Transmission Upgrades & Reconductoring Conference 2019

October 1, 2019 | Newark, NJ ::

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The challenges of aging infrastructure have continued for utilities, getting even worse in recent years, putting grid reliability at risk nationwide without major investments in upgrades and reconductoring technologies. Meanwhile, regulatory burdens for new transmission builds have not lightened, paired with the growing trend of corporate commitment to procure renewable energy and DERs. Because of these challenges, utilities have begun looking into alternatives such as new technologies that utilize the existing ROW and take advantage of the current infrastructure. New sensors and measurement technologies, dynamic line rating capabilities, substation upgrades, and reconductoring have all helped to increase existing capacity, allowing new generation sources to come online. These strategic moves provide cost effective alternatives that allow utilities to meet fluctuating demand needs, and their goals and regulatory standards in grid resiliency and reliability.

The 3rd Annual Transmission Upgrades Conference will examine the viability of each of these new technologies, and feature case studies on how utilities are currently implementing them. Key insights into cost analysis of transmission line upgrades, mitigating structural challenges during planning an upgrade, and overcoming regulatory hurdles will be discussed. Panels and interactive sessions will work through issues at a strategy, compliance, and execution level for utilities to receive a comprehensive look at the upgrade and reconductoring process. This conference will explore the evolution of these cost and time-saving techniques and provide networking with top-level professionals in the industry from utilities and developers.

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Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate existing and new transmission upgrade technologies, and their proof of viability on a utility scale
• Best practices in managing transmission upgrade design and construction challenges
• Analyze financial investment and cost-effective upgrades to prolong transmission infrastructure life
• Hear case studies on project management and system design from utilities like PSEG, ConEd, SCE, AEP, and others
• Discuss new regulations and FERC ordered new-build compliance standards
• Upgrade the grid to integrate load from renewable assets more effectively
• Analyze existing regulations for new builds, and utilizing existing ROW
• Discuss different community investment strategies and ROI’s for consumers
• Discuss new assets like Synchrophasors and new dynamic line rating technologies as well as system reliability technology like PMUs, PDCs, wide com networks, and other advanced transmission applications.
• Analyze the economic impact of major weather events, transmission outages and how to incorporate these risks into project evaluations and criticality rankings
• Assess impact of DERs and risk of congestion

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 1.0 CEUs for this event and 0.4 CEUs for the workshop.

 

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day, be in attendance for the entirety of the course

Instructional Methods

Power Point presentations and open discussion will be used

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

12:30 – 1:00 p.m. :: Registration

1:00 – 1:15 p.m. :: Opening Remarks

1:15 – 1:45 p.m. :: Keynote Welcome: PSEG

1:45 – 3:00 p.m. :: Project Approval Challenges – Looking for New Ideas and Approaches

This open-faced panel will discuss all of the considerations needed to successfully deploy a new transmission project. Panelists include utilities from different service territory explaining their regional process and challenges. Topic objectives include:

• Cost analysis and investment
• Looking for new ideas and approaches to try where the status quo is not working
• State and Federal Regulators
• State, Federal, and local land agencies
• Environmental agencies

Charles Adamson, Principal Manager, T&D Major Projects, SCE

Kevin Huyler, Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, National Grid

Sugi Judd, Project Engineering Manager, PPL

Sean Black, Director, Transmission Business Development, Ameren

3:00 – 3:30 p.m. :: Networking Break

3:30 – 4:15 p.m. :: Case Study: Project Jug – Corridor 345kV Rebuild

This project increased the capacity of an existing right of way utilizing a new technology.  The existing 345kV line was wood H-Frames at the end of life.  Load growth in the area requires additional transmission capacity. The utilization of a BOLD design allowed the installation of a double circuit line while retaining a visual impact similar to the existing H-Frame line.  BOLD is an efficient, modern compact line design.  The new solution added a 138kV circuit that is upgradable to 345kV to a constrained and sensitive existing route.

Matthew Krall, Senior Engineer, Transmission Line Engineering, AEP

4:15 – 5:00 p.m. :: Project Development and Execution Approaches to Improve Success

Deeper dive into the process of project implementation in California. This talk will include everything from supply chain assessment to compliance concerns and system design.

• Bringing in the final engineering and construction contractors before the environmental process starts to minimize impacts
• Choosing the right project execution strategy
• Pros and cons of the entire spectrum from self-perform to full EPC, including the pricing model and risk allocation approach — need a project specific approach
  • Is a fixed price realistic?
  • Is it better to transfer vs. share risk?
• Developing a strong safety and project priority culture through proactive engagement with all project stakeholders

Chuck Adamson, Principal Manager, T&D Major Projects, Southern California Edison

5:30 – 7:00 p.m. :: Off-site Networking Reception

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

7:30 – 8:00 a.m. :: Continental Breakfast

8:00 – 8:45 a.m. :: Case Study: Design Challenges and Emerging Technologies in Pennsylvania

This presentation will provide an inside look at transmission projects PPL is currently overseeing around its 15,000 miles of lines in its service territory. This involves an assessment of the system design process, PJM compliance standards, and implementation of analytic tools for increased load capacity.  

Matt Donaldson, Senior Engineer, PPL

8:45 – 9:30 a.m. :: Case Study: Moses-Adirondack Smart Path Reliability Project

NYPA’s proposed Moses-Adirondack Smart Path Reliability Project will use existing rights of way to rebuild 86 miles of transmission lines, including 78 miles that were constructed originally by the federal government in 1942 and acquired by the Power Authority in 1950. Running north to south through St. Lawrence and Lewis counties in the North Country, the lines connect economical, clean and renewable energy into the statewide power system, including low-cost hydropower from NYPA’s St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project as well as power from newly constructed renewable energy sources. The rebuilt lines will be capable of transmitting up to 345 kilovolts but will be operated in the near-term at the current operating level of 230 kV. Permitting and engineering is ongoing with an expected construction start in early 2020. 

Ana Stachowiak, Project Manager, NYPA

9:30 – 10:00 a.m. :: Networking Break

10:00 – 10:45 a.m. :: A Look Into the Applications, Design, and Costs of Underground Transmission

With the worsening effect of storms and aging infrastructure on overhead transmission infrastructure, operators are beginning to look below for a new avenue of growth into their grid upgrades and rebuilding plans. ConEd focuses on one of the most congested service territories in the nation, New York City. This presentation will cover some of the work being done to develop underground, high capacity transmission infrastructure in a cost-effective strategy.

John Constable, Senior Engineer, ConEd

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: EPC Panel: Execution Phase Challenges and Working with Utilities

Panel discussing the challenges and process of working with utilities on outsourced transmission projects. Panel will include financials, design, implementation, and compliance standards.

AECOM Representative

Purna Kharel, President & CEO, K&A Engineering Consulting

Power Engineers Representative

Lauren Thomas, Project Origination and Growth, PSEG

Sean Black, Director, Transmission Business Development, Ameren

Joe Goodhew, Director T&D, Newpark Mats and Integrated Services

12:00 – 1:15 p.m. :: Group Luncheon

1:15 – 2:00 p.m. :: Advanced Sensing & Measurement Enabled Transmission Upgrades

Sensing & measurement is critical for the effective operation and control of power grids, especially in the context of increasing levels of renewables, energy storages, and responsive loads in the grids. Today, besides infrastructure aging, utilities are facing more challenges in their transmission systems, such as intermittent generation, transactive energy flows, rapidly changing load patterns, and a combination of thereof. Advanced sensing & measurement technologies can provide enhanced grid monitoring and situational awareness, enabling transmission upgrades to address those issues in a holistic and effective way. In this presentation, a number of such sensing & measurement technologies will be reviewed and discussed.

Zhi Li, Research and Development Member, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. :: Case Study: Pepco Holdings Orchard-Lewis Rebuild

In 2014, Atlantic City Electric (ACE), a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, needed to rebuild their 41-mile 138kV Orchard to Lewis line, and they needed to do it quickly. The existing lattice towers were more than 80 years old, and both the towers and the associated hardware were nearing their original design life. ACE also faced the planned retirements of nearby generating plants. They needed a solution that would address complex outage sequencing and coordination, environmental sensitivities and the challenges of building in remote, protected areas of New Jersey. In 2019, the line that connects seven substations was successfully rebuilt and energized. The Orchard to Lewis project was awarded New Jersey’s Leading Infrastructure Projects award in recognition of the effort to bring New Jersey’s grid up to modern standards.

Tim Lam, Project Engineer, Power Engineers

Jim DeSandro, Senior Engineer, Pepco Holdings

2:45  – 3:15 p.m. :: Networking Break

3:15 – 4:00 p.m. :: The Transmission Planning and Strategy Process – A Road to Continuous Improvement

PSEG, New Jersey’s largest utility, is committed to delivering safe, reliable electric service to its customers. Maintaining world-class reliability requires an electric infrastructure that can keep pace with customers’ evolving energy needs. Over the last several decades, New Jersey has experienced tremendous commercial and residential growth. As businesses and residents use more electricity, it is our responsibility to reinforce, upgrade, and in many cases replace, our electric transmission infrastructure to keep up with that demand.

In order to meet existing electric needs, and be better prepared for Sandy-like storms, PSEG is re-wiring its local power system to create the electric infrastructure of the future by increasing system capacity, enhancing system reliability, and providing greater system redundancy for our customers.

PSEG is investing to replace or supplement its 50-plus-year-old 26kV lines to bring 69kV power throughout the state.  These projects are done either within existing substations and switching stations, or through the construction of new stations, and include installing and replacing overhead lines. The enhanced power lines will be carried on taller, sturdier replacement poles along existing ROWs.

Spanning from 2007 through 2017, PSE&G installed approximately 331 miles of 69kV lines in more than 60 municipalities. This presentation will discuss these state-wide projects and some of the lessons learned.

Lauren Thomas, Director – Project Origination and Growth, PSEG

4:00 – 4:45 p.m. :: Large Capital Projects – Engineer of Choice / Program Management Contractor Model

Over the past several years, PPL has employed an EOC/PMC model for large substation and transmission capital projects. This presentation will speak to the positives and negatives of employing an EOC/PMC playbook approach, including cost, schedule, and quality considerations.

Sugirtha Judd, Project Engineering Manager, PPL

Communication Strategies and Tools for Abutters in Existing Rights-of-Way

October 1, 2019

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. :: Workshop Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: Workshop Timing

Overview

Use of exiting right of way reduces but does not eliminate communication challenges with neighboring stakeholders. Even the most well-designed transmission line project can encounter costly obstacles and delays because of public opposition. Early and frequent communication with right-of-way abutters and other stakeholders can help identify and resolve potential fatal flaws. This workshop will provide an overview of best practices in stakeholder management, as well as the latest in technology and digital tools that can be used together to minimize unwanted “surprises” in transmission line design and permitting.  Multiple case studies will be examined for lessons learned.  Bring your own stories of trials and successes to share with the group. 

Learning Outcomes/Agenda

• New simulation and communication tools to engage the public
• Outreach strategies to build trust and gain constructive input
• Best practices for websites, social media and collaterals
• Key considerations that determine timing for public communication
• Transmission line design and permitting challenges

 

Workshop Instructors

Jonathan Bell, Project Engineer, POWER Engineers

Jonathan Bell is a civil/structural engineer who specializes in engineering design of high-voltage and extra high-voltage transmission lines, with experience in both alternating and direct current lines. He has experience in preliminary and detail design for new lines, line rebuilds and reconductoring projects for large utility companies. Detailed designs include line reconductor projects, steel lattice structure analysis and reinforcement, installation of fiber optic shield wire systems, tubular steel pole structure design and analysis, foundation design. He’s also developed detailed structure drawings, major material specifications, kitting documents, construction specifications and bid packages for voltages ranging from 34.5 kV to 345 kV. He is also familiar with NERC reliability standards for transmission and has worked as a key team member for large transmission facility assessments. He earned a bachelor’s in civil and environmental engineering and a master’s in structural engineering from the University of Maine.

Katherine Garrard, Public Involvement Specialist, POWER Engineers

Katherine Garrard began her career in communications and public relations 15 years ago, after starting her professional life in the health care industry. As a member of the Strategic Communications division at POWER Engineers, she is responsible for articulating and communicating the details and benefits of complex electrical infrastructure upgrade projects to the public.

Charlie Koenig, Project Manager, Visualization Services, POWER Engineers

Charlie has a degree in Virtual Technology and Design and more than 14 years’ experience in the energy field. Charlie started his career working on projects in federal litigation cases, land use development/planning, product design, real-time situational training simulators, and environmental planning. Since joining POWER in 2008, Charlie has worked extensively with cutting edge visualization tools that make complex transmission, generation and distribution projects easier to understand. Charlie leads many of the transmission, distribution and substation photo simulation projects typically created for regulatory agencies and the public.

Elizabeth Swain, Stakeholder Relations Manager, POWER Engineers

Ms. Swain specializes in strategic communications and environmental permitting, and has extensive experience in managing complex public policy issues for an array of projects.  She and her team have created and implemented a Best Practices Framework for electric transmission line siting.  that positions projects for the greatest chance of success. 

For decades Ms. Swain has orchestrated stakeholder introductions for companies including Central Maine Power, Emera, TransCanada, Statoil, FPL Energy, Plum Creek, Nestle Waters, NextEra, Northern Utilities and PNGTS.

She designs and implements communication plans consistent with her clients’ objectives and each project’s challenges.  She is no stranger to controversial projects, and has a track record of working with clients and stakeholders  to find positive outcomes.

As a registered professional forester and former four-term chair of Maine’s quasi-judicial Land Use Regulation Commission she understands the regulatory process at the state level and is able to work effectively with the environmental, engineering and legal teams on each project. 

Chuck Adamson, Principal Manager, T&D Major Projects, Southern California Edison

Sean Black, Director, Transmission Business Development, Ameren

John Constable, Senior Engineer, ConEd

Jim DeSandro, Senior Engineer, Pepco Holdings

Matt Donaldson, Senior Engineer, PPL

Joe Goodhew, Director T&D, Newpark Mats and Integrated Services

Kevin Huyler, Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, National Grid

Purna Kharel, President & CEO, K&A Engineering Consulting

Matthew Krall, Senior Engineer, Transmission Line Engineering, AEP

Sugirtha Judd, Project Engineering Manager, PPL

Tim Lam, Project Engineer, Power Engineers

Zhi Li, Research and Development Member, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Ana Stachowiak, Project Manager, NYPA

Lauren Thomas, Project Origination and Growth, PSEG

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Transmission Upgrades & Reconductoring Conference 2019

October 1, 2019 | Newark, NJ

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

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