Category: Surveys

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One-Third of Electric Utilities Surveyed Indicate Over Half of Relays Have Been In Service for >15 Years

Roughly one-third of electric power T&D utility officials indicated in a survey that more than half of protective relays on their systems have been in service for more than 15 years. This is not such a long lifespan for EM relays, which can last 50 years or more, but for programmable, microprocessor relays the average lifespan is usually more in the ballpark of 20-25 years.

Newton-Evans Research Company has published findings from 97 surveyed electric power utility officials, relay manufacturers, suppliers and consultants. Here are a few observations on aging relays and testing intervals for microprocessor relays:
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35% of Utilities Surveyed Said More Than Half Of Relays Are Over 15 Years in Service

Newton Evans Research Company has recently completed Volume 1 (the North American Market) of the Worldwide Study of the Protective Relay Marketplace: 2019-2022, a four volume market report. Here are a few observations gleaned from the survey:

Survey respondents were asked, “Approximately what % of your relays have been in service for more than 15 years? (Best guess estimate)”

On average, 44% of relays in the utilities surveyed have been in service for more than 15 years. The average percent of relays older than 15 years among Canadian utilities surveyed was 61%; the average among U.S. Cooperatives was 25%.
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Global Study Finds Continuing Moderate Growth in Protective Relay Market with Commitment to Improving Protection Coordination and Grid Security Practices

In 2016, Newton-Evans Research Company completed a six-month research study and survey of protective relay usage patterns in the world community of electric power utilities. Findings from 114 large and mid-size utilities in 28 countries pointed to some newer trends in adoption and use of protection and control technology.

Among the key findings reported in the 2016 four-volume study were these:

  • There was a receptive market for incorporating advanced technological capabilities.
  • The role of synchrophasors and teleprotection continued to expand; providing better situational awareness and visualization for control system operators.
  • Most new and retrofit relay units being purchased were 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, electro-mechanical and older solid state relays continued to have a niche market position.

Continue reading Global Study Finds Continuing Moderate Growth in Protective Relay Market with Commitment to Improving Protection Coordination and Grid Security Practices

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Newton-Evans Surveys Underway

Outlook Study for HV and MV Equipment Purchasing Plans
Newton-Evans Research is conducting a study of U.S. electric utility plans for T&D equipment purchases over the coming 36 months. If you work in power transmission or distribution and specify or procure equipment, you can help the utility community by participating in the study. In turn, we will share back the findings and provide an honorarium as well. Aggregated equipment demand levels will have an influence on prices and options for capital equipment used in power transmission and distribution.
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Study of Commercial Lab Testing of Medium and High Voltage Equipment

Newton-Evans Research Company is currently conducting a study of the market for laboratory testing of medium and high voltage electric power T&D equipment. The purpose of this study is to find out how electricity producers, T&D companies, industrial facilities and transit and rail companies handle testing of equipment such as: power transformers, load tap changers, switchgear, load interruptors, outdoor circuit breakers, fused cutouts, relays, capacitors, load break switches, reclosers and instrument transformers.

Some of the tests for these pieces of equipment that are routinely performed in a laboratory situation include: arc flash, internal arcing fault, load and capacitive switching, short circuit interruption and withstand, overload, interrupting current tests, switching tests and cable/line charging. These laboratory-based tests are sometimes performed in-house by electric utility staff, but more often an outside consultant, equipment manufacturer, university or commercial test lab is hired to perform these tests.

In an effort to better serve electric power utilities, generating companies and industrial facilities, test labs want to know: “If you had the opportunity to troubleshoot a technical problem “off the grid” using an independent lab, what are some of the problems or issues you would test in that situation?”

If you or someone you know is involved in equipment testing or maintenance planning and would like to take our survey and receive a report of findings from this study, and a stipend, send inquiries to info@newton-evans.com or call 800-222-2856. A link to our survey, hosted by Surveymonkey.com, is available here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ElecPwrEquipTestingSurvey2016

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Power Fuse Applications in the U.S. Electric Utility Industry

Earlier this year, Newton-Evans received 38 responses to a four page survey on the topic of power fuses, current limiting fuses and fuse links. Topics on the survey included number of power fuses, current limiting fuses and fuse links purchase annually; what brands are used; which current levels, voltage levels and speed ratings (K, E and DR) are used the most; what % of fuses are re-fillable vs. one-time use; and what % are used for indoor vs. outdoor applications.

What percent of power fuses being purchased are re-fillable power fuses (i.e. SM4, SM5) versus one time use (replaceable) power fuses (i.e. SMD20/SMU20, SMD40/SMU40)?

Newton-Evans Research found that most utilities either buy nearly all re-fillable power fuses or nearly all one time use power fuses. Among the sample, an average of 40% of power fuses are re-fillable, and an average of 60% are for one-time use. A frequency distribution of individual responses shows that the 2 largest portions are either 0% or 90-100% for either type.

What % of Power Fuses Are Refillable Vs. One-time Use?
powerFuses_refillV1time_tblchrt

What percent of power fuses are used for indoor applications (i.e. SM4Z, SM20) versus outdoor applications (i.e. SMD20, SMD40)

Overall findings from the surveyed utilities indicated that about 86% of power fuses are purchased for outdoor applications, and the remaining 14% for indoor applications. However, note that five survey respondents indicated that 70% or more of their power fuses were in fact for indoor applications.

What % of Power Fuses Are For Indoor Use Vs. Outdoor Use?
powerFuses_indoorVoutdoor_tblchrt

To download a sample .pdf of this report or to order online, see our reports page.

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Newton-Evans Research Study of Precision Timing Requirements For Substation Modernization and Synchrophasor Installations Underway

Newton-Evans is currently conducting a two-pronged study to determine the perceived importance and likely trends affecting substation timing and time synchronization requirements.

Survey completion time estimate: 10-15 minutes

For Transmission Asset Owners and ISOs/RTOs:
This survey requests information on timing references used by utilities and plans to implement IEEE 1588, IEC 61588, and Power Profile C37.238-2011. Time synchronization is becoming ever more important in the development of transmission networks making use of substation modernization, smart substations, and other substation automation upgrades.

Here is the survey link for use by qualified transmission and substation engineers who wish to participate in our important study.
http://s.zoomerang.com/s/SubsTimeSynch_survey

For Substation Equipment and Intelligent Device Manufacturers:
This survey requests information on time references supported by substation devices, the role of GPS, support of PTP, and PTP adoption trends.
Here is the survey link for use by manufacturers of intelligent substation devices that require time synchronization.
http://s.zoomerang.com/s/PTP_vendor_survey

Thank you for your interest in this important study. All interested participants will receive an Executive Summary of our findings from both surveys.

Respondent Confidentiality: Always Guaranteed by virtue of our membership of more than 20 years in the Council of American Survey Research Organization