Category: Announcement

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ConnectivityWeek 2012 Gathers 100+ Speakers Defining the Energy 2.0 Market

ConnectivityWeek 2012 to bring in more than 100 top speakers from utilities, technology, government and energy consumption.

Top keynote speakers include United States Chief Technology Officer, California Public Utility Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy, Senior Vice President (SVP) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), and more, to help define market for Energy 2.0.

ConnectivityWeek 2012 is gathering top speakers representing utilities, energy consumers, government and technology players to spark the dialogue that will help define the market for Energy 2.0, May 22-24, 2012, in Santa Clara, Calif.

Kicking off the conference as part of the May 22 opening Green Button plenary are Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the U.S.A. Todd Park and California Public Utility Commissioner Catherine Sandoval.

Following this Green Button-focused plenary, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary Pat Hoffman will announce winners of the highly anticipated “Apps for Energy” contest, which has been put together by the DOE and its partners: Grid 21, Itron and PG&E. Hoffman will be joined onstage by Karen Austin, SVP and CIO of PG&E; Bill Reichert, Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures; and more.

The breadth of speakers at ConnectivityWeek 2012 comprise the Energy 2.0 landscape and include representatives from energy supply, technology, electricity consumption verticals, and government
Where and When

ConnectivityWeek 2012 will take place May 22-24, 2012 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.

For more information on this conference visit www.connectivityweek.com/2012/

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2012-2014 Protection and Control Study Released after Five Months of Intensive Research

Findings from Newton-Evans Study of Protective Relay Uses and Trends in the World’s Electric Power Utilities Depict a Receptive Market for Incorporating Advanced Technological Capabilities

Global Study Finds Continuing Growth in Protective Relay Market with Commitment to Increasing Protection Coordination and Grid Security Practices

 Role of Synchrophasors and Teleprotection Continues to Grow…Providing Better Situational Awareness and Visualization to Help Prevent Outages

April 12, 2012 Ellicott City, Maryland. Newton-Evans Research Company has completed a five-month research study and survey of protective relay usage patterns in the world community of electric power utilities. Findings from more than 100 North American and international utilities, point to some new trends in adoption and use of protection and control techniques.

Among the key findings reported in the four volume study are these:

  •  The percentage of digital relays in the mix of all protective relays used by utilities continues to increase.
  •  The vast majority of new and retrofit units being purchased are also digital relays, but in some of the protection applications studied, such as motor protection and large generator applications, and in installations where electrical interference is strong, electromechanical and older solid state relays continue to have a niche market position.
  •  The annual world market for protective relays and related power systems protection devices continues to grow at a healthy pace.
  •  Manufacturers of utility systems protection equipment continue to expand their market coverage, with more than 20 firms each enjoying at least some share of the global market.
  •  Real-time analysis of synchrophasor data will become a major application for the emerging field of operational analytics.
  •  Communications protocol usage patterns continue to serve as a differentiator between the majority of large and mid-size North American utilities and their international counterparts.

The Newton-Evans survey of electric utilities included more than 20 detailed product functionality, related technical questions, and market-related issues, together incorporating more than 250 items of information from each of the participating utilities.

The 2012-2014 study is a series of four reports published this month. These reports are geared to the planning needs of protective relay suppliers, power industry consultants, and utility protection and control departments. These volumes include the North American Market Study, the International Market Study, Supplier Profiles, and Global Market Assessment and Outlook.

Further information on the research series The World Market for Protective Relays in Electric Utilities: 2012-2014 is available from Newton-Evans Research Company, 10176 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 204, Ellicott City, Maryland 21042. Phone: 410-465-7316 or visit www.newton-evans.com for additional information or to order the report series online. Liz Forrest can be reached at eforrest@newton-evans.com .

 

 

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New Substation Automation U.S. Market Overview Reports

The Market Summary Series for Substation Automation is now available for purchase (see our reports page). These reports are an effective, low-cost approach for management to quickly obtain an assessment and overview of key attributes of each industry segment, including 2011 estimates of U.S. market size for utilities (by type) and for industrials; key players, and the near-term outlook for the segment.

Each report includes definitions of what is included in the segment, lists of market participants and their estimated 2011 revenue, a market share assessment (pie chart), 2011 market size range estimates, history and outlook of estimated spending changes out to 2014.

These 2-page summary reports are available for $195 each, or get all 13 Substation Automation reports in one .pdf document for $975. View our reports page for more details.

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2011 Ends on High Note . . . With the release of our newest market research study: Data Communications in the Global Electric Power Industry

January 3, 2012 –  Marks the publication launch date for the Newton-Evans’ three-volume study “Global Study of Data Communications Usage Patterns and Plans in the Electric Power Industry 2011-2015”

The Newton-Evans Research team has been working on its three volume study of Data Communications Usage Patterns and Trends for Smart Grid over the past several months. We have been successful in obtaining cooperation from more than 100 leading utilities around the world for this major new study.  Discussions with leading equipment vendors, services providers, consultants and analyst colleagues have been completed.

We are pleased to announce that as of January 3, 2012, the three volume report will be available for online ordering via the Newton-Evans website. The report series is priced at $3,750.00 for the complete set.

For the month of January, we are pleased to offer both the well-received 2011 three-volume Smart Grid study series and the three-volume Data Communications series for a total price of only $5,750.00. This is a significant savings and a real value to any smaller-to-mid-size organization now active, or planning to become active, in the development of smart grid for the world community of electric power utilities, ISOs and RTOs. To take advantage of this offer, place your order over the phone by calling us at +1 410 465 7316 or toll free 800 222 2856.

For special pricing information on these and other critically acclaimed Newton-Evans studies published in 2010 and 2011, please call Khrissy Newton at 410-465-7316.

New Studies Underway
1) The acclaimed series of protective relay studies (now in its tenth edition) is formally underway. Look for progress updates on  the Newton-Evans’ website during January. This is another of Newton-Evans’ multinational studies with participation from each world region, involving more than 25 countries, anticipated.

2) A current study of Automatic Generation Control practices among ISOs/RTOs and large utilities is in progress and will be finalized during January.

3) The “To the Point” series of short, concise reports on more than 75 T&D topics is now underway, with monthly releases of 5-7 reports expected during 2012.

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Economic Outlook Revamped Again: Its Effect on “Smart Grid – A Reality Check”

Further news on the economy and its relationship to smart grid developments came from two sources in early November:

(1) The U.S. Federal Reserve Statement; and (2)  the Continuing Eurozone Crisis;

See “Chuck’s Composite” page for our take on these developments and their likely effect on the Newton-Evans latest “Smart Grid – A Reality Check” study outlook. At year-end we will have a region-by-region and country-by-country update for each of 20 smart grid categories.  The update will be sent to all 2011 clients for the “Smart Grid- A Reality Check” series.

 

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Brochures For 2011-2012 Reports Series Now On Line

We wanted to make it easy for our readers, clients and visitors to locate brochures for the various report products we have made available and are currently developing in-house. Three very current topics are the multi-client focal points for us at this time: Protective Relaying; Utility Data Communications for the Smart grid; and, Smart Grid Outlook-A Reality Check.

Note that the protective relaying study series and the data communications study series brochures offer pre-publication pricing through mid-November.

We will soon be placing the brochure for the upcoming T&D infrastructure series of 92 topical “to the point” report summaries online as well.

Here are some brochures (opens as .pdf)
Global study of protective relays

Global Utility Data Communications Report Series

Smart Grid: A Reality Check report series

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Year-End Update Planned for the Smart Grid Outlook Report Series

A major update to the near-term and mid-term outlook for Smart Grid spending provided in volume 3 of the Newton-Evans study: The Worldwide Smart Grid Market in 2011: A Reality Check and Five Year Outlook Through 2015 is being prepared for late fourth quarter release to report series clients.

Subscribers to the recently completed three volume study of global smart grid activities will be receiving a further revision to the Newton-Evans’ outlook for smart grid spending in December. The update will be based on the ongoing research and between- the-lines assessments of fresh economic data released recently by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank.

Please see Chuck’s Composite page for the detailed write-up of the latest outlook news from two key international non-governmental energy financing and project organizations (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank).

Please take note that this report series has met with very good market acceptance by our clients. We welcome additional clients for this series while the content and outlook is current. The outlook information will be kept up to date for clients as fresh world regional economic and financial news dictates over the coming year. Chuck’s Composite page is available to all visitors to read the latest on our economic findings and market observations affecting smart grid and smart energy developments.

The smart grid reality check report series can be ordered here

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Newton-Evans to Prepare and Publish 92 T&D Infrastructure and Smart Grid Market Briefs During December 2011-June 2012

Newton-Evans Research to publish a new series of 92 North American market overview briefs on key segments of T&D Equipment and Automation Systems

Market briefs available beginning in December 2011 will include relevant summary profile information on a wide range of equipment, systems and services

Click here for more details and a listing of report topics

With more than 30 years of in-depth industry studies behind our 2012 planning efforts, we believe that now is the time to compile to-the-point individual market segment report summaries to assist North American industry planners coping with an uncertain, but cautiously optimistic, outlook for the 2012-2015 periods.

We are encouraging our clients to assist us in prioritizing our publication roll-out for these market briefs and to inform us if we are overlooking any product, system or services area of interest.

A listing of all 92 research topics is available upon request to Newton-Evans Research Company.

 

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Interoperability and Open Protocols Rank as Key Determinants for Utility Data Communications Plans

Initial Findings Depict Newer Data Communications Technologies and Services Being Adopted by World’s Electric Power Utilities

The brochure describing this multi-volume study can be found on our BROCHURES page  http://www.newton-evans.com/?page_id=1258.  Note that as of October 25, 100+ utilities from North America and more than 20 international countries have participated in the survey portion of the study.

The Newton-Evans Research Company has released initial findings from its extensive research program looking into electric power utility use of various telecommunications technologies and plans for adding capabilities to meet the requirements of the emerging smart grid. The ongoing research program is titled “Global Study of Data Communications Usage Patterns and Plans in the Electric Power Industry: 2011-2015.”

 

With more than 45 of the world’s leading utilities having joined the study as of October 5, here is a summary of a few key observations at the mid-point in the study:

AMI Projects: While power line carrier technology led in mentions of data communications technologies being used for at least some portion of meter communications, nearly one-third reported having no plans for AMI deployments at this time and 20% were undecided about their eventual choice of AMI communications methods.

Plans for connecting smart and advanced meters to the utility’s telecommunications network varied, with 36% saying they had no such plans. Just over one quarter cited use of public cellular services, 24% reported some use of RF mesh networks, and 13% reported use or plans to use point-to-multipoint radio. Many utilities are now taking a “wait and see’ attitude toward AMI with regulatory decisions not yet rendered in several states and international regions. There is still a good amount of discussion over AMI benefits, costs, communications approaches, data ownership, as well as meter data management and consumer privacy issues.

Interoperability and Open Protocols: One question group in the Newton-Evans’ survey measures the level of agreement or disagreement with 11 statements related to communications issues that were contributed by suppliers and utilities: (interoperability, SLAs, Industry Pace of Change, open protocols, synchrophasor use, and others). Among these topics, two have received strong indications of “agreement” among survey participants thus far along in the study. These are: interoperability being important to the utility, and the use of open protocols providing a “degree of protection from premature product obsolescence.

IP and Smart Grid Communications: The majority of respondents to date concur on the notion of using IP for all smart grid communications. However, 20% of the initial group indicated that they do not support standardizing on the use of IP for any SG communications.

Communications for Distribution Automation: Distribution Automation (DA) is a key component of smart grid. For DA, 40% of utilities surveyed to date use licensed point-to-multipoint communications, and thirty-eight percent use unlicensed point-to-multipoint. Numerous other technologies and approaches to DA communications were also mentioned including cellular, POTS, frame relay, paging, GPRS, fiber, leased lines, and private fiber-based Ethernet.

Responding utilities are also providing input on related DA questions: “Which communication technologies do you use for DA backhaul?” and also asked “Which DA communications network technology do you think will be dominant at your utility 3 years from now?” including reasons why a specific DA Backhaul technology is dominant at this time.

Smart Grid Communications: The study includes feedback sections on communications plans for five key smart grid component areas. Findings will be further detailed by world region and by utility ownership type and size. The three volume study is priced at $4,250.00, and can be ordered online and downloaded from the Newton-Evans web site from November 1, 2011 onward. Pre-publication report orders will be granted a $500.00 discount.

Spending on Utility Telecommunications: Earlier studies conducted by Newton-Evans Research estimated the total value of telecommunications expenditures in the global electric power industry at about $13 billion per year. About $5.4 billion of this total was allocated for data communications.

Public versus Private Networks: The debate on private versus public ownership of utility telecommunications networks is not going to end soon, based on findings reported here. It seems entirely likely that a majority of electric utility networks in North America and several international regions will remain essentially private, supplemented by the prudent use of commercial network services for less critical activities.

Additional information about the three volume report: Global Study of Data Communications Usage Patterns and Plans in the Electric Power Industry: 2011-2015 can be found in the Newton-Evans Research Company’s MARKET TRENDS DIGEST (Third Quarter 2011 edition can be viewed at www.newton-evans.com, or eforrest@newton-evans.com), or by telephone at 1-800-222-2856. Newton-Evans Research Company is located at Suite 204, 10176 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, Maryland 21042.

The brochure describing the study can be found on our BROCHURES page  http://www.newton-evans.com/?page_id=1258.  Note that as of October 25, 100+ utilities have participated in the study.

Be sure to check “Chuck’s Composite” page for a late October update column!

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Newton-Evans Research – Active Participation at Several Upcoming Conferences:

Over the next few months, Newton-Evans Research CEO Chuck Newton will be briefing attendees at several conference sessions and participating in a GRIDWEEK panel.  Conference web sites can be found on our ENERGY INDUSTRY CONFERENCES page. Here is the current agenda for the company’s event participation through January 2012

Conference:  GRIDWEEK 2011
Location:  Washington D.C. (Convention Center)
Session:  Utility Analytics Panel (with Energy Central)
Date:  Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Time:  7:00am-8:30am

Conference:  EMS USER GROUP Annual Meeting
Location:  Philadelphia, PA (Doubletree Hotel)
Session:  Briefing on EMS and Control Room Trends
Date:  Monday, September 19, 2011
Time: 09:30-10:15am

Conference:  REMOTE 2011 Conference
Location:  Nashville, TN (Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center)
Session:  Keynote Address:  Technology Transfer in SCADA Using Industries
Date:  Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Time:  09:30-10:15am

Conference:  DISTRIBUTECH 2012
Location:  San Antonio, TX (Convention Center)
Session:  UU 211 – Communications Systems and Networks in Today’s Utility Operations: An Overview of Methodologies, Network Design Considerations, Challenges and Priorities for Smart Grid Communications
Date:  January 23, 2012
Time:  08:00am-12:00pm

Conference:  DISTRIBUTECH 2012
Location:  San Antonio, TX (Convention Center)
Session:  Global Outlook for Smart Grid and Supporting Communications Infrastructure: Trends and Investments: 2011-2015
Date:  January 24, 2012
Time:  1:00pm-2:30pm

Conference:  DISTRIBUTECH 2012
Location:  San Antonio, TX (Convention Center)
Session:  Trends in Protection and Control: Global Findings and Outlook for 2012-2014
Date:  January 25, 2012
Time:  1:30pm-3:00pm

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Findings from Worldwide Smart Grid Market study

A brochure describing the smart grid study and cost can be found on our BROCHURES page.

According to the latest study by Newton-Evans Research Company, 84% of electric utilities are including smart meters as part of their smart grid plan. While this may be unsurprising (considering the important role metering plays in the smart grid), only 49% of electric utilities surveyed said they are including a dynamic pricing plan as part of their smart meter rollout.

Utilities in North America lean more towards “no,” while 64% of international utilities report that “yes,” dynamic pricing is integral to their smart meter implementation. Within North America, IOUs and especially Canadian utilities were slightly more likely to be implementing dynamic pricing along with smart meters (54% and 75% answering “yes” respectively.) See the table below for more detail.

The Worldwide Smart Grid Market in 2011: A Reality Check and Five Year Outlook Through 2015
Electric utility viewpoints and observations in this study are based on input received from 112 electric utilities in 31 different countries. Public Utility Commissions in the United States were also surveyed, and secondary research was conducted to determine the status of smart grid policy in India, Brazil, Mexico and China. This three volume report is available for $3,750 on our reports page or by phone (+1 410 465 7316 or 800 222 2856).

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The Worldwide Smart Grid Market in 2011: A Reality Check and Five Year Outlook Through 2015

The brochure describing the smart grid-reality check  study can be found on our BROCHURES page  http://www.newton-evans.com/?page_id=1258.

The new 150+ page Smart Grid 3-part report is available from July 25 onward:

July 25, 2011—Ellicott City, Maryland. The Newton-Evans Research Company has announced publication of its newest three volume study of “smart grid” research topics.    The study is based on inputs from utilities, regulators and industry equipment manufacturers, systems integrators and consulting firms, as well as highlights from recently completed Newton-Evans studies.

Volume One includes assessment of survey results obtained from utilities in more than 30 countries, together with inputs from regulators from throughout the United States, as well as regulatory findings from China, India, Brazil and Mexico.  Survey topics included utility views and regulatory filings related to real-time pricing, vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-building topics.

Volume Two includes sections that describe the current status and outlook for smart grid building blocks including control systems, substation automation, protection and control, outage management, distribution automation, smart infrastructure and automated metering.  The role of communications networks as the integrating force for smart grid development is also detailed.

Volume Three is an attempt to realistically portray the market as it stands in 2011 and as it may look by 2015.  The outlook for specific smart grid developments in each world region and in key countries within several world regions is profiled.  The regional outlooks have been smoothed by taking into account regional variables including GDP, population, economic growth rates, and electrical infrastructure assets (including power generation capacity, actual production, as well as transmission and distribution substations).  The volume also includes survey findings from research conducted with more than 30 global and regional market leaders active in development of the smart grid on the near-term and mid-term outlook for smart grid developments.

Brief overviews of key embryonic aspects of smart grid development are provided.  Included are renewables integration, energy storage, home energy management, and electric vehicle charging stations.  Emerging roles of demand response, synchrophasor developments and visualization tools are also summarized.  This new report series is entitled The Worldwide Smart Grid Market Outlook in 2011: A Reality Check and Five Year Outlook Through 2015.  The study represents a continuing commitment of nearly 35 years of research into the equipment and technologies in use and under development in support of the electric power industry around the world.  Since 1978, Newton-Evans Research Company has been a global leader in power industry automation and electricity infrastructure market studies and has assisted many of the world’s leading utilities in their quest for comparative technology benchmarking information.

The July, 2011 report series is in three volumes and is priced at $3,750.00.  The report is available for immediate download from the company’s website at www.newton-evans.com  or by phone to: 410-465-7316.

 

 

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Schneider Electric and Telvent: Climbing the Global Smart Grid Ladder . . . and Moving Up Fast!

Initial Impressions – By Chuck Newton

 

Overall, given the first impression of this prospective corporate marriage, I think that the proposed acquisition of Telvent by Schneider rivals the importance of ABB’s acquisition of Ventyx.  In some ways it overshadows that 2010 event.  Here’s why:

Schneider is a very large (about $30 billion USD) French-based global corporation headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, a near-in suburb located just to the west of Paris.  The company has recently grown fairly well organically and with a number of strategically well-thought-out acquisitions, including the very visible “AREVA D”, Areva’s medium voltage equipment and systems business, which acquisition was finalized in mid-2010.  That acquisition provided the basis for Schneider’s formation of a fifth business sector – “Energy”, reported separately as a line of business for the first time in the company’s 2010 annual report.

However, the Areva D buy-in was just one more drop (albeit a large drop) in the growing bucket of acquisitions recently completed by Schneider Electric.  During the past 24 months, the company has acquired the Persian Gulf’s CIMAC (an industrial systems integrator), the SCADAgroup (Australian control systems supplier), Electroshield-TM Samara, (Russia’s largest producer of MV electrical equipment), Conzerve (India-based supplier of industrial energy management schemes) and Microsol Tecnologia (Brazilian supplier of power conditioning equipment); Uniflair SpA, (Italian manufacturer of precision cooling equipment).  Schneider further strengthened its hand in building automation and energy efficiency systems with its acquisitions of two French firms, Vizelia (energy management software for commercial buildings) and D5X, specializing in space utilization of commercial buildings.

 To continue reading this article in its entirety, jump to Chuck’s Composite page: http://www.newton-evans.com/?page_id=799

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Progress Report on Newton-Evans Smart Grid Outlook Research Program

In April, 2011, we began a significant undertaking to learn the latest information about the “real world” of smart grid development initiatives among the nation’s and the world’s electric power utilities. We hope to better understand the shape of the demand curve for smart grid initiatives once the multi-billion dollar government stimulus funds already awarded become depleted. What will the domestic follow-on look like? Will new funding come from utilities, the public, the industry’s solutions providers, or one or more levels of government? Will collaborative efforts shorten development and piloting cycles?

Click here to read more.

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First Quarter 2011 Market Trends Digest Packed with New Research Findings. Now Available on-line!

Here is our first quarter line-up for our thousands of readers of “MTD” from around the world

Market Trends Digest – The “Dean” of smart grid Journals
The Newton-Evans team has developed the articles for the 1st quarter 2011 edition of one of the earliest and most widely praised smart grid journals – Market Trends Digest – launched in 1991 and continuing to add readers in 2011.

CAPEX 2011
The new Market Trends Digest edition features highlights from our new 1st quarter 2011 study of spending on smart grid components from around the world. The 2011 CAPEX study will also be available shortly – on 1 April – with many pre-publication subscribers eager to review this report, the fourth in our “tracking” series of informative planned spending reports on smart grid.

2011 Substation Automation Research Series
Next is an in-depth article of highlights from our newest studies of substation automation. The 2011-2013 study series contains four volumes of research, and is available for purchase on the web site, by email request, or by telephoning the Newton-Evans staff. The series has been well-received by the initial round of subscribers and sponsors.

IEC 61850: Is It Finally Coming of Age in North America, Or Not?
The next three articles cover new findings for projecting North American acceptance of IEC 61850. Titled “The Future Role of IEC 61850”, this article documents some of the progress finally being made with regard to this international standard.  Next, we identified several North American regional
“centers of excellence” when it comes to IEC 61850 developments as highlighted in the second of the 61850 articles. Finally, a profile of one of the larger G, T&D services companies leading the 61850 charge with extensive training, testing and support services – Toronto-based Kinectrics, Inc.

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Sale: 15% Off Two Major Newton-Evans Studies

Through March 31st, Newton-Evans will be taking 15% off all volumes of the following report series:

  • The World Market for Substation Automation and Integration Programs in Electric Utilities: 2011-2013

  • The World Market Study of SCADA, Energy Management Systems and Distribution Management Systems in Electric Utilities: 2010-2012

See our Market Research Reports page for pricing or to order either of these reports during the sale.

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Increases in Substation Related Automation and Integration Program Spending Reported by North American Electric Power Utilities

The Newton-Evans Research Company has released findings from the North American volume of its newly published four volume research series entitled: The World Market for Substation Automation and Integration Programs in Electric Utilities: 2011-2013. The new study compares the current round of research findings with earlier tracking studies conducted by the firm.

Newton-Evans Research estimates the current North American spending for substation automation and integration programs at more than $500 million, with an overall potential market size of nearly $10 billion. Global potential is estimated at about $38-$40 billion. This amount includes spending for a wide range of intelligent substation-resident equipment and devices and the manpower to undertake the systems integration efforts required.

The years 2008-2009 were slow growth – or at best moderate growth – years in most categories of intelligent electronic equipment sales related to the modern, increasingly digital, electric power substation. Fewer retrofit programs were undertaken except for the most critical of substations. The pool of funding for substation automation projects increased somewhat by virtue of a portion of the stimulus funds made available by the U.S. Department of Energy, with most of this amount likely to be spent in 2011-2012.

Additional topics being covered in the four volume series of substation automation studies include strong coverage of multiple communications topics, vendor security certification requirements, external systems linkages to the substation, preferred equipment suppliers, and an assessment of where North America’s electric power substations are positioned along a three-phase path to complete automation.

Level of automation of substations reported in North American survey sample
transmission substations automated

distribution substations automated

Respondents indicated a total of 1,567 transmission substations and 5,154 distribution substations in operation as of the 4th quarter of 2010. These represent a 9% sample of U.S. and Canadian combined totals of transmission voltage substations and nearly 10% of all distribution voltage substations.

It seems surprising that as of 2010, there were significant numbers of transmission substations reported to have no IEDs and no automation, although retrofit programs over the 2011-2013 period will likely improve the status of more than one-half of those currently non-automated substations.

Of 5,154 distribution substations in operation at participating utilities, nearly 36% were reported to be without any automation. Just over one-half (52%) of these distribution substations were classified as Stage 1 sites (having some IEDs, RTUs, and two-way communications). About 12% were reported to be “fully automated.”

The finding that 60 new transmission substations and 170 new distribution substations are on the drawing board for construction by 2013 provides some cautious optimism for EPC firms, as this level of planning is a sign of re-investment in grid-essential infrastructure.

The World Market for Substation Automation and Integration Programs in Electric Utilities: 2011-2013 Volume 1, North American Market is available for $2,500. To order volumes of these reports as they become available, and to view pricing details for all our reports, visit our Market Research Reports page. For samples or to view the table of contents, send a request to info@newton-evans.com with the subject line “Substation Automation Market 2011.”

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Preview our Research Topics – Plans for 2011

***************  2011 Plans Announced  ***************

We have outlined an aggressive research agenda for the coming year, based on fourth quarter 2010 discussions with our clients and industry contacts:   Of course, we will also concurrently be conducting multiple proprietary studies for clients old and new on many electric power infrastructure and automation topics. 

The Newton-Evans’ multi-client study topics and report prices for the coming year include:

First Quarter:  2011 Annual Outlook for CAPEX and OPEX in the World’s Electric Utilities.  (Fourth Edition) (Price:  $495.00)

Second Quarter:  The Worldwide Smart Grid Market in 2011: A Reality Check and Five Year Outlook Through 2015: Four Volumes: (Price:  $3,750.00)

Third Quarter:  Global Study of Data Communications Usage Patterns and Plans in the Electric Power Industry:  Four Volumes (Price: $4,500.00)

 Fourth Quarter:  8th Edition of The Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace in Electric Utilities: 2011-2013: Four Volumes (Price: $5,750.00)

 Other Titles Likely (as resource availability permits): 

 IEC 61850 in North America….Gaining Traction?

 Global Outlook for Synchrophasor Programs: 2011-2015

Demand Response:  North American Market Outlook: 2011-2015

T&D Equipment Markets in North America: 2010-2015

*******  Cautious Optimism remains the byword to the outlook for 2011-2012!

See Chuck’s Composite viewpoints at http://www.newton-evans.com/?page_id=799

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Sailing the Seven “C’s” With CISCO and Itron

by Chuck Newton

The September 1, 2010 announcement of a formal collaboration between CISCO and Itron was notable in several respects. First, the simple announcement was termed “collaboration” instead of “joint venture” or even a formal “partnership.” It was also described as non-exclusive, but was a very important step forward nonetheless for both companies, especially for Itron, and serves as a good omen for the AMI portion of “smart grid” communications in general, thus likely to benefit other AMI market participants that offer communications solutions as part of their go-to-market strategies.

CISCO is a $35 billion company, with an estimated $2-3 billion (Newton-Evans estimate) found within energy-related vertical industry sales of its communications equipment. Itron itself will close in on being a $2 billion corporation again in 2010, with about 50% of revenues derived from electric power industry AMR/AMI sales and services. Continue reading Sailing the Seven “C’s” With CISCO and Itron