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FERC Order 1920: A Balancing Act for State and Federal Power in Transmission Planning

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 1920 has been a topic of debate in the energy industry. The order grants states more authority over transmission planning, which has some stakeholders concerned about potential cost increases. Proponents of the order argue that it will lead to more efficient and cost-effective transmission planning.

FERC Order 1920 was issued in December 2020. The order requires regional transmission planning (RTP) entities to develop regional transmission plans that consider...

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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...

Renewable Energy News

PG&E Secures $15B Loan for Energy Upgrades

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a major utility serving Northern and Central California, has secured a conditional $15 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Loan Programs Office. This funding aims to enhance PG&E's hydropower generation, battery storage...

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Utility News

New York City’s New Energy Policy

New York City unveiled a groundbreaking energy policy aimed at transforming the sustainability and efficiency of its buildings and facilities. This ambitious new initiative, designed to tackle energy emissions and enhance demand response capabilities, marks a significant leap towards the city's...

Lineman Safety

Fall Protection Becomes Mandatory

New regulation removes “optional” to increase worker safety

BY CRAIG FIRL, Capital Safety

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published updated rules and regulations in April 2014 that impact fall protection for the electrical utility industry. These new regulations, which replace rules dating back to the 1970s, have been in development since 2005 and will replace guidelines that were both out-of-date and inconsistent. OSHA estimates the new rules will prevent an additional 118 workplace injuries and 20 fatalities each year.

Workers who operate or maintain electric power generation equipment, or transmission or distribution lines will be affected...

fall protection testing

Testing Conditions and Guidelines for Personal Fall Protection Systems

1. PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS

(A) GENERAL TEST CONDITIONS

Lifelines, lanyards, and deceleration devices should be attached to an anchorage and connected to the body-belt or body harness in the same manner as they would be when used to protect employees, except that lanyards should be tested only when connected directly to the anchorage, and not when connected to a lifeline.
The anchorage should be rigid, and should not have a deflection greater than .04 inches (1 cm) when a force of 2,250 pounds (10.01 Kn) is applied.
The frequency response of the load measuring instrumentation should be 100 Hz.
...

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Fall Protection

Fall Protection: The ABCs of Connecting Devices

A personal fall protection arrest system (PFAS) is comprised of three vital components: an anchorage, body wear (full-body harnesses), and a connecting device (a shock-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline). The safety of at-height workers depends on these three components, and each one...
Utility Safety Standards

The Guide to IEEE Utility Safety Standards

A comprehensive review of IEEE guidelines and documents BY JIM TOMASESKI, IEEE, NESC Main Committee, PAR Electric Every day, utility workers are risking their lives in work environments that involve high-risk activities such as working at extreme heights, managing or repairing energized...
Safety Best Practices

KEEPING PACE WITH SAFETY

Lineman Safety Standards are designed to create a safer work environment for linemen and communication workers. It is an ongoing mission for those of us who serve on the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), so it’s worthwhile to highlight changes embodied in Part 4 of the recently released...