple research studies demonstrating the significant economic benefits of a Macro Grid, the U.S. now lags behind its peers with an antiquated electric grid and transmission system," said Tracy Warren, Director of the Macro Grid Initiative. "An advanced Macro Grid will help us compete internationally with countries that have already built high-voltage long distance lines, and it will also enable the integration of higher levels of renewable power." more

Schneider Electric Takes a Controlling Stake in ETAP
November 17, 2020

ETAP's technology will be integrated in Schneider's cloud-based technology platform for the design and operation of mission-critical power systems using vendor-agnostic software-driven modelling, design, real-time predictive simulation and operation solutions. more

SPP Stakeholders Approve Transmission Plans and Improvements to Power Grid Operations
November 2, 2020

"We continue to see a big increase in wind energy, with 3.6 gigawatts of new installed wind this quarter alone," reported Bruce Rew, senior vice president of operations at SPP. "We expect wind will be our number one fuel source for 2020." more

Met-Ed Installing New Automated TripSaver Devices to Help Reduce Frequency and Duration of Power Outages
October 29, 2020

The electrical devices work like a circuit breaker in a home with the added benefit of automatically re-energizing a power line within seconds to keep power safely flowing to customers. The $1.4 million project is part of Met-Ed's Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP II), a $153 million initiative to accelerate capital investments through 2024 to help ensure continued electric service reliability for the company's approximately 570,000 customers. more

Itron to Modernize Electricity Grid at New Brunswick Power in Northeastern Canada
October 28, 2020

Itron this week announced that New Brunswick Power (NB Power) will deploy Itron's multi-purpose solution, including an IoT network and more than 350,000 Measurement Canada-approved distributed intelligence-enabled smart meters, to modernize its electricity grid. more

WPD Becomes First in UK to Install Outage-Mitigation Device
October 28, 2020

S&C Electric Company and Western Power Distribution (WPD), a U.K.-based electricity distribution network operator serving 7.9 million customers throughout Wales and England's Midlands and South West regions, have completed the installation of the first S&C TripSaver II Cutout-Mounted Recloser in the United Kingdom. more

DP&L Reaches Comprehensive Settlement Agreement Resolving Numerous Cases Including Its Smart Grid Plan
October 26, 2020

Dayton Power & Light Company (DP&L), a subsidiary of the AES Corporation, has filed a nearly unanimous stipulation to invest $249 million in capital projects over the next four years providing direct customer benefits through modernizing the electric grid and building a smarter energy future for customers. more

NYPA to Pilot Private LTE Wireless Network Technology
October 23, 2020

The LTE wireless network pilot program is targeted to complement several critical NYPA initiatives including its robust Communication Backbone and Sensor Deployment Programs. The $153 million Communication Backbone Program aims to replace NYPA's existing point-to-point circuits to manage the increased data flow from the deployment of intelligent sensors. more

Global Power System Transformation Consortium (G-PST) Launches
October 21, 2020

The goal of the consortium is to dramatically accelerate the transition to low emission and low cost, secure, and reliable power systems, contributing to >50% emission reductions of all pollutants globally over the next 10 years by enabling the efficient integration of substantial clean energy investments into power systems. more

Fluence Acquires Digital Intelligence Platform of AMS
October 15, 2020

The acquisition, which follows a year-long partnership between the two companies, complements and expands upon Fluence's digital intelligence capabilities, such as market dispatch algorithms, battery degradation modeling and anomaly detection. By joining the Fluence team, AMS will leverage Fluence's global sales reach to make its software available to more customers around the world. more

Duke Energy Unveils Sweeping Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan
October 13, 2020

The company plans to double its enterprise-wide renewable portfolio from 8 gigawatts to 16 gigawatts by 2025, at least triple renewable capacity for its regulated utilities by 2030, and bring its regulated renewable capacity total to 40 gigawatts by 2050. It also plans to add more than 11,000 megawatts of energy storage across the company's system by 2050 and continue to invest and advocate for emerging technologies. more

Stimulus Investments in Advanced Energy Sector Would Deliver More Than $350 Billion to Illinois Economy
October 9, 2020 | Advanced Energy Economy (AEE)

"As Illinois considers how to respond to the severe economic impacts of the coronavirus health crisis, this report shows investment in advanced energy delivers a whopping eight-fold return to our state's economy, creating in-state jobs and adding much-needed tax revenues to state and local coffers," said Daniel Bloom, policy principal at Advanced Energy Economy. more

Veritone Brings Efficiency and Optimization to Smart Grids with Real-Time Predictive AI
October 6, 2020

Veritone, which refers to itself as the creator of the world's first operating system for artificial intelligence, aiWARE, today announced it has entered the energy sector with Veritone Energy, a suite of proprietary, predictive AI solutions designed to help utilities increase profitability and improve grid reliability as they make the transition to renewables. more

Enzen and Smarter Grid Solutions To Provide India's First Active Network Management Solution
September 29, 2020

ANM-based systems work by measuring the status of each of the key transmission circuits to identify if their operational limits are being approached. Only at times when circuit loading dictates, re-dispatch instructions are sent to generators to reduce output to a safe level. Generators are restored to full output as soon as the constraint is relieved so the overall energy product effect can be small. more

GridWise Alliance Launches Grid Investments for Economic Recovery Initiative
September 16, 2020

GridWise Alliance CEO Steve Hauser announced a new initiative to advocate for the inclusion of funding for grid investments in any stimulus package Congress may develop in response to the economic downturn and the global pandemic. GridWise Alliance and its members support at least $25 billion in federal spending on grid modernization to help the country meet clean energy goals, enhance resilience and security, and replace aging infrastructure. more

Landis+Gyr and Vodafone Business Announce Partnership to Deliver Cellular IoT Capabilities for Energy Management
September 16, 2020

Building on IoT zero-touch capability, Landis+Gyr notes that utility customers will benefit from improved deployment speed and management of cellular smart grid devices. In addition, the partnership delivers low-power wide-area (LPWA) technology capabilities today, with the ability to transition to 5G networks where and when these networks are available. more

PPL Electric Utilities' Smart Grid Tops 1 Million Avoided Customer Outages Since 2015
September 8, 2020

In the past five-plus years, PPL estimates its smart grid automated power restoration network has helped customers avoid 100 million minutes in the dark in preventing those 1 million outages. Those minutes translate into a lot of time - more than 190 years. more

Electric Infrastructure Investment Gaps in a Rapidly Changing Environment
September 2, 2020

The United States electric grid is undergoing significant changes and to accommodate this shift, significant investments in the grid are needed, according to a new report released this week by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The new study finds that if investments in electricity infrastructure are not made, each American household is projected to lose $5,800 in disposable income by 2039. more

Atlantic City Electric Takes Critical Step in Advancing Clean Energy Future with Smart Energy Network Proposal
August 27, 2020

Atlantic City Electric has proposed a major project to modernize and enhance the energy grid across its service area in southern New Jersey. In a recent filing (August 26) with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the company outlined its plans to build a Smart Energy Network across the company's entire service area, including installing smart meters, also referred to as advanced metering infrastructure, and upgrading the local energy grid with specialized networking equipment. more

Direct Energy to Deploy Innowatts Platform for Smart Meter Enabled Load Forecasting and Analytics Across Its US Residential Retail Energy Business
August 27, 2020

Innowatts LLC recently announced a multiyear partnership with Direct Energy, a subsidiary of Centrica plc. and the largest US residential retail energy provider in North America. As part of this partnership, Innowatts will provide smart-meter enabled load analytics and forecasting solution, to its US residential energy supply business, which provides competitive energy supply and services to over five million customers. more

U.S. Secretary of Energy Announces ARIES - a Visionary Energy Research Platform
August 14, 2020

ARIES represents a substantial scale-up in experimentation capability from existing research platforms, allowing for research at the 20MW level. It will make it possible to understand the impact and get the most value from the millions of new devices such as electric vehicles, renewable generation, hydrogen, energy storage, and grid-interactive efficient buildings that are being connected to the grid daily. more

Grid4C and Trilliant Partner to Deliver Next Generation Smart Meter Analytics Technologies, Powered by AI
August 12, 2020

At its core, Trilliant's partnership with Grid4C will further enable a continuous stream of intelligent data from all layers of a utility's or city's deployed technologies. Trilliant notes that unlike other products on the market, the platform will now provide managers with unlimited bandwidth to monitor the performance of applications in real-time. more

Amprion and Smart Wires are Testing More Flexible Power Flow Control on the Power Grid
August 6, 2020

The Dortmund-based transmission system operator (TSO) Amprion has signed a cooperation agreement with the US Silicon Valley company, Smart Wires, for a pilot project. The aim is to increase the transmission capacity of the power grid while maintaining the high level of system stability. more

New York Announces Largest Combined Solicitations for Renewable Energy Ever Issued in the U.S. to Combat Climate Change
August 5, 2020

New York's second offshore wind solicitation seeks up to 2,500 megawatts of projects, the largest in the nation's history, in addition to last year's solicitation which resulted in nearly 1,700 megawatts awarded. This solicitation has the potential to bring New York State halfway toward its goal of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. more

The 50 States of Grid Modernization Q2 2020: Utilities Increasingly Developing Distributed and Customer-Centric Solutions
August 3, 2020

The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) recently released its Q2 2020 edition of The 50 States of Grid Modernization. The report discusses three trends in grid modernization actions taken in Q2 2020: (1) utilities increasingly proposing residential battery storage programs; (2) states undertaking efforts to improve electric grid resilience; and (3) utilities developing a growing number of critical peak pricing and peak time rebate programs. more

U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Announces Arrival of OptGrid
July 29, 2020

Analogous to a software that operates a household's smart devices, OptGrid is the operating system for the new grid, which is being defined by distributed energy technologies in large numbers and great variety. OptGrid manages the complex connections between those technologies, facilitating efficient energy exchange and flexible power systems. With OptGrid, communities, utilities, microgrids, and residents are closer than ever to realizing a power system that operates at the full potential provided by modern energy resources. more

Smarter Grid Solutions Selected for Future Grid Challenge Demonstration Project
July 9, 2020

Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS) recently announced its ANM Strata distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) was awarded a contract to run a demonstration program as part of New York State Energy Research & Development Authority's (NYSERDA) Future Grid Challenge. more

TEP Plans Clean Energy Expansion, Carbon Reduction
June 29, 2020

TEP's 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), filed last week with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), outlines the company's energy portfolio over the next 15 years. It calls for a dramatic expansion of wind and solar power resources, supported by efficient natural gas fired generators and energy storage systems. It also proposes retirement of TEP's remaining coal-fired power plants over the next 12 years. more

Macro Grid Initiative Launches to Expand and Upgrade America's Transmission Network
June 23, 2020

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) recently launched the Macro Grid Initiative to build support for expanding and upgrading the nation's transmission network. A 21st century Macro Grid will deliver jobs and economic development, a cleaner environment, and lower costs for consumers, according to the two organizations. more

Power Trends 2020: The Vision for a Greener Grid
June 11, 2020 | New York Independent System Operator

This year's report focuses on how the grid is being shaped by the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and other policies. The report also highlights opportunities for the NYISO markets, operations, and planning processes to support and achieve the renewable and carbon reduction mandates set forth by the CLCPA. more

DCPSC Approves Next Set of Grid Modernization Recommendations
June 9, 2020

This week, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia issued a decision approving the next set of grid modernization recommendations for the District of Columbia, in its grid modernization proceeding, including enhancing data access for all residential customers through Pepco's "Green Button Connect My Data". more

BGE Files Multi-Year Customer Relief and Energy Infrastructure Investment Plan
May 18, 2020

The average residential customer's total BGE bill is projected to be 22 percent lower than it was in 2008 due to lower electric supply costs and customers' use of less energy through more efficient appliances and energy-saving programs enabled by the smart grid. On average, BGE customers' total bills are among the lowest in the country as a percentage of median household income - and substantially lower than the U.S. average. more

U.S. Sees Busiest Quarter Yet For State and Utility Grid Modernization Activity
May 1, 2020

"Energy storage has been the focus of the majority of the grid modernization bills we've seen introduced so far in 2020," said Autumn Proudlove, lead author of the report and Senior Manager of Policy Research at NCCETC. "Some of the greatest areas of interest we're seeing are storage incentive programs, deployment targets, and studies." more

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $25 Million for Grid Management Systems and Risk Assessment Systems
April 23, 2020

The DOE recently announced $25 million in funding for 10 projects as part of the Performance-based Energy Resource Feedback, Optimization, and Risk Management(PERFORM) program. These projects will work to develop innovative management systems that represent the relative delivery risk of each asset, like wind farms or power plants, and balance the collective risk of all assets across the grid. more

Q1 2020 Funding and M&A Report on Battery Storage, Smart Grid, and Efficiency
April 21, 2020 | Mercom Capital Group

Mercom found that in Q1 2020, a combined $252 million was raised by battery storage, smart grid, and energy efficiency companies, a 20% increase from the $210 million raised in Q1 2019. Venture capital funding (including private equity and corporate venture capital) raised by battery storage companies in Q1 2020 came to $164 million in six deals compared to $78 million in seven deals in Q1 2019. download report (registration required)

Transforming the Energy System Could Boost Global GDP Gains by $98 Trillion Between Now and 2050
April 20, 2020

Advancing the renewables-based energy transformation is an opportunity to meet international climate goals while boosting economic growth, creating millions of jobs and improving human welfare by 2050, finds the first Global Renewables Outlook released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today. more

ComEd Files for Decrease in Customer Electricity Rates
April 17, 2020

Since 2012, ComEd has avoided more than 11 million customer interruptions, due in part to digital "smart switches" that automatically reroute power around potential problem areas. ComEd's average residential monthly usage was 608 kWhs in 2018, down from 694 kWhs in 2008 when ComEd launched its energy efficiency program, which has saved customers more than $3 billion. more

Zinier Arms Utilities with Field Service Automation to Power Always-On Service and Workforces
April 7, 2020

Traditionally, utilities' field service organizations are slowed down by legacy systems and manual processes with limited visibility into a highly distributed workforce. By automating mundane tasks and decision-making, utilities free up their workforces to focus on high value, uniquely human tasks. more

NYSERDA Announces Winners of Clean Energy Challenge to Modernize New York's Electric Grid
March 27, 2020

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced awards to five winning teams under the first two rounds of the Future Grid Challenge aimed at developing solutions to integrate clean and renewable energy into the electric grid. The project teams will help New York's utilities such as Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Consolidated Edison, National Grid, and Orange & Rockland improve efficiency and reliability to advance renewable energy integration. more

Eltel Installs 236,000 Smart Meters in Sweden For EUR 22 Million
March 24, 2020

The project is the first of Vattenfall's four phases to replace and install a total of about 900,000 electricity meters in Sweden in order to meet new requirements from both the EU and the Swedish government by 1 January 2025. The scope includes planning, installation and logistics of new and old meters, and related infrastructure. more

Utilidata Secures Rights to Technology for Bringing Real-Time Operational Controls to the Grid Edge
March 18, 2020

Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory with funding from DOE's Advanced Research Projects - Energy program, the Real-time Optimal Power Flow (RT-OPF) technology enables highly localized load control, enabling seamless integration of distributed energy resources. Utilidata plans to embed this technology, along with its existing voltage optimization technology and virtual power flow model, into smart meters, unlocking new potential for grid edge control. more

Eversource and National Grid Propose Innovative Solutions to Improve Reliability and Transition to a Clean Energy Future in Greater Boston
March 6, 2020

The eight proposals include upgrades to existing properties and can be built before Exelon retires the Mystic Generating Station on June 1, 2024. Some of the new proposals have the added benefit of enabling cost-effective delivery of clean energy resources like offshore wind, with one capable of supporting an additional 1,100 megawatts of clean energy during peak demand hours. more

ComEd Customers to See How Grid Investments Delivered Reliable Power to Their Homes
March 5, 2020

The reports summarize the percentage of time customers received power over the course of the prior year and the number of outages they experienced, if any. Customers will be able to compare this information with the previous year, as well as the percentage of time power was available for their municipality and for the nearly 4 million customers across the communities ComEd serves. more

USDA Invests $900 Million in Rural Electric Infrastructure in 16 States
March 5, 2020

USDA is providing financing through the Electric Loan Program. It will help build and improve 2,743 miles of line to strengthen reliability in rural areas and will benefit 1.1 million rural residents and businesses. The loans include $17 million for investments in smart grid technology. more

Ameren Missouri Boosts Smart Energy Plan After Completing 900 Projects in First Year
February 27, 2020

To continue the transition to a cleaner energy future for everyone, Ameren Missouri expects to acquire two wind facilities this year. Clean solar generation is also part of the plan. This includes modernizing the energy grid to add more solar energy and battery storage on the system to boost reliability in rural areas. This five-year plan increases investments to $7.6 billion in continued grid modernization while leveraging the successes from the first year. more

Accelerating the Energy Transition: DNV GL Defines Breakthrough Technologies of This Decade
February 27, 2020

DNV GL, a leading global quality assurance and risk management company, has identified three breakthrough technologies in its Technology Outlook for the Power and Renewables industry that will significantly accelerate the decarbonization of industries such as energy, transport and heating in the next 10 years. more

APS and Advanced Energy Economy Announce Arizona Clean Energy Future Project
February 14, 2020

Arizona Clean Energy Future involves 13 AEE member companies representing a range of advanced energy technologies and services working with APS to explore and evaluate innovative clean energy ideas and prioritize those that will be most beneficial for APS customers. more

IMPA Service Corp Selects Tantalus to Deliver Purpose-Built Smart Grid to 61 Member Utilities
February 12, 2020

Because no two member utilities are the same, IMPA required a solution that could support multiple commodities, such as electric, water and gas, along with multiple protocols to incorporate existing member assets such as deployed encoder receiver transmitter (ERT) endpoints into the fixed smart-grid network. more

Harnessing the Power of Data For UK Energy Customers
February 10, 2020

Britain’s electricity network companies, including Northern Powergrid, have taken a significant step to power the way forward to Net Zero by making it easier for generating customers and flexibility service providers to connect to their networks. more

ComEd Customers Experience Best-Ever Reliability in 2019
February 3, 2020

Families and businesses across northern Illinois experienced record-low frequency and duration of outages and overall reliability that improved more than 70 percent since 2012, when the company began investing in a smart grid. Since then, ComEd has reduced the average frequency of outages by 47 percent and the average duration by 52 percent. more

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Announces Transformative Responsible Energy Plan
January 31, 2020

In the most transformative change in its 67-year history, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association recently (1/15) announced actions of its Responsible Energy Plan, which dramatically and rapidly advance the wholesale power supply cooperative's clean energy portfolio and programs to serve its member electric cooperatives and public power districts. more

Central Lincoln People's Utility District Transforms Network with Ciena and SEL
January 29, 2020

The upgrade will allow Central Lincoln to merge both information and operational technology (IT/OT) traffic onto one network, while also achieving ultra-low latency rates for its teleprotection circuits, minimizing the possibility of a power outage. more

Tacoma Public Utilities Selects Sensus for Advanced Meter Project
January 28, 2020

Tacoma's advanced meter project will be comprised of Stratus IQ electricity meters, a variety of Sensus water meters including iPERL and ally and the FlexNet communication network. The FlexNet two-way system provides real-time customer usage data from advanced meters and sensors to the utility over FCC-licensed spectrum. more

Xcel Energy Selects Willdan's Software for Grid Modernization
January 24, 2020

Willdan Group, Inc., through its software subsidiary Integral Analytics, announced this week that Xcel Energy has selected LoadSEER, Willdan's flagship software application, to provide foundational load forecasting, planning, and network scenario analysis as part of its Advanced Grid Intelligence and Security (AGIS) strategy. LoadSEER will enable Xcel Energy teams to model and plan for changes in electric load and the adoption and impact of distributed energy resources. more

Itron to Improve Grid Awareness and Renewable Energy Integration in Los Angeles
January 23, 2020

Harnessing the power of intelligent connectivity at the edge, LADWP will deploy Itron's Industrial IoT network and Distribution Automation (DA) solution with the goal of modernizing its grid. The largest municipal water and power utility in the nation, LADWP provides electricity to 1.5 million residential and business customers. more

Global Transactive Energy (TE) Market Expected to Grow at 153% CAGR
January 9, 2020

"Understanding the various strengths and difficulties the TE market faces will enable utilities and energy companies to elevate data-driven services for customers," says Roberto Rodriguez Labastida, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. "TE is shifting from true peer-to-peer trading to an innovative use of consumption and production data to better engage customers." more

Con Edison Climate Study Details Projected Impacts to Energy Systems Through the 21st Century
January 6, 2020

The report estimates the company might need to invest between $1.8 billion and $5.2 billion by 2050 on targeted programs to protect its electric, gas and steam delivery systems and customers from the impacts of climate change. Con Edison will further evaluate future adaptation strategies and associated costs through the development of 5-, 10- and 20-year plans. Con Edison typically invests approximately $3 billion every year on its energy infrastructure. more

Riverside Public Utilities Selects Tantalus, Joins Growing Community of Public Power and Electric Cooperative Utilities Seeking Digital Transformation
December 20, 2019

As part of RPU's efforts to plan for the future, the utility selected the Tantalus ERT 'overlay' solution which permits a phased migration from the existing ERT one-way communication meter reading system to a full two-way communication AMI system. This migration will enhance customer service, boost customer satisfaction, improve reliability and increase operational efficiency for the utility. more

Ernst & Young LLP and GridWise Alliance Launch New Report that Maps the Future of the U.S. Distribution System
December 11, 2019

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, given differing state regulatory regimes and varying levels of digital grid maturity across the US, distribution utilities can take steps today to reinvent themselves and secure their future. The report outlines a three-phased approach to investment, which reflects local circumstances, maturity and dynamics. more

EON Digitizes Grid Interconnection Information
December 9, 2019

Around 800,000 distributed systems producing green energy are already connected to E.ON's grids in Germany - and that figure is rising. In order to considerably speed up the connection process for these systems, experts from E.ON grid operator E.DIS teamed up with the start-up envelio, a spin-off of RWTH Aachen University, to develop a digital grid connection monitor. more

NYPA Reaches Major Milestone in Deploying Sensors to Improve Situational Awareness
December 4, 2019

The multi-phase program is installing hundreds of sensors on generation, substation and switchyard assets across the state to closely monitor the health and performance of NYPA's statewide power generation and transmission network. more

GE Energizes Largest and First-of-its-Kind STATCOM Scheme in Europe
December 2, 2019

GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business has made history with the energization of the Bolney substation -the first of three substations to be part of the largest STATCOM scheme in Europe, owned by UK utility National Grid. The Bolney substation supports the large population and load centers south of London, as well as high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnectors with Europe. more

Accenture and Snam to Collaborate on IOT Technologies for the Innovation and Sustainability of Energy Networks
November 28, 2019

The collaboration is part of a broad initiative by Snam - dubbed "SnamTec, Tomorrow's Energy Company" - that calls for investments of over €1.4 billion in innovation and energy transition by 2023 involving everything from the application of new technologies to increase the networks' sustainability to a commitment to green sectors such as sustainable mobility, renewable gas, hydrogen and energy efficiency. more

Lawrence Livermore Steps Into Grid Modernization
November 25, 2019

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) will be the lead on three projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy over the next three years to strengthen, transform and improve the nation's energy infrastructure. One is on using sensors to identify faulty or aging components of the nation's energy grid system; another is on using healthcare analytics for critical grid component diagnostics; and the third focuses on energy storage and system flexibility. more

Diverse Coalition Signs Statement of Principles on Modernizing the Electric Transmission Grid
November 21, 2019

WIRES, the international trade association that promotes investment in the high voltage grid, and several other organizations in the electric power space announced this week a Statement of Principles for advancing development of a modern electric transmission grid. The Statement was agreed to by a diverse coalition of 10 U.S. and Canadian organizations following the International Summit on the Electric Transmission Grid, held last month at the Embassy of Canada. more

New York Governor Announces New York State Will Help Build State-Of-The-Art Power System in Puerto Rico
November 8, 2019

New York State is helping Puerto Rico build its first automated digital substation, capable of processing up to 40 megawatts - enough to process power for up to 40,000 homes. The automated digital substation will be built at the Monacillo Control Center in the San Juan-metro area and serve as a model for rebuilding the 17 substations that were flooded during Hurricane Maria. more

The 50 States of Grid Modernization: Energy Storage and Rate Design Activity Front and Center in Q3 2019
October 31, 2019

The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) report finds that total grid modernization activity during Q3 2019 represented a 39% increase over Q3 2018, with utilities proposing several new grid modernization and rate design plans. New York, Massachusetts, and California took the greatest number of actions during the quarter, followed by Minnesota, New Jersey, Hawaii, Michigan, and North Carolina. more

AMSC and ComEd Proceed on Engineering Assessment for Second Superconductor-based REG System in Chicago
October 23, 2019

ComEd's second project, if agreed to and undertaken, would follow timewise its first project at ComEd's substation and would utilize AMSC's REG system to interconnect multiple existing substations in Chicago's central business district. The second project is expected to be larger in scope than the first and provide greater reliability, resiliency and load-serving capabilities during outages or other grid disruptions. more

California ISO Launches the Most Advanced Grid Operating System
October 21, 2019

"The ISO now has the most sophisticated energy management system in the world," said ISO President and CEO Steve Berberich. "The new system aligns with our strategic vision and goals to maintain a reliable grid while expanding leading-edge tools and services to support our participating transmission owners, and the Western Energy Imbalance Market and RC West participants." more

Ondas Networks Releases Scalable MC-IoT Platform for Critical Infrastructure
February 28, 2019
Ondas Holdings Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ondas Networks Inc., a developer of private licensed wireless data networks for mission-critical industrial markets, recently announced the release of its enhanced FullMAX radio architecture for highly scalable Mission Critical IoT (MC-IoT) networks. more

AEP Launches IlluminationLAB; Partners With L Marks To Identify Innovative Technology Ideas
February 28, 2019
American Electric Power has partnered with innovation specialist L Marks to launch IlluminationLAB. IlluminationLAB, based Columbus, Ohio, is a strategic initiative designed to identify innovative technology solutions that will drive improved performance and enhance customer experiences in the energy industry. more

Florida Power & Light Announces New Automated Transformer Switch to Prevent and Reduce Power Outages
February 28, 2019

Florida Power & Light Company recently unveiled a new piece of smart grid technology, called the Automated Transformer Switch (ATS), to prevent and reduce power outages. The announcement comes as FPL reaches a major smart grid technology milestone, completing the system-wide installation of 80,000 smart switches on the energy grid that reduce customer outages. more

Franklin Energy Launches NGAGE - An Integrated Software and Services Platform
February 27, 2019

NGAGE is designed to make communications with customers simpler and more productive while increasing program engagement through personalized recommendations and integrated rewards. more

Ameren Missouri Releases Plan to Transform State's Energy Grid
February 18, 2019

Ameren Missouri recently announced the largest infrastructure upgrade plan in the company's history. The Smart Energy Plan includes more than 2,000 electric projects over the next five years. more

Brattle Economists Provide Insight Into Benefits And Cost Recovery For U.S. Grid Modernization Efforts
February 15, 2019

"Most utilities are willing to undertake grid modernization projects, provided they achieve timely cost recovery and an increasing number of regulators are willing to consider alternative regulatory models to enable these projects and broader utility innovation," noted Brattle Principal Sanem Sergici, lead author of the study. more

Esri Reveals Grid Modernization Study
February 13, 2019

Utilities are grappling with the need to modernize the power grid, and must deal with advanced technology to meet evolving goals, including sustainability, resiliency, and security. According to the new survey, over 85 percent of utilities incorporate GIS into their corporate IT systems. More than 65 percent of utilities report integrating GIS with their outage management system (OMS) and/or distribution management system (DMS). more

Sentient Energy Unveils Ubiquitous Grid Monitoring And Analytics System
February 13, 2019

Sentient Energy recently (2/6) unveiled the first ubiquitous distribution grid monitoring and analytics system for grid reliability and safety. The Sentient Energy Grid Analytics System couples the Ample Analytics Suite with intelligent sensors that can be deployed anywhere on the distribution grid. more

ABB to Support the Increasing Digitalization of Substations
February 11, 2019

ABB and Intel signed a formal agreement to collaborate on the marketing and selling of next-generation distribution automation systems and products for protection and control in utility and industrial applications. At the core of the agreement is ABB Ability smart substation control and protection for electrical systems, SSC600, powered by Intel Xeon processors. more

Con Edison Strengthens Storm Hardening Efforts With Siemens Mobile Substations
February 8, 2019
Siemens is providing Con Edison with six new mobile medium-voltage substations that can be used for rapid emergency response. The technology, with plug-and-play functionality, will give Con Edison the ability to deploy and fully operate a power substation within days instead of the months it can traditionally take to replace damaged gear. more

Nexant Partners With Consolidated Edison in New York to Design an Innovative Pricing Pilot for Testing Demand Rates
February 7, 2019
Con Edison began deploying AMI meters in 2016 with the first installations occurring in Staten Island, Westchester County and Brooklyn. The Innovative Pricing Pilot is being implemented in Staten Island and Westchester County starting in early 2019 and in Brooklyn starting in early 2020. It is scheduled to run for two years in each region. more

Sentient Energy Partners With Top Tier Utility To Test Underground Grid Sensors
February 6, 2019
Sentient Energy, Inc. has entered into an agreement with Exelon's utility companies to help develop and test its new UM3+ intelligent line monitor designed for underground deployment. more

S&C Unveils New Lateral-Protection Innovation
February 6, 2019

Industry data show that up to 70% of overhead distribution transformer fuse operations are classified as nuisance outages, where no other repair work is needed aside from fuse replacement. These instances are typically caused by a temporary fault. S&C's TranShield Transformer Protector tests whether faults are temporary and automatically restores power so utility crews do not need to roll a truck to do so. more