Fortnightly Magazine - October 2023

Where ERCOT Stands Now

ICF

“There was a lot of focus post-Storm Uri on generation performance, and ERCOT made some improvements through some higher technical standards, although we must see how it performs. But no one has addressed the demand side at all. That’s one of the problems.”

Advanced Conductors Arrive Not a Moment Too Soon

Moving the Grid Forward

“Advanced conductors make it possible to deploy big upgrades within existing rights of way, even reusing existing towers for reconductoring projects that can be accomplished with relative lightning speed and for lower total costs that make ratepayers, consumer advocates, and public utility commissions happy.”

SRP Supercharging EVs

Salt River Project

“We’ve not gone down the path of wanting to own and operate or develop our own charging sites. What we’ve wanted to do was let the market take care of that, and instead worked to support the market development.”

Idaho National Lab on Distributed Energy

Microgrids

“The Microgrid in a Box can be plugged in just about anywhere. You would need a step-up transformer for the utility connection. Normally, to try to serve a building with it, but also have it tied to distribution, you’d be between the utility distribution transformer and the building.”

Fusion Center Cybersecurity

Kansas

“All Fusion Centers have access to relevant threat information that gets pushed out by the federal government, so I would highly encourage every utility to reach out to their Fusion Centers and see if there are ways they could partner with them on physical and cyber threats, if they aren’t doing so already.”

Harnessing AI and Computational Speed

The Clean Energy Transition

“Artificial intelligence (AI), advances in computational speed, and algorithms can help support the clean energy transition. Our industry is moving toward a greater understanding and utilization of these new technological capabilities that are already impacting our clean energy pathways.”

A Legacy of Industry Leadership

AEIC’s 139th Annual Meeting

“As we gather for the 139th time this month in Savannah, AEIC is still very much guided by our forebearers’ vision to work collaboratively, gather information, and exchange ideas to benefit all members.”
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