People (August 2015)

Rick Riley was named group v.p. of customer service and operations for Entergy Arkansas Inc. and will replace Hugh McDonald as president and CEO when McDonald retires in 2016; Edison Electric Institute chose Nicholas K. "Nick" Akins, chairman, president and CEO of American Electric Power, and also elected four vice chairmen; Appointments by American Electric Power, Con Edison, Georgia Power, Dominion Resources, American Transmission Co. and Pacific Gas and Electric; and others...

Understanding New York's 'Vision'

A roadmap to ‘REV’ and its plan for restructuring.

New York's far-reaching reform plan, called the Renewable Energy Vision, or “REV,” seeks to decentralize power supply by encouraging distributed resources, and a new regulatory entity will be created called a “Distributed System Platform,” or DSP.

Becoming Customer-Centric

Two utilities embrace technology and innovation.

Today the rise of customer-centric technology and innovation has created a whole new set of challenges. Advances have occurred in energy efficiency, demand response, distributed solar, energy storage, and electric vehicles, as well as smart grid infrastructure and analytics. Electric utilities have two basic choices: react to the agendas of the special interests or chart a path forward to create the most value for stakeholders and customers.

Clean Power Plan Formalized

Can the Obama administration successfully guide its newly-formed Clean Power Plan through the legal system? While the regulation is despised by coal-related groups, others are applauding it –– calling it a huge step forward to boost both the economy and the environment.

It’s official: The Obama administration has formalized its Clean Power Plan, which now requires 32 percent carbon emissions reductions by 2030, up by two percentage points from the original plan released last summer. Next phase: outsmarting the opponents’ lawyers to achieve implementation by 2022, a mere two years later than the first draft.

Wanted: General Manager

Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative, Marshfield, Missouri

The Board of Directors of Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative is seeking qualified candidates for the position of General Manager. The General Manager reports to a nine-member Board of Directors that sets policy and approves electric rates for both members and non-members of Sho-Me Power.

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires 20-MW Shawboro Solar Project from Ecoplexus

Duke Energy Renewables acquired a 20-MW solar power project in Shawboro, N.C., from Ecoplexus Inc., lead developer of the project. The energy generated from the facility is enough to power about 4,000 homes and will be sold to Dominion NC Power through a 15-year agreement. Swinerton Renewable Energy will build the facility. The project is targeted for completion by year-end.

ABB to Provide Power and Automation Solutions for Oilfields off UAE Coast

ABB received a $100 million order from Hyundai Heavy Industries for electrical and telecommunication systems. The solution consists of power management, power-from-shore and telecom systems which are interconnected to ensure efficiency, reliability and safety. The facilities covered by the referred contract will be powered by a 132-kV AC subsea ring cable from Das Island, about 160 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi.

GE Power & Water Wins Outage Services Work for DTE Energy’s Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant

DTE Energy awarded outage services work to GE Power & Water through GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and GE Power Generation Services (PGS) for the utility's Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant. GEH will provide outage and inspection services related to the boiling water nuclear reactor at the Fermi 2 plant, while PGS will provide inspection and maintenance services to the main generator and six turbine valves.

Alstom Grid to Supply Substation Automation Solutions for Three UK Offshore Wind Farms

Alstom was awarded substation automation contracts for three of DONG Energy’s offshore wind farms. The systems will be fitted at the Race Bank project off the Norfolk Coast, the Walney Extension in the Irish Sea and at the Burbo Bank Extension in Liverpool Bay. All three projects are currently at various stages of development. All projects will feature Alstom Grid’s DS Agile, the company’s next generation digital control system for smart substations.

PowerStream Introduces New Energy Management Program to Customers

PowerStream launched a pilot to a limited number residential customers living in the utility's service territory. With funding from the Ministry of Energy's Smart Grid Fund, the Residential Energy Management (REM) pilot tests technologies that help consumers reduce energy consumption and manage costs while giving them more control over their day-to-day usage. The project is funded by Ontario's Smart Grid Fund and is structured to act as a template for other Ontario distribution companies to follow once the pilot is complete in 2016.