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Latest News From The T&D Industry

New Solar Metric Replaces FICO for Low-Income Households

In a recent development in the solar energy sector, a new qualification metric is being introduced to better assess eligibility for solar programs among low-income households. This innovative approach seeks to replace traditional FICO credit scores, which have been criticized for disproportionately disadvantaging low-income families. The new metric aims to make solar energy more accessible and equitable, marking a significant shift in how solar programs assess financial eligibility.

The Limitations of FICO Scores

FICO credit...

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Climate Change News

Alberta Premier Under Fire as Wildfires Rage

As Alberta grapples with unprecedented wildfires, Premier Danielle Smith faces intense scrutiny over her handling of the crisis. The blazes, which have been raging across the province, have led to extensive evacuations, property damage, and a significant strain on emergency services. The...

Utility News

Bruce Power expansion gets $50M in federal funding

In a significant move toward bolstering Canada's clean energy capabilities and addressing the increasing demand for electricity, the federal government has announced a $50 million investment in the expansion of the Bruce Power nuclear plant. This initiative marks a pivotal moment as Ottawa's most...

Overhead T&D

Fiber-Reinforced Composite Cross Arms for Transmission Structures

Fiber-reinforced polymers versus traditional cross arms materials

BY JANOS TOTH & GRANT LOCKHART, FRP Transmission Innovations Inc.

Recently, utilities have started using newer options such as component polyurethanes instead of older, widely used conventional materials. Specifically, fiber-reinforced polymer shows promise in providing reliable, cost effective, and durable support for conductors, under challenging environmental conditions. This issue’s Overhead T&D Channel weighs the pros and cons of traditional cross arm materials and makes the case for use of engineered materials as a new way to manufacture electrical overhead transmission structures.

These material advances directly address the inherent weaknesses of traditional construction materials and provide electrical utilities with new opportunities to install transmission structures that are reliable, cost effective, and provide durable support for conductors—even under the most challenging environmental conditions.

Overhead


Cable Testing Comes of Age - One Cycle at a Time

Field Testing of MV and HV cables has come a long way in recent decades. Gone are the days of old, when the traditional DC (Direct Voltage/Current) hipot was the recommended method for testing these modern cables that form the critical backbone of the distribution electrical power network....

Underground


Safety in Underground Power Systems

Protecting utility personnel working below ground BY MIKE DOHERTY, PowerTel Utilities Contractors Limited "Safety” in “underground systems” has different connotations for different sectors depending on the tasks performed. “Qualified electrical workers” can have...

Infrastructure


Underground Smart Grid

In recent years, the cost to bury high-voltage power lines has decreased dramatically. The American Transmission Company reports that installation costs for underground transmission lines (over 100 kilovolts) are now only 2.5 to 10 times the cost of an equivalent overhead line. Consequently, the...