RMEL eNews

Industry Information

Despite the fact that electricity is such a critical commodity for every aspect of our lives, its importance is often overlooked. From school children watching educational videos, to the working adult using computers to national leaders taking selfies with their electorate, the electricity that enables it all is given little thought.

Visit https://www.electricity-today.com/smart-grid/five-uses-for-reliability-data to view the full article online.

PG&E Taps New CEO, 10 Directors to Lead Utility Through Bankruptcy

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) on Monday announced sweeping leadership changes, selecting Bill Johnson, who led the Tennessee Valley Authority for six years, to take over as president and CEO and lead the embattled California utility through a bankruptcy-driven restructuring and wildfire-related issues.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pge-taps-new-ceo-10-directors-to-lead-utility-through-bankruptcy/552020/ to view the full article online.

Dirty Jobs Star Stresses Need to Bolster Skilled Workforce

The reality of America's skilled jobs gap is getting “pixelated” these days, Mike Rowe said, and it’s obscuring the real workforce needs in our nation.

Visit https://www.power-eng.com/articles/2019/03/dirty-jobs-star-stresses-need-to-bolster-skilled-workforce.html to view the full article online.

NHA, Chelan PUD Release Report on Reinvigorating Hydropower in the U.S.

The National Hydropower Association (NHA) and Chelan County Public Utility District have released a report looking at public policy areas that can unleash the capabilities of hydropower for the next 30 years. Entitled “Reinvigorating Hydropower: A cornerstone of our clean, affordable, reliable electric future,” the report describes the value hydropower provides to the grid and the recommended governmental and industry policies necessary to fully realize hydropower’s value.

Visit https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2019/04/nha-chelan-pud-release-report-on-reinvigorating-hydropower-in-the-u-s.html to view the full article online.

DOE Announces $20 Million for a Regional Initiative to Accelerate Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $20 million in federal funding for cooperative agreements that will help accelerate the deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The selected projects will support the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) Carbon Storage Program.

Visit https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-20-million-regional-initiative-accelerate-carbon-capture-utilization-and to view the full article online.

BANC/SMUD joins California ISO's Western EIM: Real-time Market has Generated More Than a Half-Billion Dollars in Benefits

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) announced that Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), part of the Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC), successfully began full participation in the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM).

Visit https://electricenergyonline.com/article/energy/category/general/90/759575/banc-smud-joins-california-iso-s-western-eim-real-time-market-has-generated-more-than-a-half-billion-dollars-in-benefits.html to view the full article online.

California Imports the Most Electricity From Other States; Pennsylvania Exports the Most

Electricity routinely flows among the Lower 48 states and, to a lesser extent, between the United States and Canada and Mexico. From 2013 to 2017, Pennsylvania was the largest net exporter of electricity, sending an annual average of 59 million megawatthours (MWh) outside the state. California was the largest net importer, receiving an average of 77 million MWh annually.

Visit https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=38912 to view the full article online.

Missouri Bill Would Bar Eminent Domain for Wind Energy Line

Just weeks after winning a key regulatory approval, one the nation's largest wind energy projects is facing a new obstacle from Missouri legislation that could prevent the proposed high-voltage power line from being strung across the property of uncooperative landowners.

Visit https://www.elp.com/articles/2019/04/missouri-bill-would-bar-eminent-domain-for-wind-energy-line.html to view the full article online.

New Control Technologies Lower Microgrid Costs, Ease Renewables Integration

The Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, California, houses 4,000 inmates and has an electric load of about 3 MW, partly served via a smart microgrid, installed as a field demonstration of an autonomous and decentralized control concept.

Visit https://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-control-technologies-lower-microgrid-costs-ease-renewables-integration/551856/ to view the full article online.

Joint Venture to Test Transactive Energy Markets and Evaluate DER

Ameren Corporation and Opus One Solutions recently announced their decision to work together to test a transactive energy marketplace (TEM) and evaluate the use of Blockchain ledger systems. The marketplace will build on the technologically advanced, utility-scale microgrid in Illinois and Opus One’s GridOS platform.

Visit https://www.tdworld.com/distributed-energy-resources/joint-venture-test-transactive-energy-markets-and-evaluate-der to view the full article online.

Member Announcements

APS Moving Forward to Bring New Clean-Energy Projects Online for Customers

After announcing nearly a gigawatt of new clean-energy projects in February, APS is now seeking proposals to build two of them in different parts of the state.

Visit https://www.aps.com/en/ourcompany/news/latestnews/Pages/aps-moving-forward-to-bring-new-clean-energy-projects-online-for-customers.aspx to view the full article online.

Basin Electric’s Member Investment Program Sets Record

As of Mar. 28, the Member Investment Program held $291.9 million, the highest amount in the history of the program. The last time a record was set was in September 2018, when the program held $291.6 million.

Visit https://www.basinelectric.com/news-center/news-briefs/basin-electrics-member-investment-program-sets-record to view the full article online.

Paula Gold-Williams Honored as 2019 Champion by the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE)

CPS Energy’s President & CEO Paula-Gold Williams was honored by the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE), a national organization focused on women, energy and the environment, at their 38th Annual Woman of the Year Reception and Dinner Gala in Washington, D.C., for her leadership in mentoring women in the energy and/or environmental fields.

Visit https://newsroom.cpsenergy.com/paula-gold-williams-honored-as-2019-champion-by-the-womens-council-on-energy-and-the-environment-wcee/ to view the full article online.

EPE Files to Implement a Distribution Cost Recovery Factor in Texas

On March 28, 2019, El Paso Electric Company (EPE) filed with the City of El Paso, other municipalities incorporated in its Texas service territory and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to implement a Distribution Cost Recovery Factor (DCRF) surcharge for its Texas customers.

Visit https://www.epelectric.com/about-el-paso-electric/article/epe-files-to-implement-a-distribution-cost-recovery-factor-in-texas to view the full article online.

KCP&L Reviewed Grid Modernization Efforts at Stakeholder Meeting

KCP&L hosted a public informational meeting to review its five-year capital plan on March 27. KCP&L representatives provided a brief presentation on how the utility is expanding efforts to modernize the electrical grid. Communities and customers will benefit from initiatives to improve reliability, utilize smart technology, upgrade aging infrastructure and provide greater and easier access to renewable generation sources.

Visit http://www.evergyinc.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kcpl-review-grid-modernization-efforts-stakeholder-meeting to view the full article online.

LES to Celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day

Join Lincoln Electric System, other electric utilities and residents across Nebraska in recognizing April 8, 2019, as National Lineworker Appreciation Day.

Visit https://www.les.com/about-les/news/view?article_id=114999 to view the full article online.

NPPD Will Begin Wood Pole Inspections Across the State

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has contracted with Smith Mountain Investments to inspect wood poles on its distribution, sub transmission and transmission facilities during the calendar year 2019. Crews from the contractors are expected to begin inspections in April and completing the work in June.

Visit https://www.nppd.com/press-releases/nppd-will-begin-wood-pole-inspections-across-the-state to view the full article online.

SRP Partners with the City of Tempe to Plant More Than 450 Trees

The city of Tempe, Ariz. will be safer and greener thanks to a partnership between the city and Salt River Project. As part of the Right Tree Right Place program, SRP contractors removed 171 trees that are encroaching on power lines in the city and replacing them with more than 450 trees more suitable for the area. Tempe is turning the removed trees into nutrient-rich compost that residents can pick up for free.

Visit https://media.srpnet.com/srp-partners-with-the-city-of-tempe-to-plant-more-than-500-trees/ to view the full article online.

Liberty Utilities Announces Return Of The Osprey

Liberty Utilities and Mid Central Contractors invite you to celebrate the return of the Osprey to Stockton Lake. View the birds through the live video stream as they prepare for the nesting season. The live stream can be accessed from https://mclivetech.com/ospreycam/.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/rme-nwl/pdf/03-20-19_Liberty_Utilities_Announces_Return_of_the_Osprey.pdf to view the full article online.

TEP Seeks Updated Rates to Support Reliable and More Sustainable Service

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is seeking updated rates beginning in May 2020 to support investments in a more reliable and sustainable electric system. TEP’s current rates do not reflect approximately $1.2 billion the company has invested since June 2015 to maintain and improve its service while transitioning to a cleaner, more flexible and resilient energy portfolio.

Visit https://www.tep.com/news/tep-seeks-updated-rates-to-support-reliable-and-more-sustainable-service/ to view the full article online.

WAPA, EPRI Collaborate for Innovation

Do what is right. Do what is safe. This core value has particular resonance with one of the riskier tasks that WAPA’s linemen undertake: live-line maintenance. Live-line maintenance refers to work on energized lines, which is required when a line is unable to be de-energized for upkeep or repair.

Visit https://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/NewsFeatures/2019/Pages/epri-collaboration.aspx to view the full article online.

New Renewable Energy Option Available for Xcel Energy Wisconsin Customers

Xcel Energy customers in Wisconsin now have a new option to power their homes and businesses with clean wind and solar energy. The Renewable*Connect® Wisconsin program has launched and will allow customers to subscribe to the full renewable energy benefits of low-cost wind and solar energy, giving them the flexibility to choose how much and for how long.

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

Rocky Mountain Electrical League