Dominion Energy finishes burying 2,000 miles of power lines ahead of hurricane season Jun 03, 2024 Just ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, Dominion Energy Virginia has finished burying 2,000 miles of previously-overhead power lines as part of its Strategic Underground Program. Launched in 2014 to reduce storm-related power outages and shorten restoration times, the…
New cybersecurity center to protect grids integrated with renewables, microgrids 23-Apr-2024 Bringing renewable energy to the power grid raises all kinds of “internet-of-things” issues, said Iowa State University’s Manimaran Govindarasu. That’s because “everything is connected,” said the Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering. Solar inverters are connected to the internet. Wind farm controllers are connected…
DOE Finalizes Energy Efficiency Standards For Distribution Transformers April 8, 2024 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized congressionally mandated energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers to increase the resiliency and efficiency of America’s power grid, support good-paying, high-quality manufacturing jobs, and accelerate the deployment of affordable, reliable, and clean electricity. The updated standards,…
The U.S. is facing an “unprecedented” shortage of electric transformers, NREL says Energize Weekly, March 27, 2024 The U.S. is facing an “unprecedented” shortage of electric distribution transformers creating challenges for the nation’s utilities, according to a study by the National Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (NREL). The nation’s grid faces the dual pressures of aging…
Shake up looms for Long Island’s power grid 18th March 2024 New York’s state lawmakers are considering a measure that would shake up the way Long Island’s power grid operates. The Long Island Power Authority Public Power Act would make LIPA the sole operator of the grid, ending the long-standing public-private model. Residents feel this…
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans March 18, 2024 State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two…
SRP, City Of Phoenix To Begin Removing Trees That Threaten Overhead Power Lines March 12, 2024 In an effort to increase power reliability and reduce potential safety risks, SRP and the City of Phoenix are scheduled to begin removing trees growing too close to power lines. For every tree removed, three more trees will be…
Xcel says big reason it needs to spend millions on new projects is regional grid’s reliability risks MARCH 4, 2024 The growing risk of unreliability and potential expense of buying energy on the open market is a big reason why Xcel Energy wants to make significant investments in its infrastructure. The issue was underscored last…
Western Maryland Electric Grid Stronger and More Resilient Following Smart Enhancements 13 Feb, 2024 FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary Potomac Edison has completed service reliability projects that will enhance electric service and minimize the impact of power outages for nearly 5,000 customers in Allegany, Frederick and Garrett counties. The two projects allow Potomac Edison personnel…
Oak Ridge public-private partnership looks to advance quantum tech for the power grid FEBRUARY 1, 2024 A new cooperative endeavor based at Tennessee’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory unites public and private sector players to push forward advancements in the quantum sciences field, particularly for solutions to further secure the U.S. energy grid. Unveiled last week,…
Texas’ grid has gone 3 years without a crisis. Will it last? 01/30/2024 In the three years since deadly blackouts paralyzed Texas, two major winter storms have hit the electricity grid without plunging the state into blackouts. Texas has touted its success during those two events — Elliott in December 2022 and Heather this January…
TVA reaches its highest weekend power demand during the cold temperatures Jan 21, 2024 Icy temperatures followed us into the weekend, and the Tennessee Valley Authority broke another peak power record along the way. The peak power demand on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. Easter Time was 34,284 megawatts, with a system average temperature of…