rmel news - november 2012

practices to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and extend the life of their existing plants. The 2013 event will take place June 13-14.

Transmission SectionThe Transmission Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to shar-ing, networking and solutions of all issues related to planning, engineering, operating and maintaining transmission facilities in the utility industry, including substations.

RMEL ~ 6855 S. Havana St, Suite 430 ~ Centennial, CO 80112 ~ (303) 865-5544 ~ FAX: (303) 865-5548 ~ www.RMEL.org

November 2012

Vol. 51, No. 4

Inside

Activate Your RMEL in 2013By hosting 30 events every year, RMEL has consistently offered valuable and prac-tical educational programming for the di-verse electric energy professionals who make up its membership. The value of RMEL is its membership. The companies and people who are part of this association develop association resources, so content is by members for members.

RMEL events are easily identifiable by sections that include Generation, Trans-mission, Distribution, Safety and Manage-ment. Each section features core events that repeat every year at the same time, so everyone can plan ahead. Section elective events are created each year based on in-dustry need.

Generation SectionThe Generation Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to shar-ing, networking and solutions of all issues related to energy production and supply in the utility industry, including planning and development. Topics covered include re-newable generation.

Core Event: Power Supply Planning and Projects Conference and RoundtableThis conference addresses subjects related to fuel mix, fuel costs, fuel availability, re-newables, fossil fuels, resource planning, plant siting, facility development, tech-nologies and demand-side management along with regulatory and policy issues. The 2013 event is slated for March 7-8 in Denver, CO.

Core Event: Plant Management Confer-ence and RoundtableTopics at this event cover construction, operations, maintenance, emissions, water quality, plant personnel, fuels, planning, security, safety and technologies. Regula-tory and policy issues, strategies and proce-dures that plant personnel can use to opti-mize operations and performance will also be covered. Attendees will learn about best

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2 Executives Pinpoint Vital Industry Issues

3 Movers and Shakers

5 Fall Convention Sets Record Attendance

6 Ramirez Elected as Board President

8 RMEL Career Center

8 2012 Event Calendar

9 Thank You 2012 Champions

10 2012 Awards Bestowed

11 RMEL Member Receives IEEE Award

15 New Members

November 2012

A group of electric energy industry executives gathered on September 10th during RMEL’s Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention to discuss the most critical chal-lenges and issues facing electric utilities. The information below summarizes their points.

The industry is changing, and electric utili-ties must be part of the conversation to decide what the new electric energy paradigm looks like. Rigorous communication is required to help the public make informed decisions based on facts instead of politics. This indus-try has a positive story to tell, and utilities have successfully balanced safety, reliability and affordability for over a century. Associa-tions like RMEL exist to facilitate the gather-ing of data, facts and resources to help utili-ties build a plan, communicate to the public and influence public policy.

CommunicationUsing public relations and social media, the electric energy industry needs to communi-cate a message of stewardship to the public, regulators and kids in schools. Utilities pro-vide reliable electricity in a safe way for a daily cost that’s less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Over RegulationThere is a lot of regulatory overreach and en-ergy decisions are being made based on poli-tics. Does the industry need a national energy policy, and what’s the difference between policy and regulations?

Cost ControlMany utilities are facing flat or declining sales growth. At the same time, they need to invest in aging infrastructure and are forced to pay for regulatory changes.

WorkforceThe industry paradigm is changing, and a capable electric energy workforce is needed no matter what happens in this industry. As more and more knowledgeable utility em-ployees retire, qualified people are needed to take their place. Not only is it difficult to find and attract these people, but it costs money to train and develop them.

Water IssuesWater is a precious resource. How can we balance that with the need for generation and maintain that balance?

Gas Pipeline Infrastructure to Handle In-creased Gas FlowProduction of gas for shale is pretty positive in theory, but there are concerns about pipe-line and gas storage and the overall ability of the pipeline industry to support increased gas flow.

Renewable IntegrationThe idea that all utilities have renewables is not what reliability was built on, but solar and wind need to be added to every utility’s en-ergy mix. Is wind in its infancy or maturity, and what’s going to happen with renewable tax credits?

In 2013 and beyond, RMEL will address these issues with select education topics in sched-uled events, publications and online tools. RMEL also provided the topics to Spring and Fall Convention planning meetings and will include articles in Electric Energy magazine and RMEL News and links in the eNews re-lated to these topics. Visit RMEL’s Online Resource Library at www.RMEL.org to see the many 2012 presentations that have al-ready begun to address these issues.

OFFICERS

PresidentAndy RamirezEl Paso Electric CompanyVP, Power Generation

President ElectDan SchmidtBlack & Veatch Corp.Sr. VP, Power Generation Services

Past PresidentKelly HarrisonWestar EnergyVP, Transmission

Vice President, MembershipScott FryMycoff, Fry & Prouse LLCManaging Director

Vice President, EducationTony MontoyaWestern Area Power AdministrationCOO

Vice President, FinanceStuart WevikBlack Hills CorporationVP, Electric Utilities

Vice President, Vital IssuesRichard PeñaCPS EnergySr. VP, Energy Development

Vice President, Member ServicesMike McInnesTri-State Generation & Transmission Assn.Sr. VP, Production

Board of Directors

DIRECTORS

Doug BennionPacifiCorpVP, Engineering Services & Capital Investment

Tim BrossartXcel EnergyVP, Construction Operations & Maintenance

Mike DeConciniUNS Energy CorporationSr. VP, COO

Jon HansenOmaha Public Power DistrictVP, Energy Production & Marketing

Mike HummelSRPAssociate General Manager

Tom KentNebraska Public Power DistrictVP & COO

Tammy McLeodArizona Public ServiceVP & Chief Customer Service Officer

Cheryl MeleAustin EnergyCOO

Mike MorrisZazhry Holdings, Inc.VP, Business Development, Engineering

Jackie SargentPlatte River Power AuthorityGeneral Manager

Neal WalkerPNM ResourcesPresident, Texas New Mexico Power

SecretaryRick PutnickiRMELExecutive Director

Executives Pinpoint Critical Topics at RMEL’s Vital Issues Forum

Basin Electric 2012 Annual Meeting Dis-cusses Challenges AheadCoal will be a part of this country’s en-ergy future for many years despite what some are predicting. That was the message from Dr. Frank Clemente to more than 800 guests and member system representatives at Basin Electric’s 51st annual meeting held Nov. 7-8 in Bismarck. Clemente is a professor of Social Science and Energy Policy at Penn State University. “Coal is the cornerstone of our electric power sys-tem, whether people like it or not. It’s there and it’s not going anywhere,” he said.

APS Meets Challenge of Summer Heat, Storms; High Reliability, Strong Power Plant Operations Highlight Summer Per-formanceDuring a summer that included the highest peak-demand day in six years, APS contin-ued to provide its 1.1 million Arizona cus-tomers with a level of reliability that com-pares favorably with the best performers in the electric utility industry.

Council Approves More Austin Energy Solar Projects; Guideline Change In-creases Commercial Solar Nearly 600% The Austin City Council approved Austin Energy solar performance-based incentives (PBI) for two solar projects which brings to 22 the total number of projects this year. The 22 PBI solar projects combined will save Austin Energy 1.4 megawatts (MW) of demand during the hottest part of the sum-mer and 2.4 million kilowatt-hours of elec-tricity annually.

Black Hills Power And Cheyenne Light Receive Approval In Wyoming To Reduce Customer Cost For New Power Plant By Recovering Financing Costs During Con-structionBlack Hills Corp. announced that utility subsidiaries Black Hills Power and Chey-

enne Light, Fuel & Power received approval from the Wyoming Public Service Commis-sion to recover financing costs during con-struction of the new Cheyenne Prairie Gen-erating Station. The commission’s decision will reduce the overall construction costs for customers.

Colorado Springs Utilities to Decrease Budget by $52 million; Proposed Bud-get Reflects Lower Coal and Natural Gas CostsColorado Springs Utilities will file a gas and electric rate case in support of a pro-posed 2013 budget of $1.059 billion, which is $52 million less than the current year budget. This decreased budget still enables Colorado Springs Utilities to continue to provide safe, reliable, competitively-priced utility services to its citizen-owners.

CPS Energy Targets “Most Wanted” to Stop Fraud and Energy CrimesCPS Energy is going after a list of most wanted criminals as the utility tries to fur-ther protect its customers, infrastructure and services. In partnership with news media, CPS Energy launched a bilingual public awareness campaign to fight utility impos-ters, copper theft and theft of electric and natural gas services. The campaign includes posters, flyers, and public service radio, TV, and print ads.

El Paso Electric and Element Power Sign Power Purchase Agreement for 50-MWAC Macho Springs Solar Project El Paso Electric and Element Power an-nounced a power purchase agreement for the total output from Element Power’s Ma-cho Springs Solar Project, a 50-MW solar photovoltaic power plant located near Dem-ing, New Mexico.

& ShakersMoversThe latest news from RMEL members

continued on page 4

Utility MembersComplete member list at www.RMEL.org

Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.Arizona Public ServiceArkansas River Power AuthorityAssociated Electric Cooperative, Inc.Austin EnergyBasin Electric Power CooperativeBlack Hills CorporationBlack Hills Electric CooperativeBoone Electric CooperativeButler Public Power DistrictCarbon Power & Light, Inc.Center Electric Light & Power SystemChimney Rock Public Power DistrictCity of Alliance Electric DepartmentCity of Aztec Electric DepartmentCity of CodyCity of FarmingtonCity of FountainCity of GilletteCity of ImperialCity of YumaCo-Mo Electric CooperativeColorado Springs UtilitiesContinental Divide Electric CooperativeCounty of Los Alamos Dept. of Public UtilitiesCPS EnergyDelta Montrose Electric Assn.El Paso Electric CompanyThe Empire District Electric CompanyEmpire Electric Association, Inc.Estes Park Light & Power Dept.Fort Collins UtilitiesGarden City Municipal UtilitiesGlenwood Springs Electric SystemGrand Island UtilitiesGrand Valley Rural Power Lines, Inc.Heartland Consumers Power DistrictHigh Plains Power, Inc.Highline Electric Assn.Holy Cross EnergyHomer Electric Association, Inc.Howard Electric CooperativeIndependence Power & LightIntercounty Electric Coop AssociationIntermountain Rural Electric Assn.Kansas City Board of Public UtilitiesKit Carson Electric CooperativeLa Junta Municipal UtilitiesLa Plata Electric Association, Inc.Lake Region Electric Coop Inc.Lamar Utilities BoardLane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Inc.Lincoln Electric SystemLongmont Power and CommunicationsLoup River Public Power DistrictLoveland Water & Power

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November 2012

Utility MembersMovers & Shakers continued from page 3

Missouri River Energy ServicesMorgan County Rural Electric Assn.Mountain Parks Electric, Inc.Mountain View Electric Assn.Navopache Electric Cooperative, Inc.Nebraska Public Power DistrictNMPP EnergyNorris Public Power DistrictNorth Platte Light & PowerNorthwest Rural Public Power DistrictNV EnergyOmaha Public Power DistrictOtero County Electric CooperativePacifiCorpPanhandle Rural Electric Membership Assn.Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc.Platte River Power AuthorityPNM ResourcesPoudre Valley Rural Electric Assn.Provo City PowerRaton Public ServiceSan Isabel Electric Assn.San Luis Valley Rural Electric CooperativeSan Miguel Power Assn.Sangre De Cristo Electric Assn.Sierra Electric Cooperative, Inc.Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, Inc.South Central PPDSoutheast Colorado Power Assn.Southern Pioneer Electric CompanySouthwest Transmission Cooperative, Inc.Springfield Municipal Light & PowerSRPSulphur Springs Valley Electric CooperativeSunflower Electric Power CorporationTri-State Generation and Transmission Assn.Trinidad Municipal Light & PowerUnited Power, Inc.UNS Energy CorporationWestar EnergyWestern Area Power AdministrationWheat Belt Public Power DistrictWheatland Electric CooperativeWheatland Rural Electric Assn.White River Electric Assn., Inc.White River Valley Electric CooperativeWyrulec CompanyXcel EnergyY-W Electric Association, Inc.Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc.

continued from page 3NV Energy Supports Statewide Orga-nizations with Over $474,000 in Grants during Third Quarter 2012During the third quarter of 2012, the NV Energy Foundation contributed more than $474,000, including multi-year commit-ments, to nonprofit organizations statewide. Grants were given to southern Nevada orga-nizations.

OPPD Reaches 154 Megawatts of Wind Generation with Broken Bow AdditionThe dedication of the Broken Bow Wind Farm means that OPPD is adding 18 mega-watts (MW) of wind to its generation mix, which now totals 154.16 MWs of wind gen-eration. The additional renewable genera-tion brings OPPD to 5.1 percent of its retail energy from renewable resources. OPPD’s commitment is to get that number to 10 per-cent by 2020.

PacifiCorp’s Black Cap Utility-Scale So-lar Facility Goes Online as Oregon’s First Electricity from PacifiCorp’s Black Cap Solar Facility is now flowing onto the com-pany’s grid, adding to PacifiCorp’s growing renewable energy portfolio and furthering the goals of Lake County to become a center of renewable energy.

PNM Proposes New Ways for Customers to Save More help could be available next year for PNM customers who want to reduce their energy use but aren’t sure how. A home en-ergy assessment and a commercial building tune-up program are two of several new en-ergy efficiency programs PNM submitted to state regulators for approval Friday, Oct. 5 in compliance with a state mandate.

SRP Expands Popular EZ-3 Price PlanSalt River Project (SRP) is offering resi-dential customers two new ways to help save resources and money. On average, fam-ilies save 6 percent annually on their energy

bills with the SRP EZ-3™ Price Plan by re-ducing energy use from 3–6 p.m. weekdays. Starting this month, SRP offers even more ways to save with two new pilot times: 2–5 p.m. and 4–7 p.m. Space is limited to 10,000 customers for each new time.

TEP, Partners to Foster Workforce De-velopment with Federal Grant Tucson Electric Power (TEP), Pima Com-munity College (PCC) and other partners will use a federal grant to expand energy in-dustry job training programs in Arizona

Westar Energy Expands Wind PortfolioWestar Energy, Inc. announced that two new wind farms it announced in 2010 are now complete and producing renewable electricity for Kansas homes and businesses. Combined, the wind farms can produce 369 megawatts of electricity, bringing Westar Energy’s total renewable energy portfolio to 670 MW.

ED5 project prepares for construction this Fall The Electrical District 5 – Palo Verde Hub project in Arizona, also known as ED5-PVH, is gearing up for construction this fall. After finalizing the project agreements in fall 2011, Western Area Power Admin-istration set the construction schedule in March 2012 and began to procure the con-tracts necessary to supply the materials and equipment, as well as labor needed to con-struct the 109-mile transmission project.

Kiewit Awarded Contract by Xcel Energy for First GE 7F 5-Series ProjectKiewit announced that it has been awarded a contract by Xcel Energy, Inc. to design and construct the company’s 569-megawatt Cherokee Combined-Cycle Power Plant in Denver, the first GE 7F 5-Series project for Kiewit.

OFFICERS

PresidentCathy McCartneyLEADERSHIP A Business Imperative, Inc.Owner/Consultant

Vice President, Finance Rebecca ShifleaSAIC Senior Project Manager

Vice PresidentWalter D. Jones Intermountain Rural Electric Assn. Assistant General Manager, Operations & Engineering

Chair, FundraisingJames Helvig AMEC Director, Power Delivery

BOARD DIRECTORS

Steve Bridges Zachry Holdings, Inc. VP & General Manager, Regional Projects Group

Michael A. Jones SRP Director

H. Kent Cheese TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc. Director, National Accounts

Mike McInnes Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assn. Sr. VP, Production

Dennis FinnWärtsilä North America, Inc. General Sales Manager, Mtn Region

Staff LiaisonNatalie AndersenRMEL Manager, Member Services

Staff LiaisonRick PutnickiRMELExecutive Director

RMEL Foundation Board of Directors

A Record Number of Industry Executives Gamble on Our Industry’s Future at RMEL’s Fall Convention

RMEL Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention presenters shared multiple sides to the renewables, reliability and affordability story Sep-tember 9-11 at the JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Summerlin, NV.

The theme of RMEL’s 2012 Fall Con-vention was Gambling on Our Future with Uncertain Resources, and presenta-tions helped electric energy executives keep the lights on while dealing with regulations, renewable impacts and af-fordability.

The RMEL Fall Convention is a tradition that started in October of 1903. Since that first meeting, the Fall Convention has grown and evolved into its current form – a relaxed forum for senior man-agement of electric energy companies to gather, network and share information.

Former NBA All Star, Mark Eaton, President, 7ft4.com LLC, kicked off the educational sessions with strategies to lead teams to greater heights in perfor-mance and achievement. Eaton shared how he rose from auto mechanic to NBA All Star, and after 12 amazing years with the Utah Jazz reinvented himself and be-came a business leader, entrepreneur and radio and TV personality.

In this economy, most utilities are not seeing any residential growth, and some aren’t able to grow revenue at all. David Eves, President & CEO, Public Service Co. of Colorado, Xcel Energy, shared ways utilities can grow reve-nue in this environment. Predicting what’s on the horizon for the elec-tric energy industry isn’t easy, but Hank Cour-tright, Sr. VP, Global Strategy & External Re-lations, EPRI, Dr. John Caldwell, Director of Economics, EEI and Dennis Pidherny, Senior Director, Sector Head, Public Power, Fitch Ratings provided important details for a util-ity roadmap to the future.

During a CEO Panel, Gary Gates, CEO, Omaha Public Power District; Larry Weis, CEO, Austin Energy; Mark Ruelle, CEO, We-star Energy; and Michael Yackira, President & CEO, NV Energy; and Luis Reyes, CEO, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, shared their strategies for moving forward with today’s biggest industry challenges.

Over the next quarter century the natural gas-fired generation share of the North American energy market is expected to grow to more than 45 percent of total installed capacity. Phil Wright, Sr. VP, Corporate Development, Williams Pipeline, presented key strategic,

continued on page 7

November 2012

A new RMEL president was elected on Sep-tember 11th during the 2012 Fall Conven-tion. Kelly Harrison, Westar Energy, com-pleted his term as the 2012 president and handed the gavel to Andy Ramirez, El Paso Electric Company.

Andy Ramirez serves as El Paso Electric’s Vice President of Power Generation. In that position, Ramirez is responsible for all ac-tivities of the Power Generation Division which include power plant operations and maintenance, new plant construction, re-source planning, and oversight management of El Paso Electric’s interest in the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and Four Corners Coal Station.

Ramirez had previously served as Vice Presi-dent of Safety, Environmental and Resource

Ramirez Takes Office as 2013 President

Planning at EPE. Prior to joining El Paso Electric, Ramirez served as Executive Director of Gulf Region Operations for Sempra Energy, a California-based en-ergy company. His responsibilities in-cluded assisting in the transition of vari-ous Texas generation assets to Sempra, when those assets were acquired from American Electric Power. Prior to that, Ramirez served as Senior Vice President of Power Production for Austin Energy, the community-owned electric utility for Austin, Texas. In that position, his re-sponsibilities included management of all coal, nuclear, and natural gas generation assets, environmental, distributed genera-tion, chilled water, and power production engineering. Ramirez has also served as a board member of the South Texas Nuclear Operating Company and as a member of

the Fayette Coal Plant Management Com-mittee. Prior to Austin Energy, he served in various management and engineering posi-tions in Generation at Central Power and Light Co.

Ramirez has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University – Kingsville, as well as a Mas-ter’s in Business Administration degree from Texas State University. He is a regis-tered professional engineer in Texas.

Kelly Harrison will continue to serve on the RMEL Board.

operating and financing issues that could smooth the power industry’s transition to increasednatural gas use.

Thomas Casey, Managing Principal, Dis-cussion Partner Collaborative LLC, dis-cussed the emerging talent shortage and the need for innovative human capital practic-es that incorporate approaches aligned with the four separate and distinct demographic cohorts in the global workforce.

As power producers and distributors invest in new digital systems targeting smart grid, smart meters, or portfolio management ap-plications, planning to manage the influx of new data is critical. Martin G. Travers, President, Telecommunications, Black & Veatch, showed examples of how some utilities are successfully navigating these new challenges and opportunities.

Even with the prospect for longer term competitive natural gas pricing, coal gener-ation remains a highly competitive and key fuel resource across much of the country. Grant E. Grothen, P.E., Principal, Burns & McDonnell, explored the fundamental economics of coal versus gas, impact of both planned and likely retirements on the energy markets, and prediction of industry environmental regulatory compliance in-vestments through 2020.

Other highlights of the three-day Fall Con-vention included a golf outing, the RMEL Champions receptions, the RMEL annual meeting and the RMEL Foundation Auc-tion. This year’s auction raised a record $35,808! All funds will go toward scholar-ships awarded to qualified students pursu-ing careers in the electric industry.

During the 2012 annual meeting, RMEL recognized the following individuals who have had major impacts on the electric en-ergy industry. The Honorary Life Member award went to Glen Reeves. The Distin-guished Leadership Award was presented to Lanie Prouse, and the Industry Leader-ship Award went to Tim Meeks.

Fall Executive Leadership and Manage-ment Convention presentation slides are available at www.RMEL.org.

The 2013 Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention will be held Sep-tember 8-10 at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, in Marana, AZ.

Fall Conventioncontinued from page 5

November 2012

January 19, 2012Introduction to the Electric Utility WorkshopDenver, CO

February 7-8, 2012New Distribution Engineers WorkshopDenver, CO

February 24, 2012Safety RoundtableDenver, CO

March 1-2, 2012Power Supply Planning and Projects Conference Denver, CO

March 2, 2012Generation Vital Issues RoundtableDenver, CO

March 6-7, 2012Transmission Planning and Operations ConferenceDenver, CO

March 7, 2012Transmission Vital Issues RoundtableDenver, CO

March 8-9, 2012Distribution Overhead and Underground Operations and Maintenance ConferenceDenver, CO

March 9, 2012Distribution Vital Issues RoundtableDenver, CO

March 20, 2012Electric Utility Workforce Management RoundtableDenver, CO

April 11-13, 2012Distribution Overhead and Underground Design and Staking WorkshopDenver, CO

April 24-25, 2012Health, Safety and Security Conference Denver, CO

April 25, 2012Safety RoundtableDenver, CO

May 20-22, 2012Spring Management, Engineering and Operations ConferenceOmaha, NE

June 14-15, 2012Plant Management Conference and Plant TourLas Vegas, NV

June 15, 2012Plant Management Roundtable and Plant TourLas Vegas, NV

June 21-22, 2012NERC Planning, Operations and Compliance ConferenceDenver, CO

July 10, 2012RMEL Golf TournamentWestminster, CO

August 24, 2012Safety RoundtableFort Collins, CO

September 9-11, 2012Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention Summerlin, NV

September 27, 20122013 Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference Planning SessionDenver, CO

October 9, 2012OSHA Update WorkshopDenver, CO

October 16, 2012Renewable Planning and Operations Conference Denver, CO

November 2, 2012Underground Distribution Design and Protection WorkshopDenver, CO

November 16, 2012 Safety RoundtableWestminster, CO

2012 Event CalendarRMEL Career Center Makes Electric Energy Workforce ConnectionsThe electric energy workforce is constantly changing, and there is a high demand for more talented and skilled professionals in this industry. The RMEL community is valuable not only for networking and education, but also career advancement and workforce development. Companies and individuals can put the RMEL Career Center to work to find skilled and knowl-edgeable employees or embark on a new opportunity.

Log on to www.RMEL.org and click Ca-reers to see a wide array of career opportu-nities and post jobs and internships at your company. Use the Post a Job Link to sub-mit your posting. Call RMEL at (303) 865-5544 to make changes to your listing. For help with any of these steps or questions about the Career Center, contact RMEL.

If you’d like to help grow the workforce, the RMEL Foundation is exclusively fo-cused on just that. It was formed for the charitable and educational purposes of awarding scholarships to deserving and qualified students in engineering or other curriculum related to the electric energy industry. Contributions are tax-deductible under the IRS 501(c) 3 tax code. Help improve the qualified personnel pool by awarding scholarships to students. Learn more at www.RMEL.org.

DIAMONDBlack & Veatch Corp.Burns & McDonnellCH2M HILLLauren Engineers & ConstructorsThomas & Betts Steel Structures DivisionZachry Holdings, Inc.

PLATINUMAMECBabcock Power, Inc.Bechtel Power CorporationCasey Industrial, Inc.Energy & Resource Consulting Group, LLCFoster WheelerHamon Research - CottrellHitachi Power Systems America, LtdIrwin Industries, Inc.- Power Plant ServicesKiewitPOWER Engineers, Inc.TIC - The Industrial CompanyTowill, Inc.Ulteig Engineers, Inc.Wärtsilä North America, Inc.

Thank You 2012 RMEL Champions

GOLDAlstom PowerBorder States ElectricColorado Powerline, Inc.DIS-TRAN Packaged Substations, LLCEmerson Process ManagementExponential Engineering CompanyGolder Associates, Inc.Harris Group, Inc.HDR, Inc.KleinfelderKVA Supply Co.Laminated Wood Systems, Inc.Marsulex Environmental TechnologiesMerrick & CompanyMycoff, Fry & Prouse LLCNAES Corp.Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.Sabre Tubular StructuresSAICSargent & LundySolomon AssociatesStanley Consultants, Inc.UC SynergeticURS Energy & Construction Inc.Westwood Professional Services

SILVERADA-ES, Inc.Altec Industries, Inc.AREVA Solar Inc.Babcock & Wilcox CompanyCommonwealth Associates, Inc.E3 ConsultingESC engineeringHamilton Associates, Inc.High Energy-Inc. (HEI)IrbyLuminate, LLCNEI Electric Power Engineering, Inc. Nooter/Eriksen, Inc.O I C OutagePeak Power Engineering, Inc.Reliability Management Group (RMG)ScientechSiemens Energy Inc.Southwire CompanySPIDAWeb LLCTrans American Power Products, Inc.TrimbleVictaulic

November 2012

2012 RMEL Award Recipients

At the 2012 Fall Convention RMEL recog-nized several individuals who have given significant contributions to RMEL and the electric energy industry.

RMEL presented two of its most esteemed awards, the Honorary Life Membership award and the Distinguished Leadership Award, on September 11 at the Fall Con-vention in Summerlin, NV.

The Honorary Life Membership Award is given to someone, now retired from their company, deserving of recognition in the electrical field for cooperative endeavors within the industry and for valuable service to RMEL.

The recipient of the 2012 Honorary Life Membership Award is Glen Reeves, who is retired from SRP. Glen worked for SRP from 1970 to 2011. He retired as the Man-ager, Power Generation, and was respon-sible for the operation and maintenance and engineering of SRP operated coal, natural gas, hydro and renewable generating facili-ties as well as oversight of SRP’s owner-ship interests in coal and nuclear gener-ating facilities operated by others. Glen served on RMEL’s Board of Directors from 2002 to 2011. In his role as Vice President of Vital Issues, Glen shaped the format of the Vital Issues Forum, which drives yearly content of RMEL’s 30 events, publications and resources.

The Distinguished Leadership Award is given to an employee of an RMEL member company who has demonstrated singular dedication, service and leadership to the electric utility industry and has been an ac-tive and exemplary supporter of RMEL.

The 2012 Distinguished Service Award winner is Lanie Prouse, MyCoff, Fry & Prouse LLC. Lanie was a very active mem-ber of the RMEL Board from 1999 to 2010 and made numerous contributions to the advancement of RMEL and the industry. Lanie served on numerous committees while on the board, most notably as Vice President of Education and was a founding member of the education committee from 2004-2006. She truly made a difference in her time on the Board and in her service to RMEL and the industry. During her presi-dency in 2007, RMEL flourished in terms of growth and membership.

The Industry Leadership Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated sin-gular dedication, service and leadership to the electrical energy industry. We wish to recognize professionals for everything they do: from the many prominent positions held to the positive influence put forth for the benefit of the electric energy industry and all those it serves.

The Industry Leadership Award went to Tim Meeks, Western Area Power Adminis-

tration. Over the course of his 30-year ca-reer, Tim worked to increase Western Area Power Administration’s presence in the electric utility industry. He grew up profes-sionally at Western, beginning as a student in California and eventually obtaining the Administrator role in 2007. His goal was to connect communities throughout the west with reliable, affordable energy; strong partnerships; an unparalleled professional workforce and an eye on the horizon for oncoming changes. Meeks’ legacy, espe-cially his emphasis on building connections between Western, its customers, industry groups like RMEL and regulatory agencies, will resound through Western and the in-dustry for years to come.

RMEL also recognized volunteers that have given their time and effort to help RMEL and the industry. Service Awards were given to the following for work on the Foundation Board of Directors: Jackie Sar-gent, Platte River Power Authority; Mike Hummel, SRP; and Gary Westphal, Butler Public Power District.

Nominations for the 2013 RMEL Awards Program will open in the spring of 2013, and the nominations deadline is set for June 1, 2013. Visit www.RMEL.org for more in-formation.

John P. Nelson, an engineer whose con-tributions to power system grounding and protection practices have driven the design of safer industrial power equipment and improved personnel safety, was recently honored by IEEE with the 2012 IEEE Richard Harold Kaufmann Award. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional association.

The award, sponsored by the IEEE Indus-try Applications Society, recognizes Nel-son for leadership in power system ground-ing, protection design and the advancement of the electrical safety culture. The award was presented on September 24, 2012 at the IEEE Petroleum and Chemical Industry Technical Conference in New Orleans, La.

Nelson has devoted his 40-plus-year career to advancing the electrical safety of person-nel and industrial power equipment with work in system protection, system ground-ing and electrical designs that minimize hazards to equipment and personnel. He has helped drive the design of safer equipment for low- and medium-voltage power ap-plications through important contributions to design practices and through educating fellow engineers. His work has impacted power applications for the petroleum and chemical industries and has improved all aspects of electrical safety in general, lead-ing to improved worker/operator safety.

A technical leader in electric power system protection and grounding, Nelson’s career has covered all aspects of power systems design, construction, commissioning, trouble-shooting and maintenance. During the 1990s, there was debate within the in-dustry regarding which system grounding practices were best suited for petroleum and chemical facilities based on reliability, maintainability and safety concerns. Nel-son’s award-winning papers on high-resis-tance grounding for low-voltage systems was one of the factors that provided clarity and helped settle the controversy.

To combat what he saw as a general lack of training and educational opportunities in power engineering, Nelson has dispersed his expertise through presenting short courses, conducting workshops and teach-ing undergraduate and graduate classes to hundreds of engineers, students and prac-ticing professionals. With subjects cen-tered on high-resistance grounding and arc flash protection, he has contributed to rais-

RMEL Member, John P. Nelson, Receives 2012 IEEE Richard Harold Kaufmann Award for Expertise in Power-Systems Safety

RMEL Member John P. Nelson Received a

2012 IEEE Richard Harold Kaufmann Award

ing levels of personnel safety and avoid-ance of electrical injury. Nelson’s current efforts are focused on the dangers associ-ated with new, old and poorly maintained equipment and potential safety issues with new designs.

An IEEE Fellow, Nelson’s honors include the “The Denver Post” Honor Award (1975) for his involvement with the Colora-do Army National Guard, IEEE Centennial Award (1984) and IEEE Industry Applica-tions Society-IEEE Power & Energy So-ciety Joint Chapter Outstanding Engineer Award (2002). Nelson received his bach-elor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana, and mas-ter’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He founded NEI Electric Power Engineering in 1982, which is an international electrical engineering company providing utility and industrial power engineering services. A registered professional engineer in Colora-do and ten other states, Nelson is currently the chief executive officer of NEI Electric Power Engineering, Inc., Arvada, Colo.

November 2012

2013 Eventscontinued from page 1

2013 Elective: Transmission Operations and Maintenance ConferenceThe Transmission Operations and Mainte-nance Conference will take place June 27 in Denver, CO. This conference addresses subjects related to transmission operations and maintenance, such as NERC Facil-ity Alert standardizing equipment, LiDAR, retention and training, vegetation manage-ment, birds, new technologies and asset management.

Core Event: Transmission Planning and Operations ConferenceThis conference addresses subjects related to planning, permitting, design, construc-tion, technologies, renewable integration and substations. It will also cover regula-tory and policy issues. In 2013, this event will take place March 12-13 at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows in Den-ver, CO.

Core Event: Renewable Planning and Op-erations ConferencePresentations at the Renewable Planning and Operations Conference will analyze planning, integration, operations and new technologies related to renewables. Pre-senters will also cover regulatory and poli-cy issues. This event will take place Octo-ber 17, 2013, at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows in Denver, CO.

Distribution SectionThe Distribution Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to shar-ing, networking and solutions of all issues related to planning, engineering, operating and maintaining distribution facilities in the utility industry, including distributed generation.

2013 Elective: Distribution Engineers WorkshopDistribution engineers will have a unique opportunity to hear from a wide range of utilities during the Distribution Engineers

Workshop February 7-8 in Denver, CO. In-structors will cover topics like system plan-ning methodology, transmission design, transformer sizing, harmonics, intercon-necting to distributed generation, new tech-nologies and utility engineering through the eyes of a lineman.

2013 Elective: Distribution Overhead and Underground Design and Staking Work-shopThe Distribution Overhead and Under-ground Design and Staking Workshop will take place April 10-12. This workshop will provide students with an overview of the tools, techniques and practices associated with the design of safe, reliable overhead and underground distribution systems. A review of electrical design formulas and the National Electric Safety Code will be included. The course will cover single- and three-phase residential and commercial de-sign practices, including subdivisions and large commercial developments with com-plex loop schemes. The course concludes with an overview of essential system pro-tection practices for designers and techni-cians.

2013 Elective: Distribution Automation ConferenceThe Distribution Automation Conference is slated for October 3 in Denver, CO. Attend-ees will hear from utilities that have suc-cessful distribution automation programs in place and from the companies develop-ing the next generation of intelligent tech-nologies. Best practices will be discussed as well as some of the benefits and costs utilities can expect from various distribu-tion automation technologies.

Core Event: Distribution Overhead and Underground Operations and Maintenance ConferencePresenters at this event will discuss both overhead and underground distribution systems, distribution operations and main-

tenance topics, and substations topics. Planning may be touched on, but is not the focus of the conference. Regulatory and policy issues will also be discussed but are not the focus. In 2013, the event will take place March 14-15 at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows in Denver, CO.

Safety SectionThe Safety Section is a community of in-dustry professionals dedicated to sharing, networking and solutions of all issues re-lated to workplace safety at production, transmission and distribution, and manage-ment facilities in the utility industry.

2013 Elective: Arc Flash Low Voltage and High Voltage WorkshopThe 2013 Arc Flash Low Voltage and High Voltage Workshop will be held April 4-5 in Denver, CO. This two-day class takes you through the steps required to perform low voltage and high voltage arc flash hazard calculation studies. Attendees will per-form in-depth calculations of incident en-ergy, arcing current and arc flash protection boundaries based on the various methods of NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584. There will also be a demonstration of how to perform the study using a commercially available computer program. As a member of the IEEE 1584 Working Group “Guide for Per-forming Arc Flash Hazard Calculations,” author of the book Complete Guide to Arc Flash Calculation Studies and founder of ArcFlashForum.com, the presenter will provide some of his “insider” views about arc flash, his own research and testing as well as electrical safety practices.

2013 Elective: OSHA Reporting, Work-force Regulations, FMLA SeminarThe OSHA Reporting, Workforce Regula-tions, FMLA Seminar will be held October 10, 2013, in Denver, CO. This event will help utilities understand the employer’s responsibility when it comes to OSHA re-porting, workforce regulations and FMLA.

2013 Elective: OSHA Reporting, Work-force Regulations, FMLA SeminarThe OSHA Reporting, Workforce Regula-tions, FMLA Seminar will be held October 10, 2013, in Denver, CO. This event will help utilities understand the employer’s responsibility when it comes to OSHA re-porting, workforce regulations and FMLA. Topics will include the difference between OSHA reporting and workers’ compensa-tion.

Core Event: Health and Safety ConferenceOne of the most critical areas of focus for every utility is safety. Safety concerns impact every area of the business. The in-crease in threats to the industry, its people, assets and infrastructure has expanded safety concerns to those focused on secu-rity and health. The conference will include broad safety, security and health initiatives and programs, and take that focus through-out the organization to include discussions about personal efforts to stay safe. Topics will include health issues, personal security and industrial hygiene, and will also will cover regulatory and policy issues. In 2013, the event will take place April 23-24 at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows in Denver, CO.

Core Events: Safety Roundtables — Febru-ary, April, August and NovemberSafety Roundtables are an opportunity to discuss corporate safety issues in the electric utility industry, issues for opera-tions and craft safety, and other electric energy safety issues. Each participant can pose questions and share information. All attendees are encouraged to bring issues for discussion and materials for sharing. 2013 Safety Roundtables will take place February 22 in Denver, CO; April 24 at the Denver Marriott South in Park Meadows in Denver, CO; August 30 at Platte River Power Authority in Fort Collins, CO; and November 15 at Tri-State Generation & Transmission Assn in Westminster, CO.

Management SectionThe Management Section is a community of industry professionals dedicated to shar-ing, networking and solving all issues relat-ed to the management of assets, planning, operations and workforce of the utility industry, including corporatewide critical issues and topics that affect different man-agement levels. Discussion may be tech-nical but in general maintains perspective from a higher management level. This sec-tion includes demand-side management, energy efficiency and sustainability. This section also incorporates miscellaneous in-dustry areas and fringe topics not covered in other sections.

2013 Elective: Introduction to the Electric Utility WorkshopThe Introduction to the Electric Utility Workshop is set for January 17, 2013, in Denver, CO. This course is designed to acquaint nontechnical utility employees with the basics of their industry, from the generation to the distribution of electricity. The workshop will focus on five areas: an overview to electricity and electrical power systems, information about conventional production methods, alternative technolo-gies, transmission and distribution systems, and customer service. The course places emphasis on understanding various words, terms and phrases unique to the electric power industry. Participants will gain a clear insight into how electricity works for the end-use customer.

2013 Elective: Electric Utility Workforce Management RoundtableThe Electric Utility Workforce Manage-ment Roundtable will take place March 28, 2013, in Denver, CO. Workforce issues continue to be a challenge to the utility in-dustry today, and it doesn’t look like they are going away anytime soon. Predictions that much of the industry’s talent and ex-perience will be eligible to retire within the next five years are not myths but realities.

At the same time, the pool of young talent coming into the industry may not be suf-ficient to replace this aging workforce. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? These presentations will look at programs and strategies that are under way to deal with this issue.

Core Event: Spring Management, Engi-neering and Operations ConferenceThe Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference has been a tradition since RMEL’s early beginnings. Known for providing outstanding continuing edu-cation and networking opportunities, this conference is a must-attend event for en-gineering, operations and management personnel in the electric energy industry. With 30 presentations, this conference cov-ers issues in generation, transmission, dis-tribution, safety, customer service, human resources and other management topics. The timely topics and breakout structure of the conference allow attendees to custom-ize their education experience to focus on presentations and resources that address their needs. Ample time is also provided to network with industry peers and visit with exhibitors. Maximize your time and training budget with this value-priced and content-rich event. Continuing education certificates are provided for the sessions at-tended. The 2013 Spring Management, En-gineering and Operations Conference is set for May 19-21 at the Vail Marriott Resort & Spa in Vail, CO.

Core Event: Fall Executive Leadership and Management ConventionThe RMEL Fall Executive Leadership and Management Convention started in Octo-ber 1903. Since that first meeting, the Fall Convention has grown and evolved into one of the industry’s leading events for senior management. The Convention pro-vides a relaxed forum for networking with your peers and colleagues to find and share solutions to the critical issues that keep you

November 2012

up at night. The primary focus of the Convention is the educational presentations. Utility execu-tives offer their insight and thoughts on a variety of issues, trends, challenges and the direction they are leading their companies. Speakers are primar-ily CEOs, senior executives and other top leaders from inside the industry discussing the issues that matter most to you. Find significant value in the two-day streamlined format. Make the connec-tions you need and learn from education presenta-tions that will benefit you and your company. The 2013 Fall Convention will take place September 8-10 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Ma-rana, AZ.

Take an In-Depth Look at Section BenefitsRMEL has services and content focused on utili-ties’ top priorities that participants can attend year after year. The core events, electives, RMEL Course Catalog and roundtable events bring a fresh perspective to the RMEL educational experi-ence in each section.

RoundtablesDiscuss Your Priorities and Drive RMEL ContentThese forums allow you to meet in a setting that focuses on trust and peer-to-peer sharing. RMEL roundtables serve as a catalyst for future program development. By increasing your participation in discussion forums and enhancing roundtables, you can maximize the potential of the RMEL commu-nity and network with RMEL contacts throughout the year — whether you are at an RMEL event, your desk or in the field.

Core EventsRecurring Events Let You Plan AheadCore events in each section are scheduled for the same time every year so you can plan ahead. At least one signature event has been established for each section, and section participants can quickly and easily identify with their events. Topics at core events evolve to stay relevant and ahead of electric energy industry trends.

ElectivesEvents Dedicated to Critical Issues of the DayFrom year to year, RMEL will offer new events in

each section to cover the latest technologies, evolving trends and critical issues that aren’t covered at core events. These events will zero in on your top priorities at any given time and may not repeat from year to year. Electives can take the form of an RMEL conference, workshop or roundtable.

RMEL participants can zero in on their interests by updating their profile on RMEL.org. Then watch for the content and benefits of your section in your inbox.

2013 Eventscontinued from page 13

Utility Ethernet Forum6229 S. Krameria StDenver, CO 80111(303) 358-4160www.utilityethernetforum.orgTom JancaUEF [email protected] An organization whose vocation is to inform educate and define Utility Ethernet that pro-vides network performance and reliability appropriate for real time critical infrastruc-ture protocols and services. We advance NEXT Utility Network architectures and dis-tributed intelligence as fundamental to a se-cure grid. NEXT merges the Operations-Safe-ty-Enterprise packet networks through Layer 2 networking and establishes clear electronic security parameters to meet NERC CIP com-pliance while ensuring deterministic and low latency connectivity common with SONET in a packet network. UEF assist utilities seek-ing to create Secure-Private-Exclusive-Circuit Integrated-Automation Literate Utility Net-works. Activities include consulting, publish-ing, training and speaking.

Hubbell Power Systems200 Center Point Cir, Ste 200Columbia, SC 29210(803) 216-2600www.hubbellpowersystems.comWarren BrownRVP, North Central [email protected] Hubbell Power Systems (HPS) manufactures a wide variety of transmission, distribution, substation, OEM and telecommunications products used by utilities. In addition, HPS products are used in the civil construction, transportation, gas and water industries. Products include construction and switching products, tools, insulators, arresters, pole line hardware, cable accessories, test equip-ment, transformer bushings and polymer pre-cast enclosures and equipment pads.

U.S. Water Serv ices12270 43rd St NESt. Michael, MN 55376(866) 663-7633(763) 553-0613www.uswaterservices.comSarah HaugMarketing [email protected] U.S. Water Services provides integrated wa-ter management solutions that combine engi-neering, equipment, chemicals and services. We help industries find cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions for their most challenging water, energy and compli-ance problems. Our customer focused ap-proach enables our staff to work as an exten-sion of your team so you can focus on what’s important - running your facility.

Llewellyn Consulting14407 N. 26th PlPhoenix, AZ 85032(302) 788-8414(602) 788-6102www.bizbucksguy.comBob LlewellynPrincipal [email protected] Management Consulting and business-acumen training.

Rossi Group, LLCPO Box 631427Littleton, CO 80163(303) 514-0449(303) 284-4667John RossiPresident/[email protected] Consulting - Functional Fluids Solutions

Pine Valley Power, Inc.14860 S. Concorde Park DrBluffdale, UT 84065(801) 260-5060(801) 260-5063www.pvputah.comBenjamin [email protected] Line Contractor. EPC, PC, and construction of distribution, transmission, and substation power facilities in the western US.

Nol-Tec Systems, Inc.425 Apollo DrLino Lakes, MN 55014(651) 780-8600(651) 780-4400www.nol-tec.comDianne NovakSr. Marketing [email protected] Nol-Tec Systems leads the market in custom-engineered pneumatic conveying solutions, working with electrical generators and ma-terials processors throughout the world. Our systems cover a broad range of capabilities and components, including dry sorbent injec-tion and emissions control systems, dense and dilute phase conveying, and integrated controls. Nol-Tec balances sound technical expertise with innovative thinking, partner-ing with our forward thinking customers to exceed their expectations and deliver suc-cess.

TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc.5640 Sawdust LoopParker, CO 80134(303) 470-9014(303) 470-9559www.testamericainc.comH. Kent CheeseDirector, National [email protected] Laboratories, Inc. is recognized as the leading environmental testing firm in the United States. Operations include a nationwide network of 36 environmental testing laboratories and 35 service centers. TestAmerica provides innovative techni-cal expertise and comprehensive analytical testing services. Specialty analyses include source and ambient air, aquatic toxicity, ex-plosives, specialty organics, dioxins, drinking water, sediments and tissues, emerging con-taminants, radiochemistry and mixed waste testing. Through continued investment in people, technology, capital equipment and infrastructure, TestAmerica has developed an unprecedented combination of resources, ex-perience and testing capabilities. With nearly 2,000 industry professionals, TestAmerica is well positioned to support clients in both the public and private sector.

Bowman Consulting Group3863 Centerview Dr, Ste 300Chantilly, VA 20151(703) 464-1000(703) 481-8410www.bowmanconsulting.comMike HartSr. Project [email protected] Bowman Consulting delivers real estate, energy and infrastructure solutions to the public and private markets throughout the country. Outstanding client relationships and a focused growth strategy have allowed Bow-man to anticipate the needs of the market-place and respond to its demands through new service offerings, locations and solu-tions. Bowman is an adept and energetic firm with a results-oriented attitude. We focus on exceeding expectations and give our clients peace of mind by providing exceptional ser-vice.

Cooling Tower Depot651 Corporate CirDenver, CO 80401(720) 746-1234(720) 746-1110www.ctdinc.comNicholas [email protected] Cooling Tower Depot is a leading manufactur-ing company, offering new cooling towers, major rebuilds and overhauls and inspection services, emergency response services and the industry only online store for Depot Cool-ing Towers.

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