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U.S. Investor-Owned Electric Power Utility Automation Market Report

A recently published compilation of survey findings by Newton-Evans Research highlights electric power automation trends among investor-owned utilities (IOUs).

    • For control systems, IOUs tend to use more OMS analytics, are more likely to have an advanced DMS (or have plans for one), use synchrophasors for wide area monitoring, and want cybersecurity features designed as an integrated part of the control system rather than added on.

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94% of Electric Utilities Surveyed are notified of a feeder main fault event via SCADA/DMS

A Newton-Evans survey of 53 Distribution Electric Utilities shows that the overwhelming majority of respondents are notified of a feeder main fault via SCADA/DMS.

How are you notified of a feeder main fault event? (Check all that apply)
Ninety-four percent of respondents reported that they are notified of a feeder main fault event via SCADA/DMS. Forty-two percent said OMS is the source of this notification, and 25% indicated their DA system provides notification of a feeder main fault event. Many respondents indicated that more than one system – sometimes as many as four – all provide feeder main fault event notification.
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47% of Electric Utilities Surveyed Plan to Upgrade or Retrofit Their SCADA System by Year End 2019

In 1Q 2017, Newton-Evans published its 14th survey-based study of the market for electric power control systems (EMS, SCADA, DMS and OMS). Thirty-two of the 68 North American utilities indicated they are planning an upgrade to their existing SCADA system by year-end 2019.
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Utility Plans Call for Continuation of Moderate-to-Substantial Investment in North American Distribution Grid Automation Projects

Findings Corroborate Earlier Newton-Evans Studies Regarding “Mixed” Placement of Controls of Field Devices

The Newton-Evans Research Company today released key findings from its newly published study of electric utility plans for distribution automation. Entitled “North American Distribution Automation Market Assessment and Outlook: 2018-2020” the 74-page report includes coverage of more than 30 DA-related issues.

Progress Being Made with Distribution Automation Programs
North American utilities are making progress, by and large, in developing and implementing new DA applications and installing telecommunications network upgrades to accommodate DA device transmissions. The overall DA market among North American utilities is approaching $1.5 billion and is expected to continue to grow in the near-term and mid-term.
Continue reading Utility Plans Call for Continuation of Moderate-to-Substantial Investment in North American Distribution Grid Automation Projects

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Distribution Automation Market Study Shows Increase of Distributed Generation Communications/Controls Among North American Electric Utilities

More interim findings from a Newton-Evans study currently underway, “North American Distribution Automation Market Assessment & Outlook 2018-2020,” suggest a trend of gradual integration of communications and control for the management of distributed generation (DG) and distributed energy resources (DERs) among North American electric Utilities. The growth of DG and DERs raises a number of challenges for electric utilities and asset owners who might need to integrate these new resources into their existing distribution automation systems. Here are a few mid-study observations from the survey responses that have been received so far:
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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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