Law & Lawyers

Where ERCOT Stands Now

ICF

“There was a lot of focus post-Storm Uri on generation performance, and ERCOT made some improvements through some higher technical standards, although we must see how it performs. But no one has addressed the demand side at all. That’s one of the problems.”

Charles Steinmetz Top Innovator Award for Grid Operations: Exelon

Top Innovators

“Our innovation improved defect detection, reduced manual labeling hours, and enabled us to create realistic images of rare defects where real-world data was scarce. It gave us a scalable methodology to apply this across various assets. This innovation paves the way for more drone deployments, reducing field hazards for crews, and accelerating defect resolution for better grid reliability.”

Advanced Conductors Arrive Not a Moment Too Soon

Moving the Grid Forward

“Advanced conductors make it possible to deploy big upgrades within existing rights of way, even reusing existing towers for reconductoring projects that can be accomplished with relative lightning speed and for lower total costs that make ratepayers, consumer advocates, and public utility commissions happy.”

SRP Supercharging EVs

Salt River Project

“We’ve not gone down the path of wanting to own and operate or develop our own charging sites. What we’ve wanted to do was let the market take care of that, and instead worked to support the market development.”

Nancy Fitzroy Top Innovator Award for Environment and Safety: Xcel Energy

Top Innovators

“We saw a need in the nuclear industry to reduce costs and improve safety. We’ve implemented a multitude of drones and robotics to replace people in hazardous environments, have eliminated that safety hazard, and the equipment is relatively low cost compared to the amount of savings. It’s been a win-win.”

Idaho National Lab on Distributed Energy

Microgrids

“The Microgrid in a Box can be plugged in just about anywhere. You would need a step-up transformer for the utility connection. Normally, to try to serve a building with it, but also have it tied to distribution, you’d be between the utility distribution transformer and the building.”