Sensus and GE Collaborate to Create Residential Meter with FlexNet Communications

Sensus and GE's Digital Energy business collaborated to integrate Sensus FlexNet communication technology into GE's existing I-210+c electric meter. Built on GE's meter platform and inclusive of a Sensus FlexNet radio module, the GE I-210+c FlexNet-enabled meter will be available with and without remote disconnect. The new meter is also expected to meet Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 2735 at the time of initial product availability and Measurement Canada certification within three months of availability.

ABB to Enable Integration of French Offshore Wind Parks

ABB won a contract worth around $25 million from the electrical transmission system operator RTE France to supply transformer products and services for ongoing offshore wind power projects. ABB will supply nine 400-megavolt ampere (MVA) booster transformers to help regulate the voltage of power transmitted from four large-scale offshore wind projects being built at various points along the Atlantic coast of France. Deliveries are scheduled from 2017 to 2020.

Energy Firms Up-In-Arms Over Congressional Treatment of Ex-Im Bank

If calmer heads prevail, the Ex-Im Bank should get reauthorized. However, if political mindsets rule the day, the bank will go down in flames, and take with it a number of potentially positive energy ventures.

Over the Fourth of July, American’s celebrated the birth of a nation. But in some corners, they mourned the potential death of a federal agency that has meant a lot to energy companies, especially those in the nuclear and renewable fields: the Export-Import Bank.

Actually, on June 30th, the deadlined passed for the U.S. Congress to reauthorize the agency, which makes loans to domestic businesses — both big and small — so that they can sell their wares around the globe. While the bank is now unable to make to any new loans, it still must service the existing ones it has.

Wind of Change Challenging Utilities

Elon Musk’s appearance at the Edison Electric Institute’s annual convention was a “wind of change” moment.

The industry is coming to terms, or trying to come to terms, with new forces that are challenging it as a business proposition in a way that it hasn’t been challenged in a history of more than 100 years.

Distribution Optimization: Ready for Takeoff

Part 2: Key choices on the way forward.

Integrated Distribution Planning (IDP) – much like its bulk power system cousin, Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) – provides a useful starting point for regulators and utilities to begin thinking about how to optimize the distribution system.

Piggybacking on the Grid

Why net energy metering is unfair and inefficient.

While customers may have reached a “net zero” threshold on energy, they are a large net negative on very expensive grid services.