RMEL eNews

Education and Upcoming Events

Don't Miss These Upcoming RMEL Events
Introduction to the Electric Utility Workshop — January 17, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
Steam Generation Cycling Symposium — February 20-21, 2019 (Overland Park, KS)
Safety Roundtable — February 22, 2019 (Westminster, CO)
Transmission Conference — March 6-7, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
Distribution Conference — March 12-14, 2019 (Salt Lake City, UT)
Safety Conference — March 27-28, 2019 (Kansas City, MO)
Spring Management, Engineering & Operations Conference — May 20-22, 2019 *NEW MONDAY-WEDNESDAY DATES* (Phoenix, AZ)
Transmission Symposium — June 12, 2019
Power Supply Planning for Modern Energy Solutions — June 19-20, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
RMEL Foundation Golf Tournament — June 26, 2019 (Littleton, CO)
Project Management Workshop — July 10-11, 2019 (Golden, CO)
Plant Management, Engineering and Operations Conference — August 7-8, 2019
Leadership Workshop — August 14-15, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
Safety Roundtable — August 23, 2019 (Golden, CO)
Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention — September 16-18, 2019 *NEW MONDAY-WEDNESDAY DATES* (Kansas City, MO)
2020 Spring Conference Planning Session — October 3, 2019
Distribution Engineers Workshop — October 9-10, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
Renewable Planning & Operations Conference — October 23-24, 2019 (Lone Tree, CO)
Safety Roundtable — November 1, 2019 (Fort Collins, CO)

Visit https://www.rmel.org/RMEL/Events/List/RMEL/Events_Info/List_of_Events.aspx?hkey=caf67ebf-969d-42dd-815f-43eab06040da to view the full article online.

Industry Information

DOE Issues Notice of Intent for Funding Opportunity to Improve Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Materials from Coal-Based Resources

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy has issued a Notice of Intent for a Funding Opportunity Announcement focused on recovering rare earth elements and critical materials from domestic coal resources, using novel and conventional extraction, separation, and recovery processes.

Visit https://www.energy.gov/fe/articles/doe-issues-notice-intent-funding-opportunity-improve-recovery-rare-earth-elements-and to view the full article online.

World's Biggest Ultra-High Voltage Line Powers Up Across China

State Grid Corp. of China has started up the world’s longest and most-powerful ultra-high voltage power line from its far northwest to the heavily populated east.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/overhead-transmission/worlds-biggest-ultra-high-voltage-line-powers-across-china to view the full article online.

NRECA Welcomes EPA Proposal to Clarify Oversight of Waterways

To the relief of electric cooperatives, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to replace its 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, which significantly expanded what waters and wetlands should be federally regulated.

EPA on Dec. 11 proposed to limit “waters of the U.S.” to traditional navigable waters and tributaries, ditches, wetlands and other features that have direct and consistent flows into navigable waters.

Visit https://www.sunflower.net/nreca-welcomes-epa-proposal-to-clarify-oversight-of-waterways/ to view the full article online.

Learn the Top 5 Hydro News Stories of 2018

For hydropower, 2018 was a bit of a rollercoaster year. Again, the buzz around solar, and wind, had a tendency to overshadow hydro in the popular media. Regardless, hydroelectricity continued to be a valuable contributor to worldwide electricity supply, with plants being built and pumped storage getting quite a bit of traction toward the end of the year.

Visit https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2018/12/learn-the-top-5-hydro-news-stories-of-2018.html to view the full article online.

Southern Company is Ranked No. 1 Energy Company and No. 7 Overall Company on National List of Military-Friendly Employers for 2019

Southern Company is the highest-rated energy company and No. 7 overall in G.I. Jobs Magazine's annual ranking of the top military friendly employers.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/general/90/740695/southern-company-is-ranked-no-1-energy-company-and-no-7-overall-company-on-national-list-of-military-friendly-employers-for-2019-.html to view the full article online.

Washington State Follows California Lead on Vehicle Emissions

New vehicles in Washington will be required to meet the most stringent emissions standards in the country, regardless of whether the Trump administration is successful in rolling back those requirements, state officials announced on Wednesday.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-state-follows-california-lead-on-vehicle-emissions/545246/ to view the full article online.

Quarterly Coal Distribution Report

The Quarterly Coal Distribution Report (QCDR) provides detailed U.S. domestic coal distribution data by coal origin state, coal destination state, mode of transportation, and consuming sector. All quarterly data are preliminary and will be superseded by the release of the Annual Coal Distribution Report.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/coal/distribution/quarterly/ to view the full article online.

U.S. Coal Use Drops to Lowest Level Since 1979

Americans are consuming less coal in 2018 than at any time since Jimmy Carter's presidency, a federal report said, as cheap natural gas and other rival sources of energy frustrate the Trump administration's pledges to revive the U.S. coal industry.

Visit https://www.elp.com/articles/2018/12/us-coal-use-drops-to-lowest-level-since-1979.html to view the full article online.

NextEra, Dominion Complete Major Utility Acquisitions, Expanding Reach in the South

The new year opened with the completion of acquisitions that expand the reach of two of the South's dominant utility companies, making them even larger.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nextera-dominion-complete-major-utility-acquisitions-expanding-reach-in-t/545150/ to view the full article online.

Linemen Light Up the World One Village at a Time

Electric cooperatives in Oklahoma and Colorado sent volunteer linemen to Guatemala to power two remote villages.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations/linemen-light-world-one-village-time to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

Austin Energy Green Building Hits New Milestone

Austin Energy Green Building recently hit a big milestone, now boasting more than 15,000 single family homes in the Austin area that have earned an AEGB rating since the program’s launch in 1991.

Visit https://austinenergy.com/ae/about/news/press-releases/2018/austin-energy-green-building-hits-new-milestone to view the full article online.

Jeff Guldner Named APS President

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation announced that Jeffrey B. Guldner has been named president of Arizona Public Service (APS), the company’s principal subsidiary. He will have responsibility for all areas of APS excluding nuclear generation.

Guldner reports to Don Brandt, chairman, CEO and president of Pinnacle West and chairman and CEO of APS. Brandt, who currently serves as chairman of the Nuclear Energy Institute, will retain direct responsibility over nuclear generation to leverage his industry experience and ensure a continued focus on excellence at Palo Verde Generating Station.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/ourcompany/news/latestnews/Pages/pinnacle-west-announces-executive-management-changes.aspx to view the full article online.

Black Hills Corp. Requests Renewable Tariffs and Approval for $57 Million Wind Project

Black Hills Corp. announced its Black Hills Energy electric utility subsidiaries in South Dakota and Wyoming filed for approval of new, voluntary renewable energy tariffs to serve customer requests for renewable energy resources.

Visit https://www.blackhillscorp.com/node/118086#.XC96lFVKjRY to view the full article online.

CPS Energy Prepared to Assist Federal Employees Affected by Government Shutdown

CPS Energy is ready to help customers who are U.S. federal employees and who are being affected by the recently launched government shutdown. Specifically relative to their energy bills, CPS Energy has a variety of money-saving and general assistance programs designed to help all customers who have informed us of a hardship.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/cps-energy-prepared-to-assist-federal-employees-affected-by-government-shutdown/ to view the full article online.

El Paso Electric Announces Results of Competitive Bid for New Generation

El Paso Electric Company announced the selection of resource additions needed by the 2022-2023 summer peak season.

Visit https://ir.epelectric.com/news/news-details/2018/El-Paso-Electric-Announces-Results-of-Competitive-Bid-for-New-Generation/default.aspx to view the full article online.

LES Offers Customers $1.5 Million in Sustainable Energy Program Incentives

Lincoln Electric System’s Sustainable Energy Program returns this year with $1.5 million in incentive funds. Additionally, LES has retained unspent funds from the 2018 Sustainable Energy Program for development of expanded residential programs in 2019 that are consistent with the program’s goals and complement other community residential initiatives.

Visit https://www.les.com/about-les/news/view?article_id=113516 to view the full article online.

NPPD Electric Rates will Remain Stable in 2019

The message is nearly the same from Nebraska Public Power District. NPPD retail and wholesale customers will see no overall average electric rate increase in rates for 2019, following action by the utility’s Board of Directors.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/2018/nppd-electric-rates-will-remain-stable-2019/ to view the full article online.

Platte River/RMEL Taking Scholarship Applications

Platte River Power Authority is pleased to announce that, for the fourth consecutive year, the Roy J. Rohla Memorial Scholarship will be offered through the RMEL Foundation.

Visit https://www.prpa.org/news/platte-river-rmel-taking-scholarship-applications-2/ to view the full article online.

PNM Becomes First in the World to Deploy Protection Technology

PNM became the first utility in the world to place a new protective relay device into service on a high-voltage 345kV transmission line that connects from the northwest part of the state, near Farmington, into the Albuquerque metro area.

Visit https://www.pnm.com/122618-protection-technology to view the full article online.

SRP Seeks Price Decrease

Salt River Project is opening a public process on Dec. 20 to consider a proposed overall average annual price decrease of 2.2 percent. The $64 million overall decrease in prices proposed by SRP management is a result of a reduction in fuel expenses and a modest increase in base prices. The proposed decrease will vary by customer type and price plan.

Visit https://www.srpnet.com/newsroom/releases/122018.aspx to view the full article online.

Tri-State G&T Employees Forfeit Holidays to Help California Wildfire Restoration Efforts

On Dec. 9, 10 of our line techs left for California to help repair transmission damage caused by 10,000 wildfires this year. In true co-op fashion, our crew gave up their holidays with families and friends to help Pacific Gas and Electric Company(link is external) and their customers for the next 30 days. Areas hit by the wildfires are still without power in tricky and challenging terrain.

Visit https://www.tristategt.org/content/our-employees-forfeit-holidays-help-california-wildfire-restoration-efforts to view the full article online.

And Now for the Weather - and Renewable Energy Report

When viewers tune in for KOLD News 13’s weather forecast, they now can find out how many homes were powered by solar and wind energy that day. KOLD is believed to be the only TV station in the country to air a solar and wind energy report as part of the news. The segment, which began in October, is part of a unique partnership between KOLD and Tucson Electric Power to educate customers about our renewable energy efforts.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/and-now-for-the-weather-and-renewable-energy-report/ to view the full article online.

ENGIE North America's Distributed Solar Team Unveils Largest Battery Storage Project in Colorado for United Power

The largest Lithium-ion battery storage installation in the state of Colorado which ENGIE North America developed and constructed for United Power was inaugurated in December.

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/energy-storage/143/740669/engie-north-america-s-distributed-solar-team-unveils-largest-battery-storage-project-in-colorado-for-united-power.html to view the full article online.

Proposed OATT Revisions Posted Online, Comment Period Open Through Feb. 1

Western Area Power Administration will host a webinar Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. Mountain Time to present its proposed Open Access Transmission Tariff revisions to customers and other stakeholders.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsReleases/2018/Pages/oatt-revision-webinar-materials-available.aspx to view the full article online.

Xcel Energy Aims for Zero-Carbon Electricity by 2050

Xcel Energy, a national leader in renewable energy, rolled out a clean energy vision that will deliver 100 percent carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050.

Visit https://www.xcelenergy.com/company/media_room/news_releases/xcel_energy_aims_for_zero-carbon_electricity_by_2050 to view the full article online.

Rocky Mountain Electrical League