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Growing Use of Specialized Consultants to Assist with Utility Cyber Security Activities Reported in Control Systems Study

Related Substation Automation Study Examines Use of Encryption for Data Transmission To/From Control Center Systems

The Newton-Evans Research Company has released additional cyber security-related findings from two major report series. The research shows that reliance on outside assistance for cyber expertise is gaining ground – especially among international utilities, while the use of encryption for operational data transmission is growing across the world.
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New Distribution Automation Tracking Study Finds Utilities Implementing DA Control Logic Either In The SCADA Control Center Or In Field Devices

Initial findings from a current Newton-Evans tracking study indicate that more North American electric utilities developing Distribution Automation applications are implementing control logic for FLISR (fault location, isolation, and service restoration) and Volt-VAR in the SCADA control center. This study follows up on a 2014 survey-based study of DA that gathered responses from 75 electric utilities in the U.S. and Canada. Here are some highlights from the first 30 survey participants so far.
Continue reading New Distribution Automation Tracking Study Finds Utilities Implementing DA Control Logic Either In The SCADA Control Center Or In Field Devices

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Control Systems, Protection & Control and Substation Automation Report Series from Newton-Evans Research Find Common Ground in Key Areas of Cyber Security and Communications

Research findings from recently completed Newton-Evans studies see an upswing in cyber security investments worldwide, while substantial differences for communications protocols and methods are also evident.

Control Systems Report Series
Similarities between North American and International Utilities:
1. Support activities managed by line-of-business by about one-half of all respondents
2. Fiber optic cable dominates linkages from control centers to key substations
3. Cloud computing interest remains relatively low
Continue reading Control Systems, Protection & Control and Substation Automation Report Series from Newton-Evans Research Find Common Ground in Key Areas of Cyber Security and Communications

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Estimated U.S. Sales of Power and Distribution Transformers more than $4.1 Billion in 2017; $4.4 billion by 2020

The Newton-Evans Research Company has announced the publication of a new set of 13 U.S. transformer market segment summaries. The new series of market overview reports (executive market summaries) includes definitions, representative products, estimated market size for each transformer market segment, vendor market share estimates and market outlook through 2020. Electric utilities accounted for about 87% of purchases of small, medium and large power transformers and a variety of distribution transformers.
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U.S. Sales Of Distribution Automation Components Estimated At More Than $1.4 Billion In 2017, Forecast To Increase To $1.7 Billion By 2020

The Newton-Evans Research Company has announced its latest publication of a set of 9 U.S. distribution automation market top-line report summaries. The new series of market overview reports includes supplier listings, representative products, and estimated market segment size, vendor market share estimates and market outlook through 2020. Electric utilities accounted for about 92% of all purchases of distribution automation related goods and services.
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Proposed Import Tariffs: A BAD IDEA for the U.S. Electric Power Industry

by Chuck Newton

We all know that the current administration wants to “make America great again,” but using tariffs to prop up our homeland infrastructure is not the right approach to take at this time.

The U.S. electric power industry can ill afford the extra costs that would be incurred with the placement of 10-25% tariffs on iron, steel, and aluminum, which are core building blocks of our nation’s electrical infrastructure with a good percentage of finished electrical apparatus, equipment and ancillary products manufactured with imported steel and aluminum. Continue reading Proposed Import Tariffs: A BAD IDEA for the U.S. Electric Power Industry

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U.S. Electric Power T&D Market Overview Briefs Now Available

Newton-Evans is updating its series of “top line” market overview briefs called “Overview of the 2017-2020 U.S. Transmission and Distribution Equipment Market.” The reports included in this series are grouped into seven categories based on the types of T&D Equipment, systems or services covered: Control Systems, Substation Automation, Protective Relays, Transformers, Medium Voltage Equipment, High Voltage Equipment, and Distribution Automation. Reports in some of these product categories have been published this week and are now available for ordering on our reports page.
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Hubbell, Inc. Becoming a Stronger Participant in the Market for Grid Modernization with RFL and Aclara Acquisitions

Here are the reasons for our viewpoint that Hubbell’s Power segment (known as HPS) will lead the company’s growth over the coming years.
Continue reading Hubbell, Inc. Becoming a Stronger Participant in the Market for Grid Modernization with RFL and Aclara Acquisitions

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Four Major Types of Substation Integration Service Providers Account for More than $1 Billion in Annual Revenues

The Newton-Evans Research Company has released additional findings from its newly published four volume research series entitled: The World Market for Substation Automation and Integration Programs in Electric Utilities: 2017-2020.
Continue reading Four Major Types of Substation Integration Service Providers Account for More than $1 Billion in Annual Revenues

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Global Outlook for Substation Automation and Integration Continues to Show Impressive Growth

The Newton-Evans Research Company has released a new report on global substation automation markets based on the company’s 2016-2017 world market studies of substation automation and integration activities. The objective of this market outlook report by Newton-Evans Research Company, according to CEO Chuck Newton is “to provide world regional substation modernization market sizing, including country-specific activities for the largest countries in each region. As such, the outlook report complements the survey-based volumes covering North American and International substation automation markets, also completed in November.”
Continue reading Global Outlook for Substation Automation and Integration Continues to Show Impressive Growth

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International Utilities Planning to Expand Investments in Substation Modernization

The Newton-Evans Research Company has released findings from its International market study, the second of four reports collectively titled: “The World Market for Substation Automation and Integration Programs in Electric Utilities: 2017-2020.” The international study compares the current round of research findings with several earlier substation modernization tracking studies conducted by the firm. A total of 90 large and mid-size electric power utilities from 22 countries actively participated in the world market study.
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A Closer Look at the Changing Russian Electric Power Industry

Russia is the world’s third largest consumer of energy, and as such the country has announced plans and programs to modernize its energy infrastructure, especially for the nation’s power sector. Currently, the Russian national power grid includes more than 230 GW of production capacity. The country’s utilities are known as energos. These energos operate more than 31,000 T&D substations located throughout multiple regions and time zones. There are almost 800 large scale power plants in the country, including 15 nuclear sites operating some 35 reactors. Seven new nuclear units are now under construction as of mid-2017.
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Midpoint Of 2017 North American Study Finds Increase In Substation Construction And Retrofit Plans Over 2014 Findings

The Newton-Evans Research Company has reached the midpoint of its triennial tracking study of change and automation occurring in the world’s electric power substations.
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Multi-Part Newton-Evans Research Study Reveals Significant Growth Likely for Advanced DMS Systems and Applications

The Newton-Evans Research Company continues to assess its findings from the firm’s comprehensive 2017 study of EMS, SCADA, DMS and OMS usage patterns among utilities from more than 30 countries.
Continue reading Multi-Part Newton-Evans Research Study Reveals Significant Growth Likely for Advanced DMS Systems and Applications

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Newton-Evans Study Finds Heavy Use of IP/MPLS and Continued Reliance on Utility-Operated Telecommunications Networks for EMS/SCADA and DMS Systems

The latest findings from the Newton-Evans Research Company study of control systems used in the electric power industry point to heavy reliance on IP/MPLS networks for wide area communications from substations and other field locations to central site control systems.
Continue reading Newton-Evans Study Finds Heavy Use of IP/MPLS and Continued Reliance on Utility-Operated Telecommunications Networks for EMS/SCADA and DMS Systems

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Newton-Evans Study Indicates Similarities in Plans for Full Digital Substations and Differences for Condition-Based Maintenance Programs Among Electric Utilities

Newton-Evans Research Company continues to assess findings from its six-month research study and survey of protective relay usage patterns in the world community of electric power utilities. Insights received from 114 large and mid-sized utilities in 28 countries point to some interesting differences in plans for implementation of the “full digital substation” concept and to increased use of condition-based maintenance (CBM) strategies for protective relays.
Continue reading Newton-Evans Study Indicates Similarities in Plans for Full Digital Substations and Differences for Condition-Based Maintenance Programs Among Electric Utilities

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Newton-Evans Study Finds Differences in Spending Plans for Electric Utility Control Systems Over the 2017-2019 Years

Nearly half of North American electric utilities participating in the 2017-2019 Newton-Evans Research study plan to upgrade or retrofit their SCADA system by 2019. Twenty-two percent plan to upgrade or retrofit their energy management system (EMS), and twenty-five percent will upgrade or retrofit their outage management system (OMS). Twenty-six percent of North American utilities in the survey sample are adding a new or replacement distribution management system (DMS) or advanced DMS by 2019.
Continue reading Newton-Evans Study Finds Differences in Spending Plans for Electric Utility Control Systems Over the 2017-2019 Years

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Findings from International Study of EMS, SCADA, DMS, and OMS Indicate Differences in Usage Patterns and Development Priorities When Compared to North American Companies

The Newton-Evans Research Company has published report findings from the company’s recently completed study of EMS, SCADA, DMS and OMS usage patterns in international electric power utilities. This is the second of four volumes of its 14th global market assessment of operational control systems – a survey-based study conducted by Newton-Evans since 1984.

Here are some observations gleaned from interviews and surveys with 31 utility participants from 25 countries:

Systems in Use
All utilities that participated in the survey are operating SCADA systems, and 74% also have an energy management (EMS) installation. Fifty-two percent use a distribution management systems (DMS) and 61% use an outage management system (OMS).

Continue reading Findings from International Study of EMS, SCADA, DMS, and OMS Indicate Differences in Usage Patterns and Development Priorities When Compared to North American Companies