2024 Underground Transmission Conference

January 24-25, 2024 | Chicago, IL :: Central Time

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“The conference was a good opportunity for networking and making new contacts.” President, Power Delivery Solutions

“Excellent opportunity to learn and meet professionals from different utilities.” Sr. Electrical Engineer, ENMAX Power Corporation

“This was well worth the travel and time commitment. The vendor interactions mad my trip so worthwhile.” Lead Engineer, Duke Energy

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“Workshops are great for attendees new to underground transmission. Conference keeps attendees up to date on latest trends, technology, and issues.” – Transmission Engineer, Florida Power & Light

“Information on a Journeyman level.” – Project Manager, New River Electrical Corp.

“Knowing very little about underground transmission, this conference peaked an interest to learn more.” – Engineer 2, Pepco

“EUCI workshops are always an outstanding way to learn and share knowledge about current trends in the energy sectors.” – Environmental Specialist, Ecology& Environment Inc.

“A great conference that introduces attendees to other professionals in the field.” Project Engineer, Electrical Consultants Inc.

“The EUCI UG conference is a great tool to introduce new UG affiliates to the field as well as expand the knowledge of the most senior affiliates.” – Transmission Engineer, Dominion Power

There is a growing need for undergrounding from public outcry to changes in climate resulting in more fires and more severe storms, resulting in the need to increase a system’s reliability and resiliency. The industry is working hard to meet these increased calls for undergrounding by identifying critical lines and putting forth the effort required to increase reliability. This conference will bring together utility professionals to discuss and share best practices for underground transmission. Discussion on efficiently operating underground systems regarding maintenance, repairs, leak detection and outage times, as well as new projects will be reviewed in detail. Register today to network with your peers and learn how new technology in underground transmission is solving these real-world problems.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe successful steps in public outreach and coordination with the community for an underground project
• Explore how underground transmission can be part of enhanced reliability and resiliency
• Listen to the steps involved and lessons in developing a long underground project
• List the discoveries during a feeder pipe enhancement program to reduce dielectric fluid leaks
• Review some conditions and situations that change the ampacity ratings of underground lines
• Discover the trials and errors in a utility underground cable testing program
• Listen to the experience gained implementing hundreds of factory comparable commissioning tests on a new line that was experiencing splice failures
• Discuss case studies of maintenance testing with results and procedures
• Engage in a question-and-answer panel discussion on the future of underground transmission

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 : Central Time

 

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. :: Introductions and Welcome

8:40 – 9:00 a.m. :: Conference Welcome

Tom Foley, Electric Grid Infrastructure Services (EGIS) Business Group leader, Sargent & Lundy

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. :: Effective Outreach for Underground Transmission Projects: More Triumphs and Lessons Learned

This updated presentation will walk the audience through the outreach strategy and practices for underground projects.  This presentation will highlight handling opposition, and share lessons learned from public backlash and public support.

Danielle S. Aretz, Manager, Stakeholder Management, National Grid

9:45 – 10:15 a.m. :: Networking Break

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. :: HPFF Cathodic Protection Replacement and Cathodic Preventative Maintenance Program

This presentation will review the ongoing program at PEPCO of cathodic protection replacement and engineering as part of their preventative maintenance program for existing lines.

Brandon Kreusch, UG Maintenance Engineer, PEPCO Holdings Inc.

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. :: CHPE: A Renewable Energy Solution for New York City

The Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) is an innovative renewable power transmission project that will deliver REAL. CLEAN. POWER. to New York.  The project will play a key role in the state’s energy transformation, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs and generating billions of dollars in new investment in New York’s economy while delivering low-cost renewable energy to New York State.  CHPE is the most powerful project you’ll never see, and it is ready to provide clean energy with the resiliency and environmental safety that New York and the rest of the nation demand.

Robert G. Harrison, P.E., Senior Vice President Engineering, CHPE LLC

12:15 – 1:15 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:15 – 1:45 p.m. :: High Pressure Transmission Pipe Enhancements

This presentation will review and update this feeder pipe enhancement program to reduce dielectric fluid leaks and increase availability of transmission facilities. The program is continuously developing to reduce its installation cost and improve its inspection technology to find subsurface defects. Additional information will also be provided.

Delvin Ellis, Transmission Operations – Section Manager, Con Edison

1:45 – 2:15 p.m. :: Networking Break

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. :: Objects and Conditions that Impact the Ratings for Underground Transmission Lines

Basic conditions and special situations will be explored that will change the ampacity ratings of underground transmission lines.

Mark Rankin, EGIS Manager, Sargent & Lundy

Ethan Evans, EGIS Senior Associate, Sargent & Lundy

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. :: Corrosion Management, Corrosion Mitigation and Structural Reinforcement Options for Underground High-Pressure Fluid-Filled Pipe-Type Cable Systems

This presentation will discuss the range of coatings that are present in underground high-pressure fluid-filled pipe-type cables and how they hold up against long-term exposure to an underground environment.  Several factors that increase the risk of excessive corrosion will be discussed in detail so that you can determine if these factors may be affecting your systems.  Coating and composite reinforcement options have changed considerably over the last decade, and we will discuss how current technologies are used on aging, high-pressure fluid-filled feeder systems to prevent future corrosion, structurally reinforce anywhere corrosion exists, and provide a 50-year life extension to these critical assets.

Rusty Giudici, President, Advanced FRP Systems, Inc.

Thursday, January 25, 2024 : Central Time

 

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. :: North American Trends in Underground Transmission

Massive efforts are underway to install North American infrastructure underground.   Why are utilities looking to underground as a solution more than ever before?   This presentation provides an overview of the life-cycle drivers of underground transmission and some of the innovations that are driving down upfront and O&M costs and ensuring long term reliability.  

Ben Lanz, Strategy & Development Director, IMCORP

9:15 – 10:00 a.m. :: Maintenance Testing of Solid Dielectric and Fluid-Filled Cable Systems

Testing of installed and operational lines is a challenge but a necessary step that must be taken to keep lines in service and help avoid outages. This presentation will discuss case studies of maintenance testing with results and procedures as well as things to avoid.  

Mark Fenger, Senior Global Technical Director Transmission, Kinectrics

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. :: Networking Break

10:30 – 11:45 a.m. :: Panel Discussion: Underground Transmission’s Future

Underground transmission has come a long way in its 100+ year history and continues to develop in material refinement, applications, operation, and fault and leak detection.

This Q&A session between conference speakers and attendees will explore the current state of engineering and technology as well as what is in the near and possible distant future that can lay the foundation for the next 100 years of undergrounding.

Moderator: Ethan Evans, EGIS Senior Associate, Sargent & Lundy

Ben Lanz, Strategy & Development Director, IMCORP

Delvin Ellis, Transmission Operations – Section Manager, Con Edison

Robert G. Harrison, P.E., Senior Vice President Engineering, CHPE LLC

Scott Mihigan, Manager of Regional Electrical Operations, ComEd

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: Final Comments and Conference Adjourns

• Danielle S. Aretz, Manager, Stakeholder Management, National Grid

• Delvin Ellis, Transmission Operations – Section Manager, Con Edison

• Ethan Evans, EGIS Senior Associate, Sargent & Lundy

• Mark Fenger, Senior Global Technical Director Transmission, Kinectrics

• Tom Foley, Electric Grid Infrastructure Services (EGIS) Business Group leader, Sargent & Lundy

• Rusty Giudici, President, Advanced FRP Systems, Inc.

• Robert G. Harrison, P.E., Senior Vice President Engineering, CHPE LLC

• Brandon Kreusch, UG Maintenance Engineer, PEPCO Holdings Inc.

• Ben Lanz, Strategy & Development Director, IMCORP

• Scott Mihigan, Manager of Regional Electrical Operations, ComEd

• Mark Rankin, EGIS Manager, Sargent & Lundy

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

2024 Underground Transmission Conference

January 24-25, 2024 | Chicago, IL

Buy 4 in-person seats and only pay for 3! For this event every fourth in-person attendee is free!

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before January 01, 1970 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this conference.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must log in and be in attendance for the entirety of the conference to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

This conference will use case studies and PowerPoint presentations.

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Conference CPE Credits: 10.0
There is no prerequisite for this Conference.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend 

• Transmission Engineers 
• Transmission Project Managers 
• Engineer in Training (EIT) 
• Transmission Siting Professionals 
• Transmission Right of Way Professionals
• Transmission Communications Professionals
• Utility business development professionals  
• Regulatory staff