Category: News Release

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Utility CAPEX Report Published from the January 2010 Newton-Evans Study of Electric Power T&D Investment

Tracking Study Finds Increased 2010 CAPEX and O&M Budgets for Smart Grid-Related Automation and Transmission Categories

February 25, 2010 —Ellicott City, Maryland. The Newton-Evans Research Company today announced the publication of its third study in the multi-year tracking research program looking into electric power utility CAPEX budgets related to smart grid investments and infrastructure spending plans.
Findings from the January 2010 Newton-Evans global tracking study of electric power transmission and distribution investment are somewhat positive, compared with the two earlier tracking studies conducted in 2008 and 2009. Each of five “smart grid” component areas, plus transmission and distribution infrastructure development, has been reported by utilities located in more than 25 countries to more likely be either “increased” or “unchanged” rather than “decreased” from June of last year. The highest percentages of officials reporting increases were in the areas of protection and control, and transmission infrastructure CAPEX budgets. Continue reading Utility CAPEX Report Published from the January 2010 Newton-Evans Study of Electric Power T&D Investment

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Electric Power Utilities Continue to “Stay the Course” with Projected Capital Spending Plans for Smart Grid Building Blocks

Some Key Project Deferrals Noted in Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure . . . Rebound Anticipated by mid-2010 for Transmission . . . Later into 2011 for Distribution Infrastructure

The views of 118 Officials from Electric Power Utilities in 36 Countries Grow Somewhat More Conservative Since December but Remain Upbeat for Continued Investment in “Smart-Grid” Components

Ellicott City, Maryland – 9 July, 2009. In spite of the weakened economic conditions in countries around the world, electric power utilities continue to make significant financial commitments in “smart grid” building blocks and related automation programs. The majority of the large public and private utilities participating in the June 2009 Newton-Evans study are poised to continue many of their long-term capital investment programs as had been originally planned back in January of 2008. However, in several instances, the projects have been deferred from their initial planned start-up dates.

In a new tracking study released today by the Newton-Evans Research Company, a significant majority of the 118 electric power grid officials from 36 countries participating in the CAPEX and O&M budget planning study indicated that capital spending for control systems, substation automation, smart grid-related programs, and advanced metering rollouts are largely on track albeit with some pushback in timing. However, several planned investments for transmission and distribution grid infrastructure components have been deferred for this year, but are expected to rebound perhaps as early as the fourth quarter of 2010.

Continue reading Electric Power Utilities Continue to “Stay the Course” with Projected Capital Spending Plans for Smart Grid Building Blocks

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Mid-2009 Global Protective Relay Market Study Completed – Four Volume Study Released

Market Indications Point to Lower CAPEX Investment and Some Project Deferrals for Protection and Control Activities in mid-2009, Rebounding by mid-2010

June 29, 2009 Ellicott City, Maryland. Newton-Evans Research Company has completed a four-month research study and survey of protective relay usage patterns in the global electric power business. Findings from more than 130 utilities located in more than 40 countries, point to a number of changes in buying patterns and usage trends since the company’s last topical study was completed in late 2006.

The percentage of digital relays in the mix of all protective relays used by utilities continues to increase. More than 50% of all generator and transmission line relays installed in the surveyed North American utilities are now digital units. The vast majority of new and retrofit units being purchased in North America and around the world are also digital relays, but in some of the protection applications studied, such as motor protection and large generator applications, electromechanical and solid state relays continue to have a niche market position.
Additional highlights from the mid-2009 study include the following:

  • Worldwide sales of medium voltage and high voltage applications of protective relays currently exceed $1.5 billion. Electric utilities, industrial companies and OEM manufacturers purchase and integrate these devices into grid operations, motor controls and as components of transmission and distribution equipment such as power transformers and switchgear.
  • At least five protective relay manufacturers each ship more than $150 million worth of protective relays each year. These firms include ABB, Areva T&D, GE Multilin, SEL Inc. and Siemens Energy. Several additional suppliers have annual shipments of from $25 million to $150 million.
  • Electric utilities accounted for about $575-675 million worth of direct purchases of protective relays in 2008. Industrial purchases accounted for at least $350-425 million.
  • Electro-Mechanical units continue to account for more than $100 million on a global scale.
  • The protection and control market is now being impacted by the global recession, but is expected to rebound by mid-2010, in the views of hundreds of survey respondents to both this study and a separate CAPEX study undertaken by Newton-Evans in June 2009.

The Newton-Evans survey of protection and control officials included more than 20 detailed product functionality and related technical questions, incorporating more than 300 items of information obtained from each of the participating utilities.

The mid-2009 Protection and Control study has been published by Newton-Evans Research Company in a series of four reports. 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: 2009-2011 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. Send email to info@newton-evans.com

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Protective Relay Marketplace – Our 7th Worldwide Study Now Underway

Newton Evans Research Company is embarking upon its 7th worldwide study of the protective relay marketplace. The 2009 survey has been co-designed by Newton-Evans’ staff, major electric utilities and leading suppliers and has been extensively reviewed and pre-tested.  Global fieldwork is now underway with participation from the world’s leading protection and control community within the electric power delivery industry expected to exceed 100 major participants.  The 4 volume report series is currently anticipated to be available in April 2009.

Please see our new brochure on this topic (.pdf) here:
relay_brochure2009.pdf

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Global CAPEX and O&M Expenditure Outlook for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Investments: 2009-2010

This recently completed study of Electric Utility T&D budget plans for Capital Expenditures, Operations and Maintenance includes survey responses from over 100 utilities worldwide. This study looks at general reasons for or against increasing, decreasing or maintaining budget levels through 2010. This bold new report has captured 2008 year-end information from leading utilities concerning all aspects of operational planning for smart grid initiatives including control systems, substation automation, AMR/AMI, distribution automation and protection and control.  The outlook for transmission and distribution infrastructure spending is also included.

Purchase the study online by visiting our reports page to order.

Please see our news release on this topic (.pdf) here:
news_release-CAPEXstudyjan09.pdf

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Substation Related A & I Program Spending Plans Remain Cautiously Optimistic

December 8, 2008. . . . Ellicott City, Maryland. The Newton-Evans Research Company has released research findings from its third quarter 2008 study of international electric power utility substation officials. About 50 large and mid-size electric utility organizations from more than 30 countries participated in the 2008 study.

International utilities accounting for nearly one-third of all utility owned transmission and distribution substations indicated plans to spend about $300-350 million this year on substation A&I program management activities, and more than one billion dollars for smart substation devices.

Many of the large International utilities participating in this year’s study continue to buy on a turnkey basis from a single supplier, which remains in stark contrast from findings reported in this year’s North American study. North American officials reported that they continue to purchase various substation products, equipment and systems from suppliers that they believe to be best in class, (whether these are global corporations, or smaller substation A&I market specialists).

Read the full article online here. (link opens as .pdf)

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News Release: International Control Systems Operations and International Study of Electric Power SCADA and Energy Management Systems

Ellicott City, MD——-March 21, 2008. Newton-Evans Research Company today released preliminary findings and observations from its multi-month study of transmission and distribution monitoring and control systems used in international electric power utilities.

Click here to read the rest of the article (.pdf opens in a new window.)