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FEATURES:
Integrating Wildlife with Power TransmissionA Win-Win Solution ................8
Care Act Builds on Manufacturing Industry Efforts to Ensure Safe Imaging Services ......................20 MITA Issues Statement on JACR Radiology Benefit Managers Study ..............................................20 Code Actions/Standardization Trends ............21 Standards WarsMyth or Reality A Timely Discussion of an Old Issue.............................21 IEC Committees Abuzz with T&D Issues ......................22 New Tool Available to Electroindustry for Specifying Nanomaterials............................................23 ANSI C84.1Just Right! ............................................24 3 TS Adds Standardized Controls to Flashing Yellow Arrows ..............................................................24 Roadside Lighting Systems & Transportation Management CentersNTCIP Builds on Historical Developments in Street Lighting.................25 Progress of IEC-Based Standards Developed under CANENA Harmonization Process.......................26 U.S. Delegation to IEC TC Seeks Experts for Environmental Standards Development .....................27 IEC Considers Potential Surge Arrester Classification Changes .................................................27 Pennsylvania Repeals Sprinkler Requirement.............28 Idaho Begins Process of Adopting 2011 NEC ............28 International Roundup ................................29 Energy Efficiency Collaboration Project Announced at COPANT 2011 General Assembly ............................29 Economic Spotlight ......................................31
CONTENTS
T&D SystemsWhen Does Automation Become Smart?.........................................10 NEMA to Organize Power Solutions Division ...11 A Personal JourneyDiscovering the High Flux Isotope Reactor at NEMA ...............12 Surge Arresters: Utility Surge Protection Upgrade Considerations ...............................14 Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007A Smart Grid Reality Check ............16
NOTES:
NEMA Officers ................................................................2 Comments from the C-Suite..........................................2 View from the Top ..........................................................3
DEPARTMENTS:
Washington Report........................................4 Transmission CorridorsGetting Power from Point A to Point B ...........................................................4 DOE Reviewing Efficiency Standards for Distribution Transformers ..............................................6 e-KNOW Act Gives Consumers Control .........................7 DOE Awards $19 Billion in T&D Technologies ...............7 Electroindustry News ...................................17 Leading Technology Forecaster to be Featured at NEMAs 2011 Annual Meeting .................17 Tune into ESFI for Safety Videos ...................................17 Midwest Flooding Prompts Warning about Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment........................18 Earthfest Earns a Thumbs Up.......................................18 Surveying the Future of Electric Heat ..........................19
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Publisher | Joseph Higbee Managing Editor / Editor in Chief | Pat Walsh Contributing Editors | William E. Green III Chrissy L. Skudera Economic Spotlight | Timothy Gill Standards | Al Scolnik Washington Report | Kyle Pitsor Art Director | Jennifer Tillmann Media Sales Team Leader | Stephanie Bunsick
electroindustry
electroindustry (ISSN 1066-2464) is published monthly by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 1752, Rosslyn, VA 22209; 703.841.3200. FAX: 703.841.5900. Periodicals postage paid at Rosslyn, VA, and York, PA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NEMA, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 1752, Rosslyn, VA 22209. The opinions or views expressed in electroindustry do not necessarily reflect the positions of NEMA or any of its subdivisions. Follow NEMA: www.nema.org/facebook, blog.nema.org, podcast.nema.org, twitter.com/NEMAupdates, www.youtube.com/NEMAvue, www.nema.org/linkedin
Officers
Chairman David J. FitzGibbon Vice Chairman & CEO ILSCO Corporation First Vice Chairman Dominic J. Pileggi Chairman of the Board & CEO Thomas & Betts Corporation Second Vice Chairman John Selldorff President & CEO Legrand North America Treasurer Christopher Curtis President & CEO Schneider Electric Immediate Past Chairman Charlie Jerabek Vice Chairman OSrAm Sylvania President & CEO Evan R. Gaddis Secretary Clark R. Silcox
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
Washington Report
Transmission CorridorsGetting Power from Point A to Point B
Getting power from point A to point B sounds as simple as connecting the dots; however, development of electric transmission facilities faces an uncertain future. NEMA is supporting policies that will encourage the development of transmission facilities to improve reliability and incorporate more renewable energy into the electrical grid. Recent events at all government levels give credence to both the optimist and pessimist. favorable rulInG by blM The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the federal agency responsible for balancing multiple uses of 253 million acres of public land primarily in the western U.S., has made a decision that is positive for development of wind and solar energy on federal lands. The interim rule, effective April 26, 2011, seeks to reduce the conflicts between wind and solar developers and mining claimants. The conflict occurs when a mining claim is made on land which has already been identified by a wind or solar developer in its application to the BLM for a rightof-way (ROW) for a generation facility. Because the law states that the use of the lands surface cannot interfere with a properly located mining claim, these claims can impede the BLM processing of a ROW application. Such dual claims have caused headaches for energy developers, sometimes requiring the developer to make a payment to have the mining claim relinquished, whether or not the claim was bona fide or merely speculative. The rule, which will stand for no more than two years, will allow areas of land identified in applications to BLM for wind or solar generation to be segregated temporarily while the BLM reviews the application, which protects it from mining claims under the Mining Law. BLM has also issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the same purposes as the interim rule. After a public comment period, BLM will finalize the rule which will take the place of the interim rule. ferc studyInG transMIssIon IncentIves The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a Notice of Inquiry concerning a portfolio of incentives offered to developers of electric transmission facilities (Docket No. RM-11-26-000). The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) directed FERC to establish new incentives to encourage development of the highest priority and most challenging transmission lines. FERC complied through Order No. 679 in July 2006 and since that time, some have become concerned that these incentives are being added to projects less judiciously than intended. FERC is seeking comment on which factors should be considered in an application for incentives, how the incentives have helped to achieve the goals of EPAct 2005, what obstacles face transmission developers, what incentives address those obstacles, and how to balance the need for transmission investment with just and reasonable rates. Comments are due by July 26, 2011. courts Put reGIonal corrIdors on Ice This spring, the deadline passed for the federal government to appeal the February ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which invalidated the establishment of National
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
Interest Electric Transmission Corridors. These corridors were conceived in EPAct 2005 and designed by the Department of Energy (DOE) to streamline the regulatory landscape in two of the most congested regions of the countrythe Southwest and the Mid-Atlantic. The court held that DOE had not conducted proper environmental reviews in establishing the corridors. The courts had previously overturned the federal backstop authority claimed by FERC when states fail to site an interstate transmission facility within one year. Given these setbacks, DOEs next steps to address the nations inadequate electric infrastructure are unclear. What is clear is that energy demand is growing and what Americans are demanding is more renewable sources of energy. Both of these factors lend urgency to the need for major investments in electric transmission facilities. Yet regulatory barriersand now court decisions continue to stand in the way of progress. neMa charGes ahead Many in Congress, with NEMAs strong backing, are still focused on getting more transmission lines built. NEMA has distributed Siting Transmission CorridorsA Real Life Game of Chutes and Ladders (www.nema.org/ TransmissionCorridorsGameboard) to members of Congress and several agencies. This foldout brochure highlights the numerous steps that are part of the arduous process of gaining approval for the construction of a transmission line. Siting Transmission Corridors continues to be well-received. Two proposals in the Senate, the BUILD Act (S 652 Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-
Term Development) and a Clean Energy Deployment Administration draft bill provide financial incentives and toolsfor transmission facilities. However, any financial tool needs to be accompanied by regulatory reform. To that end, NEMA promotes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Project No Project (www.projectnoproject.com). The study highlights 21 transmission undertakings that have been delayed or stopped outright because of overly burdensome regulations and lawsuits. The irony of environmental challenges is that many proposed transmission projects are designed to deliver clean, American, renewable energy. Virtually everyone agrees that alternative sources of domestic energy are part of the solution to the dependence on foreign sources of energy and are necessary to diversify our energy portfolio. NEMA has also been touting a recent study by the WIRES Group (Working Group for Investment in Reliable and Economic Electric Systems). The study, Employment and Economic Benefits of
Transmission Infrastructure Investment in the U.S. and Canada, shows that investments in Smart Grid create jobs. Findings indicate that the annual investment in new electrical transmission facilities could reach $12 to $16 billion in the U.S in the coming years. According to the study, this this level of investment will stimulate $30 to $40 billion in annual economic activity and support 150,000 to 200,000 full-time jobs each year over a 20-year period. The study highlights what NEMA and the electroindustry has long known: regulatory challenges and other barriers are preventing investment in transmission and the Smart Grid, leaving huge numbers of new jobs on the table. NEMA will continue to advocate for policies that encourage development of our electric infrastructure to increase American competitiveness and stimulate job growth. ei Jim Creevy, Director of Government Relations | jim.creevy@nema.org
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
Washington Report
DOE Reviewing Efficiency Standards for Distribution Transformers
Whats 98 percent (or more) efficient and installed all over? Distribution transformers, of course. The NEMA Transformer Section is currently working with the Department of Energy (DOE) and its Building Technologies Program to evaluate the need and justification for updating the federal energy conservation standards for newly-manufactured distribution transformers. The Transformer Products Section provided feedback in April to DOEs technical support document, the analysis that identifies the costs and benefits, along with underlying data and assumptions of updating efficiency standards. The existing standards for medium voltage dry-type and liquid-filled transformers went into effect in January 2010. Federal efficiency standards for low voltage dry-type distribution transformers became effective in 2007. DOE is considering even higher standards for some or all of the numerous models of distribution transformers, many of which are custom built to meet utility customer specifications. Manufacturers are eager to support conservation standards that are technologically feasible, economically justified, and that result in significant energy savings. For years, NEMA has been a partner with DOE in identifying standard levels that meet these criteria. Manufacturers are often willing to go further. The NEMA Premium efficiency transformer program was established for those manufacturers of low voltage dry-type transformers who sought to offer products to their customers with 30 percent fewer electrical losses than the federal efficiency standard allows. Over time, gains in energy efficiency have been beneficial to the customer and feasible for the manufacturer. As efficiency levels begin to approach 100 percent, however, there are significant additional costs associated with achieving the next marginal level of efficiency. These range from higher priced steel to the use of more material to higher transportation costs from a larger, heavier product. The challenge is to identify the levels that meet these objectives, but also those that do not (as a result of higher cost), and offer a perverse incentive to customers to repair less efficient transformers in their inventories rather than purchase new, more efficient products. NEMA believes maximum energy savings can be achieved through incentivizing utilities and other transformer owners to replace their decades old, less efficient models with new models that meet the current energy-efficiency standards of 98 or 99 percent. Under the current schedule, DOE will review comments in the coming months and by October 1, 2011, make a determination whether conservation standard levels should be raised. If DOE makes the determination that updated standards are warranted, a final rule with these standards would be due no later than October 1, 2012. NEMA will be fully engaged in providing recommendations to DOE and in working with various stakeholder organizations. ei Jim Creevy, Director of Government Relations | jim.creevy@nema.org
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
Yellow-breasted chats and turkey vultures are among the wildlife that benefit from integrated vegetation management. Photos courtesy of Ron Runkles
Integrating Wildlife
contributed more than $8 million to help mitigate the loss of habitat, while more than $23.5 million has been spent in Oklahoma in the past five years to protect the lesser prairiechicken. It costs an average of $600 per acre to restore bare dirt to suitable habitat for the lesser prairie-chicken. Meanwhile, wind farms are being sited in Texas and Kansas, and research is being done that may show wind farms are beneficial to lesser prairie-chickens. It seems that while lesser prairie-chickens fly low to the ground well under wind turbine blades, the hawks that prey upon them do not like the turbulence caused by the blades.
ould a chicken-like bird no larger than an America crow stop an industry in its tracks and potentially cost Oklahoma billions of dollars in lost revenues?
It is hard to imagine that a bird living in a short-grass, dry, wind-swept prairie habitat wields such power, but the lesser prairie-chicken may potentially do just that. It may cripple Oklahomas wind energy industry. But how can this be? The breeding populations of the lesser prairie-chicken have been drastically declining for decades to the point that it is being considered for listing as an endangered species. Conservation officials claim that wind turbine towers and their transmission lines contribute to the shrinking, natural breeding habitat of this species. There may be some truth to this. Using radio tagging, researchers at the University of Kansas recently found that lesser prairie-chickens avoid man-made structures, such as power lines, when nesting and raising broods. They stay as much as a quarter of a mile away from power lines. One thought on this behavior is that power lines provide a convenient perch for hawks hunting the lesser prairiechickens and other prey. Because of the shrinking habitat and declining breeding populations, Oklahoma Gas and Electric has
An increasing number of power companies practice what is called integrated vegetation management. According to this strategy, mice, voles, rabbits, and deer are encouraged to eat the plethora of tree seeds and seedlings beneath overhead transmission lines. Integrated vegetation management does several things. It removes trees that would otherwise grow tall and short-out power lines, it reduces herbicide use, and it reduces injuries from chain saws and hydraulic mowing machines. This strategy leaves desirable vegetation, such as low-growing shrubs and herbaceous plant communities, which attract migrating neo-tropical birds, such as Canada and magnolia warblers and veeries, in the spring and fall. The vegetation also provides breeding habitat for indigo buntings, yellow-breasted chats, and alder flycatchers, among many other species.
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
The symbiotic relationship of power lines and wildlife, especially birds, has created a niche industry. Companies now manufacture various types of perch deterrents and insulators for live conductors. IEEE has published two new standards: IEEE 1651 Guide to Reducing Bird-Related Deaths and IEEE 1656 Guide for Testing the Electrical, Mechanical, and Durability Performance of Wildlife Protective Devices on Overhead Power Distribution Systems Rated Up to 38 kV. The first standard covers methods, techniques, and designs that can be used to mitigate bird-related power outages and equipment damage due to birds interacting with electrical equipment. As with many things, there are risks and rewards. On the one hand, birds can cause problems for power companies along power line rights of ways. Lesser prairie-chickens may jeopardize the growth of the wind farm industry and its connection to the power grid. Ospreys build nests on power line poles, which occasionally cause short-circuits. Many power companies now erect special nesting structures for them. According to Delmarva Power, which provides electricity to 498,000 customers in Delaware and the Delmarva Peninsula, electric utility rights-of-way have traditionally supported little more than poles, lines, and
towers. By law, these companies must maintain the vegetation beneath power lines. By turning them into wildlife habitats, power companies can reduce long-term maintenance costs and create much needed habitats for migrating and breeding neotropical birds, which have been in serious decline, as well as other forms of wildlife. Thats a win-win solution.
ei
Ron Runkles is the NEMA Lighting Industry Director and for more than 25 years has held a permit with the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service to capture and mark wild birds. He has often captured birds in powerline right-of-ways for his various research projects. He can be reached at ron.runkles@nema.org.
Resources
Scott Shupe, Wildlife Management on Right-of-Ways Module: Power Line Wildlife. (www.esf.edu/rwls/ research/karnerblue/module20.pdf) Michael McNutt, Lesser Prairie-Chickens May Cripple Oklahomas Wind Energy Industry. NewsOK. (www. newsok.com/lesser-prairie-chicken-may-crippleoklahoma-wind-energy-industry/article/3493456) Lesser and Greater Prairie Chicken. (www.kdwp.state. ks.us/news/Hunting/Upland-Birds/Greater-and-LesserPrairie-Chicken) Delmarva Power. Vegetation Management. (webapps.delmarva.com/dp/our_environment/veg_ mgmt/index.cfm) IEEE Standards Association. Power to the People and Protection for Wildlife! Standards insight. (www. standardsinsight.com/announcements/power-to-thepeople-and-protection-for-wildlife)
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
T&D Systems
S
mart Grid. Renewable energy. Green power. These are the buzz words affecting transmission and distribution project planning throughout
todays power industry. For now, lets leave renewable energy and green power to the next TV commercial or newspaper headline and focus on Smart Grid.
dIstrIbutIon autoMatIon It is difficult to talk Smart Grid without discussing distribution automation. The concept of automation is certainly not new. Utilities and other power providers have been automating their systems for many years. But what does this really mean? System designers can look at automating a distribution circuit in many ways.
There are varying degrees of automation. Some start with simply controlling their overhead or underground distribution switchgear remotely through a nearby control. There is also stand-alone automatic transfer controls which can read voltage and current values and automatically transfer from one source feeder to another based on programmed parameters. The next level may be a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system where system components relay real-time system information (typically voltage and current values) to a master station. Based on the information provided, operating personnel then decide their course of action and open or close circuits accordingly through a master computer. These types of systems can be relatively simple or extremely complex depending on the size and functional requirements of the system.
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
11
A Personal Journey
Discovering the High Flux Isotope Reactor at NEMA
John caskey, assistant vice President for Industry operations
e dont actually have a reactor at NEMA, but NEMAs work did allow me to visit Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee. It turned out to be a journey back to where I begana physics major in college.
Few people at NEMA have degrees in physics. Physicists usually end up working in laboratories or universities. In my case, however, I worked for two different electric utilities and one electrical manufacturer before joining NEMA. Im able to apply some of what I learned in college to my job, but like many science majors, I forgot most of the hard-core training.
Being the industry director for the Power Equipment Division gave me an opportunity to get back to my roots, thanks to the NEMA Metering Section. Meter and socket manufacturers realized that there were different meter-related standards that address temperature testing of meters in different ways. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Underwriters Laboratory (UL), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and all cover meter temperature testing. ANSI C12.1 American National Standard for Electric MetersCode for Electricity Metering addresses temperature rise inside the meter itself, while UL 414 Meter Sockets addresses temperature rise at the metal blade that slides into the meter socket. With the advent of solid state meters, it became important to evaluate the different approaches in these standards to see if temperature rise should be measured differently. In order to assess the situation, the meter and socket manufacturers decided to test the
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
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temperature inside the meter and socket under a controlled laboratory environment. This project is named the Temperature Rise and Interface Issue Working Group project. After considering several different options, the manufacturers concluded that ORNL provided the best laboratory setting for conducting this research. Since I serve as the contract administrator between NEMA and the lab, it was important for me to actually meet the lab project manager and technicians. Little did I know that this administrative function would re-open the world of physics to me. According to ORNLs website, it is the Department of Energys largest science and energy laboratory. Established in 1943 as part of the secret Manhattan Project to pioneer a method for producing and separating plutonium, it has become an international center for the study of nuclear energy and related research. Its mission now includes a variety of energy technologies and strategies. The visit enabled the working group to evaluate the testing apparatuses and review preliminary test results. The preliminary test results indicated that we need to work with various standards organizations to be certain we understand the different temperature tests specified in the standards. But I learned a lot more than that. My tour included the High Flux Isotope Reactor; the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator; the Material Sciences Lab; the High Temperature Materials Laboratory; Energy and Environmental Sciences Building; and demonstrations of high temperature superconductive, energy storage, electric vehicles, super energy-efficient cooling systems, and other experiments and test equipment. I was most excited, however, to see the Graphite Reactor that was built as part of the Manhattan Project that ultimately ended World War II. It was built at ORNL to prove the feasibility of pilot-scale production of plutonium from uranium. It took only 11 months to build the reactor that went critical at 5:00 a.m. on November 4, 1943. The success at Oak Ridge led to the construction of the Hanford, Washington, reactor which produced plutonium used
NEMA electroindustry
in the atomic bomb. In addition to being the first nuclear reactor in the world, the Graphite Reactor was the first to produce electricity from nuclear energy. It became the worlds foremost source of radioisotopes for medicine, agriculture, and industry. The Graphite Reactor at Oak Ridge was designated a national historic landmark by the U.S. Department of Interior in 1966. Overall, I felt like a kid playing with many of the toys I learned about in college. Who would have thought that working for an association would have brought me this opportunity? Im looking forward to the next opportunity to put my physics training to work. ei
July 2011
13
he earthquake and tsunami in Japan, along with the recent severe tornado activity in the U.S., were devastating to life and property. A secondary consequence was the damage sustained by the electrical grids. Critical to the rebuilding effort is repairing that damage.
The electrical grid consists of several important segments: voltage generation at low voltage (LV) level (e.g., fossil fuel/nuclear generating plant, hydro dam, wind farm, or solar panels) transforming from LV generation to high voltage (HV) transmission generation
transmission of HV from generation to load (customer location) voltage transformation back to LV distribution (for residential or commercial use) In each of these electrical grid segments, proper performance of installed electrical power equipment is critical to the reliable delivery of electricity to the end user. Under normal service operating conditions, excluding physical damage associated with natural disasters, the reliability of the electrical grid is enhanced by installation of surge arresters adjacent to each piece of power equipment. The sole purpose of the surge arrester is to protect the electrical insulation of the adjacent power system equipment from potentially damaging overvoltage surges. It does this by diverting the overvoltage surge away from the equipment through the adjacent surge arrester. If not diverted by the adjacent surge arrester, the overvoltage surge could damage the equipment. An example of an overvoltage surge is lightning striking a power line.
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
This technology utilized internal spark gaps with a precisely controlled spark-over response characteristic. Connected in series with each gap assembly was a non-linear resistance element, called a SiC block. These critical components were assembled inside sealed porcelain housings to ensure electrical integrity in all environmental conditions. In this design, the gap performed the gap spark-over function while the non-linear resistance SiC block limited the arrester current, allowing the series-connected gap to reseal. Unlike a fuse which, by design, fails open when it operates properly (necessitating replacement), the surge arrester is designed to perform its protective function repeatedly without failure. The implementation of gapped SiC surge arresters was critical to assuring that the equipment installed on new, higher voltage systems were provided the best possible protection against potentially damaging overvoltage surges. The mid-1970s marked the introduction of the metal oxide varistor (MOV), which has a higher exponent of non-linearity when compared with the silicon-carbide blocks. Because of the excellent non-linearity of the MOV, this next generation surge arrester was designed without internal gaps. At system operating voltage, the MOV gapless surge arrester appears as a high resistance to ground. When exposed to an overvoltage surge (e.g., lightning strike), the MOV discs become highly conductive (turn on), bypassing the surge to ground and, in doing so, limits the equipment insulation to acceptable levels of voltage exposure. While the gapped SiC arresters provided state-of-the art protection when manufactured, recent testing has confirmed that the MOV gapless arresters, still being manufactured today, actually provide improved performance characteristics. The most important improvement provided by gapless MOV surge arresters is that they provide surge protection at lower voltage levels. This is particularly important for maximizing protection of the aging, possibly degraded, electrical insulation of power equipment that has been installed on the grid for many years. Gapless MOV surge arresters also have higher energy absorbing capability, minimizing the chance of failure when discharging an overvoltage surge.
Replacement of gapped SiC with gapless MOV surge arresters is a simple, cost effective way of extending the service life of expensive, aging equipment and, at the same time, minimizing unplanned power grid service outages. For example, replacement of a gapped SiC by a new gapless MOV surge arrester at an older 69 kV transformer location would be less than two percent of the cost of transformer replacement. Similarly, for an older 345 kV station, arrester replacement would be less than one percent of the cost of replacing the transformer. It should also be noted that all HV surge arresters, by design, dissipate power from the grid when operating at normal system voltage levels. For the gapped SiC arrester, the continuous power loss is a result of high-resistive current flowing through the arresters grading resistors. MOV gapless surge arresters do not require this resistive grading structure. Laboratory testing has confirmed that MOV arresters consume less continuous watts from the grid than comparably rated gapped SiC arresters. This energy-saving feature is consistent with the governments mandate for utilities to reduce energy losses on the grid. As an example, replacement of one early 1960s vintage 120 kVrated gapped SiC arrester with a similarly rated MOV gapless arrester would result in an annual energy savings of more than 1000 kWtHr. It is estimated that a large quantity of gapped SiC high voltage surge arresters may still be installed in utility power systems. Some utilities understand the benefits of gapless MOV arresters and have initiated replacement programs. Others have little or no information on these 3050 year old surge arresters. To address this concern, the NEMA 8LA Surge Arrester Section has developed a website, www.nemaarresters.com, which provides information on gapped SiC arresters, including an identification guide and detailed discussions of arrester replacement considerations. ei Denny Lenk has more than 40 years of experience in the design and testing of surge arresters. He is a past chair of the IEEE PES Surge Protective Devices Committee and has been actively involved in IEEE and IEC Standards writing efforts for 30 years.
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
15
Work Ahead
There is, however, a lot of work still to be done. Some of the pending issues are: What is the real definition of consensus? Will the standards be mandatory or voluntary? What is FERCs role in the Smart Grid arena? What is interoperability, how do we ensure it, and is it the same as plug and play? It appears that there has been consensus concerning several standards within the Smart Grid community; however, once FERC increased its visibility with a public meeting, talk quickly turned toward questions about rulemaking and potential mandatory standards. Even if FERC does not pursue any rulemaking now, state commissions may essentially make the standards mandatory by requiring utilities to use certain ones during the procurement process. Over the next few months, SGIP will address the definitions for consensus and interoperability. It will also place the first standards in the CoS and explain to state commissions and FERC that these documents are intended to be references and not mandatory. According to SGIP Governing Board Chair John D. McDonald, the next hurdles for SGIP include: timely and effective international outreach testing and certification framework approval of standards for inclusion in its Catalog of Standards inclusion of the Privacy Impact Assessment in the Cyber Security Working Groups three-year plan We were like pioneers in territory that had never been plowed. We had to mark the boundaries, clear the land, plow the earth, and build good relations with our neighbors, McDonald said. ei John Caskey is the vice chair of the NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Panel Governing Board.
coordinate a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of Smart Grid devices and systems; consider the use of voluntary uniform standards for certain classes of mass-produced electric appliances and equipment that enable customers to respond to an emergency or demand response signal; provide and publish an initial report on progress toward recommended or consensus standards and protocols within one year after enactment. The legislation called for NEMA and others to support NIST in this effort. It also called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to institute a rulemaking proceeding to adopt standards and protocols that are necessary to ensure Smart Grid functionality and interoperability. After almost four years, NIST has completed many of EISAs requirements. It published the first release of the Smart Grid Framework in January 2010 and is developing the second edition. NIST also established the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) to help coordinate the development and modification of standards to support interoperability. Through SGIP, several standards-related projects were initiated. These projects are referred to as Priority Action Plans (PAPs), 19 of which have been created and a few already completed. NEMA completed PAP 0 on Smart Meter Upgradability in September 2009. Additional accomplishments of SGIP include: formation of committees and working groups to support establishment of task forces (e.g., Home Area Network, International Outreach, and Intellectual Property Rights) establishment of procedures and process flow charts for projects (Priority Action Plans) and committees a joint meeting with National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
Electroindustry News
Leading Technology Forecaster to be Featured at NEMAs 2011 Annual Meeting
Daniel Burrus, one of the worlds leading technology forecasters and business strategists, will be featured at NEMAs 2011 Annual Meeting, Illuminations Weekend: Where Leaders and Ideas Meet. He will be the Executive Leadership Workshop presenter on Saturday morning, October 29. Mr. Burrus, founder and CEO of Burrus Research, a research and consulting firm that monitors global advancement in technology driven trends, will be speaking on how to understand and use technological, social, and business forces to create untapped opportunities. He is the author of six books, including the Wall Street Journal bestseller, Flash Foresight: How to See the Invisible and Do the Impossible. The New York Times has referred to him as one of Americas top three business gurus. Illuminations Weekend is scheduled for Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29, at The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. This years annual meeting will showcase George F. Will, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, as the keynote speaker. NEMA Vice President and Chief Economist Donald Leavens, PhD, will discuss the electroindustry economic outlook in an afternoon seminar. Register now at www.nema.org/ illuminations and take advantage of early bird registration rates, which end September 9. This is NEMAs premiere networking event of the year. ei Francine Meyer, Meeting Manager | fran_meyer@nema.org
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
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Electroindustry News
Midwest Flooding Prompts Warning about Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment
This year, the Midwest has experienced historic flooding, raising havoc on homes and farmlands along the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi rivers. The farming community has already begun to speak of the dismal outlook. As people flee to higher ground to seek refuge from the raising flood waters and leave their homes to possible destruction, they also face pending economic disaster. Once the waters recede, individuals and business owners will start to assess the damage and begin the process of rebuilding. When contractors are called to help with the reconstruction, it is important they understand what electrical products can or cannot be used after being submerged in contaminated flood waters. Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment is available at no charge at www.nema.org/stds/water-damaged.cfm. It provides advice on the safe handling of electrical equipment that has been exposed to water and outlines items that require complete replacement or that can be reconditioned by a trained professional. Equipment covered in the document includes electrical distribution equipment, motor circuits, power equipment, transformers, wire, cable and flexible cords, wiring devices, GFCIs and surge protectors, lighting fixtures and ballasts, motors, and electronic products. NEMA field representatives actively promote this document directly to contractors and building officials on-site during the clean-up, at official meetings, and electrical educational conferences to ensure that electrical safety remains top priority during the reconstruction of flooded communities. ei Don Iverson, Field Representative | don.iverson@nema.org
Mark Pitta and Amanda Poverchuk of Waste Management promote energy-efficient lighting technologies at Earthfest in Boston.
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
The biggest problem with the traditional view of electrical distribution is that it does not account for modern and emerging technologies.
In recent IECC and IgCC hearings, efforts to eliminate or severely restrict electric resistance heat were debated and ultimately rejected. Concerned manufacturers from both the U.S. and Canada educated code officials, hired a consultant to navigate the ICC process, testified at the IECC Final Action Hearings, and established a website dedicated to the industry (http://linkd.in/NAEHIC). While it is certain there will be additional challenges, it appears that this established, reliable technology will continue to be a viable option. ei Joe Andre, Field Representative | joe.andre@nema.org
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
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Electroindustry News
Care Act Builds on Manufacturing Industry Efforts to Ensure Safe Imaging Services
The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) supports the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2011, introduced by Representatives Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and John Barrow (DGA) on June 2. Also known as the CARE Act, the bill builds on the efforts of the medical imaging industry to ensure safe and effective patient care and promotes access to high quality medical imaging and radiation therapy services. Specifically, the CARE Act would work to further guarantee that the individuals performing medical imaging and radiation therapy are appropriately qualified by establishing standards for these personnel. MITA believes that high-quality patient care has always been the number one priority of the imaging industry. We fully support the steps that Representatives Whitfield and Barrow are taking to build on this commitment by establishing trainings and standards that safeguard effective diagnoses and therapies. Ensuring that operators are appropriately trained to use medical imaging and radiation therapy technologies is just one of the proactive steps the industry has taken to improve patient care and safety. Earlier this year, manufacturers released a Radiation Dose Reduction Plan, which supports mandatory reporting of medical errors associated with ionizing radiation, certification of imaging technologists, and accreditation of imaging facilities. Last year, computed tomography (CT) manufacturers released the CT Dose Check Initiative, a commitment to add new features to CT scanners. These features include dose notification to reduce dose levels associated with scans; dose alert to prevent medical errors; and dose recording to track dose and develop reference levels, which help providers understand how their facility compares to local and national standards. In addition, radiation therapy technology manufacturers released the Radiation Therapy Readiness Check Initiative to develop and implement additional patient protection features for radiation therapy equipment. These features will confirm that patient treatment plans are delivered as intended, and that radiation therapy equipment, accessories, and patients are properly positioned prior to delivery of therapy. The imaging and radiation therapy industries continue toinnovate, revolutionizing healthcare throughadvancedtechnologies and higher standards of care. MITA looks forward to working with Congress on the passage and implementation of the CARE Act. ei Dave Fisher, Executive Director of MITA and Vice President of NEMA | dfisher@medicalimaging.org
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
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TC115
Technical Committees Involved with Ancillary Aspects of T&D TC28 TC73 TC78 TC111 Insulation coordination Short-circuit currents Live working Environmental standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems similar equipment and help ensure that the language and cadence of communications can be understood by every device in the network. NEMA members and staff are very involved in many IEC committee activities, but more expertise, particularly from utilities and other users, is welcome. ei Ken Gettman, Director of International Standards | ken_gettman@nema.org
with the control room of the utility and other entities involved in the transport of electrical energy. For example, smart meters enable determination of real-time energy usage. Circuit breakers and switches, with connected control and monitoring devices, protect the power lines and other equipment as well as direct energy to where it is needed. Standards help establish minimum requirements common to all
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
In order to permit common processing equipment and common unit processes to be used in multiple fabrication lines with predictable and reproducible results, it is essential for CNT characteristics to be standardized, in particular the characterization methods for quality control of the CNT manufacturing processes. To enable low-cost mass production of CNTs, a reliable, affordable means of preparing one type of CNT (e.g., single-walled semiconducting carbon nanotubes with a certain specified length) is necessary. Information on characteristics such as length, diameter, purity, chirality, and conduction type are needed to facilitate a reliable source of CNTs with tailored properties, stating the specification limits and the characterization methods to prove conformance. IEC PAS 625652-1 provides a blank format for these essential electrical characteristics, as well as certain others, including dimensional, structural and mechanical. The success of IEC PAS 62565-2-1 will obviously be measured by the degree to
which it is accepted within the SWCNT industry. According to Brent Segal, PhD, U.S. National Committee Technical Advisor to IEC TC113, a wealth of feedback has already been received from a number of SWCNT vendors worldwide. This was very instrumental in the final draft of the PAS. Input must continue to be sought as TC113 further develops the document in the form of a technical specification. This is the only way to ensure that the content will be useful in the production environment. That success can be a model for the successful development of blank specifications for a number of other nanoscale structures such as graphene, nanowires, and quantum dots, he said. These well-developed blank specifications will be highly useful tools for NEMA members as they begin specifying nanomaterials as subassemblies for their end product applications. ei Mike Leibowitz, Program Manager | mike.leibowitz@nema.org
July 2011
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
Roadside Lighting Systems & Transportation Management Centers NTCIP Builds on Historical Developments in Street Lighting
One of the earliest references to street lighting dates to fourth-century Antioch. In the U.S., Baltimore and Maryland introduced gas street lighting in 1816. In March 1880, Wabash, Indiana, was the first city to use Thomas Edisons recentlycommercialized carbon filament lamp for street lighting. As Edison observed, each innovation built on its predecessor advanced the art and science of street lighting. luminaires from the TMC. They can then gather and analyze this data over time for predictive purposes. ELMS can also identify a change in luminaire pole condition (e.g., a pole is knocked down). Maintenance Live or off-line data on the condition of ELMS devices allows an agency to optimize operations and maintenance resources. For example, after remotely detecting an ELMS fault condition, an agency can deploy maintenance personnel to the location where re-lamping is required with the equipment necessary to address the condition. An agency can also identify long-term ELMS maintenance trends and deploy maintenance personnel nearer the end of lamp life, but before failure. Determining lamp life can be accomplished by logging actual burn time for a lamp. Energy Usage Optimizing energy consumption of ELMS devices can be achieved through automated monitoring and controlling of ELMS devices, and monitoring the status and condition of related power meters. An ELMS device may be controlled by turning it on or off from the TMC, controlling the electrical service, or controlling a group of ELMS devices in a zone. Incident and Event Lighting Management ELMS provides flexible and timely control of roadside lighting devices to assist law enforcement officials and for other specific incident or event management purposes. NTCIP is a family of data protocol standards that specifies commands for communication between a traffic management center and field devices, such as signal control devices at an intersection. NTCIP-specified implementations provide command and control capabilities for more visible elements of transportation infrastructure, such as roadways, and both require ongoing maintenance. Since 1993, NEMA and member companies in the NEMA Transportation Management Devices Section have led the development and promotion of the NTCIP family of standards. For further information, see www.ntcip.org, www.its. dot.gov, and www.standards.its.dot.gov. ei Jean Johnson, Technical Program Manager | jean.johnson@nema.org
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
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register at www.nema.org/illuminations
register at early bird rates for ILLUMINATIONS WEEKEND Where Leaders and Ideas Meet
Afternoon Seminar Keynote Speaker Leadership Workshop Afternoon Seminar
October 28 & 29
Green Marketing
Early bird savings ends September 9. Register now and experience the knowledge and networking gain of Illuminations Weekend, NEMAs 85th annual meeting. Executives under the age of 35 and groups of five or more registrants can receive additional savings. To qualify for the new Young Executives Rate or register as a group, please contact fran.meyer@nema.org.
July 2011
6/21/11 11:42 AM
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
International Roundup
Energy Efficiency Collaboration Project Announced at COPANT 2011 General Assembly
The Pan American Standards Council (COPANT) returned to Santiago, Chile, for the first time in nearly 20 years to hold its annual general assembly in May. The council is a locus of activity regarding the development and adoption of standards throughout the Americas, particularly for the developing countries. It comprises 25 member countries, a half-dozen European-based adherent members, and memoranda of understanding with IEC (IEC International Electrotechnical Commission), ISO (International Organization for Standardization), CEN (European Committee for Standardization), and CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization), the Pacific Area Standards Council (PASC), and other entities. COPANT also serves as an excellent organization to launch capacity building programs. The COPANT annual general assembly provides members with an overview of local and regional efforts and insight into the impact of emerging global developments, which have included topics such as climate change, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, codes and standards developments, conformity assessment and product acceptance, and intellectual property. In addition to annual briefings provided by IEC, ISO, and ITU (the United Nations agency for information and communication technologies), the assembly featured presentations and discussions on calculating the value provided by standards, which was spearheaded by Brazil and Colombia. Germanys Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, its national metrology
institute, announced a new energy efficiency initiative that focuses on Renewable Energy: solar and thermal Energy Efficiency: household appliances Transmision and Distribution (Smart Grids): improving capabilities to reduce technical losses and prepare the grid to absorb renewable energy Crosscutting: creating awareness, particularly within the political community, on the importance of a quality infrastructure, creating an Internet site, sharing best practices of the standards development organizations and conformity assessment bodies, and compiling a list of existing services of organizations within COPANT member countries
neMas Influence Products manufactured by NEMA members consistently lead the world in energy efficiency. NEMA is at the forefront of energy policy legislation in the U.S., and continues to advocate for increased levels of minimum efficiency. As a result of this position, NEMA is advising energy efficiency authorities throughout Central and South America about standards that can be adopted to ensure that efficiency regulations are rigorous and world-class. Referencing such standards also places members products on the list referenced by regulations. ei Gene Eckhart, Senior Director for International Operations | gen_eckhart@nema.org
NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
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Learn
More
transMIssIon sItInG Siting Transmission Corridors A Real Life Game of Chutes and Ladders (www.nema.org/ TransmissionCorridorsGameboard) Project No Project (www.projectnoproject.com) WIRES (www.wiresgroup.com) neMa Illuminations Weekend: www.nema.org/illuminations ESFI: www.electrical-safety.org Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment: www.nema. org/stds/water-damaged.cfm Surge arresters: www.nemaarresters.com
August
assessInG the carbon footPrInt of electrIcal Products Learn about NEMAs strategic initiativeExploration into Environmental Assessment of Electrical Products environmental effects of electrical products green marketing using building information modeling to meet requirements of green building programs solid state lighting and its benefits to sustainability and renewability
Coming in
InteGratInG wIldlIfe wIth Power transMIssIon A New Day in Renewable Energy Dawns with Sunrise Powerlink The San Diego region is rapidly growing and so is the demand for more energy options. Enter the Sunrise Powerlink project. This long-term energy plan incorporates renewables and wildlife protection a 117-mile transmission line from the Imperial Valley to San Diego. Learn more in eiXtra, NEMAs biweekly electronic newsletter. www.nema.org/eiXtra_July2011
Register Today
Registration is open for the premier international conference on efficiency in motor systems. Sixty-three peer reviewed papers have been accepted. First time in the United States September 1214, 2011 The Westin Alexandria in Alexandria, Virginia Register at: www.eemods.org For more information contact: William Hoyt, bill.hoyt@nema.org.
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
Economic Spotlight
Business Conditions Lose Steam in June, But Six Month Ahead Outlook Remains Solid
Results from NEMAs latest electroindustry confidence survey echo those of numerous other economic data releases of late, indicating the business environment facing the industry has hit a soft patchbut one that is expected to prove temporary. NEMAs Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions slipped to 45.5 in June, dropping below the 50-point growth threshold for the first time since October 2010. The index had climbed as high as 69.6 as recently as February 2011, prior to a sharp run-up in oil prices and Japans earthquake and tsunami. Twenty-seven percent of panelists reported conditions improved in June, identical to Mays result. However, 36 percent saw conditions deteriorate in June, up from 23 percent in May. Another 36 percent claimed conditions were unchanged in June, down from 50 percent in May. The surveys measure of the degree of change in current North American conditions also edged lower in June, declining to 0.0 from +0.1 in May. Panelists are asked to report intensity of change on a scale ranging from 5 (deteriorated significantly) through 0 (unchanged) to +5 (improved significantly). Despite receding in June, the EBCI for future North American conditions continues to suggest an improvement in conditions six months hence, topping the 50-point mark for a twenty-eighth consecutive month in June. The index measured 63.6 for the month, down from 81.8 in May. Thirty-six percent of Junes panelists said they expected conditions to improve during the next six months, while nine percent forecasted a deterioration during that time period. In May, 68 percent of panelists said they expected an improvement in conditions versus less than five percent who anticipated a decline. ei Tim Gill, Director of Economics | tim_gill@nema.org
Electroindustry Business Confidence Index: June 2011
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NEMA electroindustry
July 2011
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