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The article reports on strategies of energy company FirstEnergy to help increase shale production in Pennsylvania as of June 2015. Topics discussed include investment made by Pennsylvania Electric Co.(Penelec), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, for construction and repairing of power lines for the natural gas industry, energy supplied by the company Sunoco Logistics and comments from Penelec president Scott Wyman regarding meeting increasing demands of safe electric services.

The article reports that investor-owned electric utilities (IOU) and stand-alone transmission companies in the U.S. have invested in 37.7 billion dollars in transmission and distribution infrastructure. A recent survey by Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Annual Property & Plant Capital Investment which show that capital transmission expenditures of 16.9 billion dollars was made in 2013. It presents views of EEI President Tom Kuhn.

The article focuses on a report by consulting firm Navigant Research as of November 2014 in which it predicts growth in the worldwide revenue from smart grid technologies. The report mentions that decrease in costs for devices, increase in competition along with utility deregulation and increasing emphasis on energy efficiency will lead to growth in smart grids. Comments from Richelle Elberg, senior research analyst with Navigant, are also presented.

The article reports that the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has offered a right-of-way (ROW) grant to wind farm Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission System LLC as of November 2014 for the Block Island Transmission System (BITS). It mentions that BITS involves installation of a submerged cable for renewable energy transmission between Block Island in Rhode Island and the Rhode Island mainland. Comments from the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell are also presented.

The article focuses on the decision of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to accept the proposed integration of Western Area Power Administration-Upper Great Plains Region, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Heartland Consumers Power District into the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) regional power market. It mentions some implications of the decision such as the greater geographic footprint of SPP, customer access to organized markets and better market efficiency and reliability.

The article examines the cost effective integration of a distributed electricity storage into the power grid in Texas. It mentions a report on the significant net benefits of such integration to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and its consumers, several storage value components used in the assessment which include avoided distribution charges, avoided new generation and electricity production cost savings, and some benefits from the integration, one is reduced power outages.

The article discusses a sustainability report released by the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) in 2014 related to firm's investment in infrastructure to improve the reliability and resilience of its electric and gas systems in New Jersey. Topics in the report discussed support to 6,000 jobs from the investment as per an analysis from the Rutgers University, support to customers through social media and improvement in communications regarding power outages as informed by Ralph Izzo of PSEG.

The article focuses on installation of a high voltage direct current (HVDC) high temperature superconductor (HTS) cable on smart grid demonstration site in Jeju Island, Korea by Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO). Topics discussed include plans of the utility to develop superconductor cable projects for being the foremost utility in superconductor solutions, advancement in upgrading Korea's electricity networks with the installation at Jeju Island and views of Hwan-Eik Cho, president at KEPCO.

The article informs about the infrastructure improvements Transmission Life Extension and Modernization Program (TLEM) to upgrade transmission facilities in the public power utility New York Power Authority (NYPA). Topics include role of TLEM related to electric transmission and distribution improvement in New York City, capital investments in smart grid technologies to enhance situational awareness in power lines, and a study on energy resiliency measures to explore electricity grid problems.

The article discusses a report from Clean Energy Group focused on several clean energy finance strategies for resilient power projects. Topics discussed include financing g strategies such as bond financing, credit enhancement, and public and private ownership structures, for resilient power applications, avoiding Hurricane Sandy with installation of solar photovoltaic cells with energy storage and demonstration for the use of microgrids to build resilient facilities in California.

The article discusses the launch of electric distribution control centre by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in Fresno, California as of November 2014. It presents the views of the firm's executive vice president of electric operations Geisha Williams regarding the same. It also mentions that the new facility will enhance electric reliability and resiliency for customers throughout Central Valley, California.

The article reports on the completion of the construction of a transmission line to the retailer Home Depot's distribution warehouse in Troy Township, Ohio by the energy utility FirstEnergy subsidiary Toledo Edison. Topics include appreciation of FirstEnergy by the "Site Selection" magazine for promoting economic development, and views of Linda Moss, regional president of Toledo, on the company's infrastructure projects and economic development efforts.

The article reports on the status of the Fortifying the Future plan, a four-year storm hardening plan, of the energy firm Consolidated Edison Inc. to build a storm defense system in New York to prevent infrastructure damage from extreme weather events. Topics include installation of devices that clear faults on overhead electrical systems, redesign of electrical wire service connections, redesign of underground electrical networks in lower Manhattan.

The article reports on a survey of utility executives by Mortenson Construction which found disagreement among the executives on the future of energy transmission in the U.S. Topics include impact of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order No. 1000 concerning electric transmission on the level of transmission competition, need for the construction of transmission lines to address shifting sources of electricity generation, and views of Mark Donahue, vice president of Mortenson.

The article discusses that Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Order No. 1000 which requires public utility electric transmission providers for engagement in regional transmission planning. It mentions the increased regional planning and cost allocation of new transmission facilities. It focuses on allowing the public utilities to deny transmission service.

The article reports that Swedish Transmission Research Institute (STRI) has collaborated with DNV GL to develop a methodology for qualification of offshore High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technologies as of 2014. Topics discussed include the uncertainties and increased risk exposure for stakeholders posed by immature nature of offshore HVDC technologies, views of Peter Vaessen from DNV GL regarding the same, and the methodology based on the same methodology used for oil and gas industry.

The article reports that the electric utility Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) has received grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a master controller that could drive the operation of clusters of microgrids. It mentions that ComEd will collaborate with Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois, and the University of Denver for the project. Also presented are views of ComEd's vice president Joe Svachula on the same.

the article reflects on the consequences of replacing coal-fired power plants with renewable energy sources like solar and wind, and discusses various aspects related to role played by the U.S. government in ensuring stability of electric grids and restoring electric power failures in the U.S. It discusses that concerns such as climate change and energy independence, are encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.

The article reports that the electric industries and transmission and distribution (T&D) industries in several East African countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, have a great potential to perform well. It states that though the economic conditions of Africa have improved, there has still been no improvement in the power sector of the region. It mentions that Africa has been working on its foreign relations, for the growth of its T&D sector.

The article focuses on a market research report by a research and consulting firm GlobalData regarding the expansion of the global high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations market in Asia-Pacific region. It mentions that the market is filled with rising demand for electricity and growth in renewable energy generation. It states that China is leading the HVDC substation market and the Chinese HVDC converter station market is expected to reach a value of $27.1 billion by 2020.

The article focuses on the importance of adoption of advanced inverters to improve voltage regulation. It mentions that installation of advanced inverters with distributed generation will increase the efficiency of power grids and states that they provide reactive power control. It informs that advanced inverters are installed with distributed solar, biopower, and energy storage facilities in Germany.

The article focuses on a tool that is developed by University of California, California to analyze market power potential to avoid energy crisis. It mentions that the tool incorporates the features of smart grid concepts including large-scale storage, renewable power generation and demand response. It informs that the tool will help electric power companies to ascertain the impact of smart grid phenomena.

The article offers information on the need of investment by Europe in its transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure as reported by GlobalData, health and energy data analysis service providing company. It mentions that European countries including Italy, Norway, and France will invest on grid upgrade band expansion programs. It informs that major issue requiring concern is related to the stability of the electricity which has been reducing with aging of the T&D networks.

The article reports that the public-private partnership New York State Smart Grid Consortium (NYSSGC) had issued a call for action and innovation for modernizing power grids at the closing ceremony of the New York Energy Week (NYEW). According to James T. Gallagher, executive director at NYSSGC, sustainability and smart energy choices are ingrained in the culture of New York City. Information on a partnership between NYSSGC and the city to develop sensors and new technologies is presented.

The article presents a research report by the advisory firm Navigant Consulting Inc. which states that smart grid technology market will contribute to number of countries. Bob Lockhart, research director with Navigant Consulting states that smart grid technologies improve the reliability and efficiency of the power grid using the application of modern information technology (IT). It informs that grid technology will collect nearly 250 million dollars in revenue from 2013 to 2020.

The article offers information on New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that will provide a financial grant of 10 million dollars for developing smart grid technology. It informs that the Energy Highway initiative, introduced in 2012 promotes increased business investment in the state and provides for as much as 3,200 mega watt in new generation. It states that the project under funding support research, engineering studies and demonstration projects.

The article offers information on South America, the state which has one of the cleanest power sectors in the world. It informs that state also have the highest distribution loss rate in the world. According to Northeast Group LLC, a Washington D.C.-based smart grid market intelligence firm, an electricity infrastructure spending of 49.8 billion dollars is being allocated to smart grid investments to overcome the problems.

An interview is presented with New York-based Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer's (IEEE) Smart Grid expert Steven Collier. When asked about the effect of significant reduction in consumer dependence on the grid, he reflected that the nanogrids will reduce total energy consumption and electric utility revenues. He stated that Hurricane Sandy and other severe weather events will cause difficulty for the consumers. He also supported dependence on solar photovoltaic panels.