Chuck Hoffman

Additional stress being placed on grid transformers is contributing to outages and higher distribution charges as utilities are forced to upgrade and replace transformers. Studies have found that sub-metering behind the meter results in 35% less usage; and transformer monitoring can result in intelligent transformer maintenance preventing outages.

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The forecast for electricity needs in the Pacific Northwest points to rapid growth and increased demand. While more renewable energy is coming online, the existing transmission system also needs to be expanded. Learn more about the plans for the Northwest power grid at https://lnkd.in/gwM2HTj3

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The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and the Department of Local Affairs have released the Colorado Microgrid Roadmap! NORESCO aided the CEO and S&C Electric Company in the facilitation of stakeholder engagement and development of this report. The roadmap resource explains the definitions, benefits, and challenges of microgrids in Colorado. It also explores opportunities within the state, especially from the perspective of vulnerable populations and regions most at risk for outages. Read the CEO’s press release: https://lnkd.in/eGk7HMPT For more about NORESCO’s involvement with microgrids, visit our website at https://lnkd.in/eFK35QRC #ColoradoEnergyOffice #microgrids #codesandstandards #energyresiliency #renewableenergy

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The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) has greenlit 488 new #transmissionprojects with a $30 billion investment through its Long Range Transmission Planning Tranche 2.1. These projects promise: ⚡ 5,053 miles of new transmission to support #cleanenergy expansion 🌐 Improved interregional connections for stronger grid reliability 💡 $8.1 billion in energy production savings through more efficient electricity dispatch 🌱 A 115 GW buildout of new energy resources 🔋 Reduced energy curtailment by 11.2% (27.1 MWh) This marks a huge leap toward a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective energy future for the Midwest. 🌎✨ Read here: https://loom.ly/Qn4V9I4

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Another missed opportunity to improve resilience and community good will. This Puget Sound Energy 230kV line upgrade was very controversial https://lnkd.in/epSUBNTV with the utility claiming a “critical need” as far back as 2013. The neighborhoods wanted the line underground….not to be. In time, utilities will start to evaluate “the total cost of ownership” of transmission and distribution lines that might include the lost revenue customers have during extended outages, the internal costs of YEARS of fighting with your franchise granting communities, and the significant advances in UG technology that reduces construction costs and, according to FERC 1 https://lnkd.in/etxbWdA6 reports filed by all IOU’s, has lower O&M costs. Planners, engineers and data scientists take note. Be sure to evaluate all your options. Thanks. Mike #pdi2 #underground #totalcostofownership

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The California Energy Commission has launched an RFP for "Distributed Energy and Electrification Analysis" using the LF Energy Arras project. The goal of the initiative is "to buildout the state’s electric distribution grid model to support the CEC in assessing various electrification and distributed energy resource (DER) adoption scenarios." Learn more about the RFP and how to submit a proposal at https://hubs.la/Q02TtnTR0 #lfenergy #energy #utilities #arras #energytransition #der #climatetech

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In this week’s AEIC (Association of Edison Illuminating Companies) Grid Mod Pod episode, we’re excited to be joined by Mark Esguerra, Director of Distribution System Planning and Strategy for Southern California Edison (SCE) California Edison. Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen in: -Why planning for increased transportation and building electrification is a top priority for Southern California Edison -How changes in overall load have impacted the evolution of grid planning technologies -How Southern California Edison is enabling a faster interconnection process for customers, and how other utilities can do the same -Why automation will play a critical role in supporting increased demand on the grid -How forecasting can get key customers and stakeholders on board with transportation electrification projects – This podcast is brought to you by AEIC, the place where operations leaders come together to share knowledge and provide guidance to the electric utility industry. We'll be back with a new episode next week. Until then, keep powering on! https://lnkd.in/eWQ-DjUh

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Very insightful! Technologies like DLR, predictive maintenance, asset life expectancy etc. not only help improving reliability, safety, and grid resiliency, but also greatly contribute to affordability by reducing requirements of costly and time consumimg upgrades, and by optimizing usage of existing infrastructure and converting emergency repairs into scheduled ones. It amazes me to see how having accurate weather information plays crucial role in that. #weatherdata #DLR #predictivemaintenance #gridresilience

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The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently issued a decision that sets timelines for the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities to complete customer energization projects. Energization is the process of connecting electrification projects—such as electric vehicle charging equipment—to the grid so that we can make use of our clean energy technologies. By setting timelines to complete energization projects, the CPUC decision recognizes that the state’s clean energy transition can’t happen without the timely integration of electrification projects to the grid. IREC has been actively engaged in the decision’s proceedings and contributed to the decision’s results. Our new blog post digs into the CPUC’s decision requirements for energization timelines, how the decision sets out to implement current clean energy laws and goals, and why accelerating energization is crucial for our transition to clean energy. Read it now at https://lnkd.in/g3fqQ_fD!

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In mid-October, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) released a proposal to allocate approximately $3 billion to assist in strengthening the electrical grid within the Pacific Northwest. Under the proposal, 13 transmission and substation projects have been selected from BPA’s Transmission Service Request Study and Expansion Process 2023 cluster study to receive the announced funding. The selected projects include Grand Coulee-Columbia-Schultz 500 kV; Schultz-Olympia 500 kV; Central Oregon 500 kV Dynamic Reactive Upgrades; RATS: Reno-Alturas Reactive Addition; North of Marion Upgrade #1; North of Marion Upgrade #2; North of Pearl; Big Eddy-Quenett Creek Upgrade; Ostrander-Pearl #1 Upgrade; Big Eddy-The Dalles Rebuild; and Lower Columbia to Nevada-Oregon Border (NOB). Prior to funding and construction, each of the 13 projects will undergo the required engineering and environmental review procedures. If constructed, the selected projects will not only support the growing electrical demand within the Pacific Northwest but will further provide assist in connecting thousands of megawatts of proposed solar, wind and energy storage projects to the grid. #ElectricalGrid #Transmission #Substation #BPA #Solar #Wind #EnergyStorage #Reliability #TransmissionStudy #ElectricPower #MAPSearch #ENvision

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A bipartisan permitting reform bill was released on Monday. The proposed legislation supports FERC's authority to approve transmission lines and paves the way to require interregional transmission planning. If passed, the law would also require planners to consider advanced conductors and reconductoring in order to maximize current transmission capabilities. Read more about the new bill and the industry response in the article below. ⬇️ #FERC #Transmission #USEnergy #KinectSolar

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According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, developers and power plant owners added 20.2 GW of utility-scale electric generating capacity in the U.S. during H1 2024, 3.6 GW (21%) more as compared to the capacity added during H1 2023. #EnergyInformation #PowerPlant #Utilities

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According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, developers and power plant owners added 20.2 GW of utility-scale electric generating capacity in the U.S. during H1 2024, 3.6 GW (21%) more as compared to the capacity added during H1 2023. #EnergyInformation #PowerPlant #Utilities

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Interregional transmission can provide many benefits -- yet power markets and grid operating practices are not set up to fully capture these benefits. This new report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the DOE Grid Deployment Office lays out the barriers that need to be addressed to realize the full value of existing and new interregional transmission: https://lnkd.in/ekzximcU One of the necessary steps to improve seams-related inefficiencies is "intertie optimization," which we addressed here: https://lnkd.in/ew3QtcpQ and here: https://lnkd.in/dptXMG3t Great work by Christina Simeone, PhD and Amy Rose! #gridmodernization

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Utilities don’t typically come to mind when mentioning microgrids, but San Diego Gas & Electric is an exception. Our Microgrid Controller features in several projects designed to enhance grid reliability and resiliency. https://lnkd.in/gju75UM6 

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Enjoying panel discussion today re: clean energy for AI here in my hometown of Seattle and catching up with clients, partners, and colleagues. Of course long distance transmission top of mind, also interesting discussion of nuclear energy growth as well https://lnkd.in/g64QEukh

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Starting your 2025 sales plan for major overhead and underground HV and EHV transmission projects? Look here, but remember routing and permitting lead times for some of these projects have been over 10 years. We need better policy and technical solutions to expedite the build out. Federal policies break down quickly on a state by state and local basis. We engineers should offer solutions built around technologies like underground, super conductors, advanced (composite core) conductors , DLR, rigorous FERC 881 compliance and compact designs (like BOLD). More capacity from existing rights-of-way is a megatrend and the solution for our immediate transmission needs. Do you agree? Thanks. Mike #pdi2 #innovation #transmission

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NERC recommends adding 35,000 MW of interregional transmission capacity as "prudent additions" to address grid resiliency needs! Note that this assessment solely focuses on energy adequacy and the level of assistance likely available from neighboring regions during resiliency challenges, such as winter storms. The study does not, for example, consider: 1️⃣ Resilience support available from regions beyond the immediate neighbors (such as PJM's exports to SPP during winter storm Elliot). 2️⃣ A multi-value perspective that takes into account the added economic and public-policy benefits of interregional transmission, which often justify expanding interregional transmission beyond these NERC results (as DOE's National Transmission Planning Study has most recently shown). NERC report: https://lnkd.in/e_GuKkAk Utility Dive summary: https://lnkd.in/eW3U_E34 North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) #gridmodernization

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