Electical Contractor

It’s a generally accepted belief that people tend to be wary of things that are unfamiliar to them, so it would make sense this behavior would extend to the smart grid and smart meters, a relatively new trend in an industry on which most consumers are not educated.

Black & Veatch, a consultancy company, evaluated a one-year smart meter pilot program for ComEd, the Chicago-area utility. They found customers of the utility could save $2.8 billion on their electric bills over the 20-year life of a smart meter.

In mid-July, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) placed the last two transmission lines, both from Widows Creek Fossil Plant, back in service 74 days after sustaining unprecedented damage due to severe storms and tornadoes in April on its power transmission system.

Although preconvention workshops begin Friday, Oct. 21, the major kickoff for NECA 2011 San Diego is the first-of-its-kind program scheduled for the next day—the NECA Energy Forum.

During the opening minutes of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” set in a dimly lit saloon, Butch teasingly warns Sundance that maybe he shouldn’t be getting into gunfights anymore. “We all keep getting older,” Butch said.

Recognizing the importance of a modernized energy transmission system, the White House has launched a major effort to encourage and incentivize improvements to the grid.

Editor's Note: for more pictures from Joplin, click here. On May 22, 2011, one of the deadliest tornadoes in our nation’s history ripped through the city of Joplin, Mo. Winds faster than 200 mph tore a path of devastation nearly a half-mile wide and 10 miles long.

Entergy Corp., an integrated energy utility engaged primarily in electric-power production and retail distribution operations, announced it is working with Coulomb Technologies to fund and donate 16 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at college campuses in and around Entergy’s service area in

It's no secret that the business world is infiltrating social media, as many companies are finding an effective method of reaching customers in Facebook, Twitter and others. In the electrical industry, it’s helping to spread the word on myriad issues.