Smart Meter

WE
Electric, Gas and

Water: The Smart
Grid Trifecta?
Fine Tuning
Communications to
Educate Customers
about the Smart Grid
Western Energy
The Official Publication of
Western Energy Institute
The Smart Grid Issue:

10 Questions
to Ask Before
Starting a Smart
Grid Project
What You Can
(and Cant) Do with
Customer-Specific Data
Summer 2011 I westernenergy.org/we
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CONTENTS
6 Letter from the President/

Editors Comment
8 10 Questions to Ask Before
Starting a Smart Grid Project
12 Legal Aspects of Data
Collection by Electric Utilities:

What You Can (and Cant) Do
with Customer-Specific Data
Western Energy / Summer 2011 / westernenergy.org/we
16 Electric, Gas and Water:
The Smart Grid Trifecta?
18 Safety Champions Inspire, Invest
Western Energy
SUMMER 2011
Tai Danforth
Managing Editor, Western Energy
Deston Nokes
Copy Editor, Western Energy
Chuck Meyer
President, Western Energy Institute
Cover photo: Brian Hoffman, Electric
Test Technician for GWP (City of
Glendale Water & Power), holding up a
new, GWP electric smart meter.
Photo top right: Glendale Water &
Powers New Storage Area Network
(SAN) is prepared to receive the large
amount of data AMI provides.
WE
Electric, Gas and

Water: The Smart
Grid Trifecta?
Fine Tuning
Communications to
Educate Customers
Western Energy
Safety
Champions
Inspire, Invest
and Celebrate
Safety Success


10 Questions
to Ask Before
Starting a Smart
Grid Project
What You Can
(and Can't) Do with
SUM11-PAGES 1 COVER.indd 1
and Celebrate Safety Success
20 Market Strategy: The Public is Not

Focused on Smart Electricity
Technologies
24 Fine Tuning Communications to

Educate Customers about the
Smart Grid
27 WEI Programs at a Glance

4
WE
WE Magazine is printed on recycled FSC

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PRESIDENTS LETTER
EDITORS COMMENT
Lets not get bogged down by

Smart Grid terminology
Join the
Conversation
At a recent planning meeting I attended, two people

stated that they wish we would stop using the term,
Smart Grid. Some may find that point of view curious
until they consider the politics of Smart Grid and
consumer attitudes surrounding it.
Recently, Black & Veatch,* an energy, water and telecom engineering and
management consulting firm, surveyed 700 utility executives, staffers and
consultants over what was the greatest impediment to the implementation of
a Smart Grid. The answer, Customers lack of interest and knowledge, was
ranked at the top, with funding and upfront investment concerns following
close behind.
If one relied upon the commercial press for information about a Smart Grid,
one would think it had less to do with modernizing our energy delivery system,
and more to do with utilities putting digital gadgets in homes and businesses
and monitoring personal energy consumption and controlling appliances.
According to KEMA,* an energy consulting, testing and certification firm,
the vision for a Smart Grid can be quite broad. KEMA views it as a full
modernization and automation of electric power networks. Doing so, KEMA
says, will enable a self-healing, more reliable, less constrained, safer and more
efficient grid. In fact, they prefer to use the term, Utility of the Future
instead of Smart Grid, an apparent nod to the terms lack of popularity
in some circles. It also indicates the degree of change a Smart Grid will
introduce to the traditional utility business model.
While there is a large residential component imagined for a future Smart Grid,
to date there has been significant pushback against that type of infrastructure.
Utilities still are going to have to make that case with their customers and
commissions.
What I believe is the more meaningful and important aspect of implementing a
Smart Grid, is the digitization of transmission and distribution networks. Projects
are underway to get away from analog systems, to make more data available
more quickly, and to have the digital capability to seamlessly identify and correct
system problems before they occur.
Utilities need to move into the 21st century with due diligence, and not get
bogged down or bothered by whats in the commercial press about Smart Grid.
This issue of Western Energy aims to look at the larger, more near-term Smart
Grid issues and technologies, which are essential for becoming Utilities of
the Future.
I want to introduce myself

as the new editor of WE
Magazine the quarterly
publication. After our inaugural edition of Western
Energy Magazine this past spring, we refined our
look, title and content further to come up with
a publication that will serve our members even
better.
WE gets at the heart of what we do bringing
people together to stay abreast of industry best
practices and to solve shared business challenges.
Going forward, were intent on providing content
that is insightful, useful and (as much as possible in
a quarterly publication) timely.We are fortunate
to have such a rich resource of members willing
to share their expertise in these pages, and the
substantive articles in this Smart Grid issue are
just a taste of whats to come.
The upcoming fall issue will provide a preview of
hot topics to be addressed at the Spring Energy
Symposium, and the winter issue will focus on Gas
and Electric Operations. Starting this issue, we will
also be providing a recurring feature on safety,
and we encourage you to share this issues article
(page 18) with colleagues.
As we continue to grow to meet our members
needs, I invite you to join our conversation, and
write us if you have any comments or ideas for
content at danforth@westernenergy.org. Also,
we are happy to announce that this issue kicks
off the availability of three browser-based digital
editions that will be available from our website
for desktop, Android and iPhone access. You
can always visit westernenergy.org/we for more
information on how to get involved.
Enjoy.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Chuck Meyer
President
*Black & Veatch and KEMA are WEI Platinum members
Tai Danforth
Managing Editor
Western Energy Magazine
175thAnnivHorAd-WEM_Layout 1 7/20/11 1:20 PM Page 1
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FEATURE
10 questions
10
Questions to Ask
Before Starting a
Smart Grid Project
By Terry McDonald, PMP
If you ask the wrong

question, you will always
get the wrong answer.
Its a bit of wise advice that has been around for

awhile. Another useful corollary is, If you ask the
right question at the wrong time, you may get a
very unpleasant answer. The 10 questions to ask
before starting a Smart Grid project have to be
answered sooner or later. Answering them sooner
reduces project risk, saves money, and maximizes
the probability of a positive outcome. These 10
questions serve as a due-diligence checklist that
will be helpful to any utility preparing to initiate a
Smart Grid project.
Do you have a clear, unified

vision of what you are trying
to achieve with your Smart
Grid project?
At the beginning of a long, costly,
and difficult journey, a clear, unified
vision of your Smart Grid project will
serve many important purposes. A
vision answers two sub-questions:What
are we aspiring to achieve and why?
Leaders create followers by getting
them to embrace a desirable vision
of the future. Any worthwhile major
project will encounter difficulties and
create inconvenience or hardship for
some followers.
One useful method for clarifying

your Smart Grid vision is provided
by Carnegie Mellons SEI Smart Grid
Maturity Model (SGMM). This model
breaks the Smart Grid into eight
domains and establishes five levels
for each.The SGMM can be used in
a variety of ways. It can be used to
assess the utilitys current state in each
domain and then to select a level for
the future state in each domain. Gap
analysis then can be used to determine
the magnitude of the effort required to
attain the desired level. The SGMM is a
holistic model that takes into account
all aspects of the Smart Grid not just
the technology.
Does the Smart Grid project
make good business sense?
Part of this question has to do
with financial benefits. Does the
project pencil out? Your capital
approval process may have a prescribed
set of financial tests such as net present
value (NPV), return on investment
(ROI), etc. Depending on the source
of funding, there may be a requirement
for a well-developed business case that
includes a number of financial tests.
The answer to the financial question is
necessary but not sufficient. The other
part of the question has to do with
necessity. Some utilities have concluded
that Smart Grid implementation is
necessary for survival.Without it they
Many utilities are now using lifecycle costing or total cost of

ownership measures in their business cases.These calculations
include the costs of acquisition, operation and maintenance,
and disposal. Smart Grid projects have a huge IT component
that require highly skilled professionals, licensing costs, data
center space, electricity, cooling, backup, and disaster recovery
provisions. Ongoing annual operation and maintenance is often
20 percent of the original acquisition cost.
Do you have people with the necessary
knowledge, skill, and time to successfully staff a
Smart Grid project?
Many utilities have tightened their belts and have
very little human capacity in reserve. A major project
will always place demands on internal resources, even if
significant external resources are used. Plan on a significant
investment of time and effort by executives and managers,
engineering, customer service, marketing, public relations,
human resources, and especially information technology.
It is unlikely that a utility will have all of the expertise

needed in-house. Some utilities have grown in-house
capability by implementing small pilots, and others have used
external resources almost exclusively.
Top candidates for outsourcing

candidate
example
The skills will not be

needed in-house long
term
Meter data audit
The increased workload

is temporary
meter installation
Highly specialized skills

that are either expensive
or hard to obtain and
only needed briefly
advisory services to
support design or
contracting
Ensuring that the right quantity and quality of talent is on

hand is a major factor in determining a projects success.
Do not forget to account for the demand on internal
subject matter experts and internal contract managers.
Experienced vendors have a major advantage during the
formulation of terms, conditions, and statements of work,
because they know ways in which a few innocuous words
can gain them a major advantage. Some utilities engage an
experienced advisor to assist with contracting to obtain the
best terms and conditions possible.
What are the long-term impacts on staffing,

organization, and training? Are you
prepared to handle the people dimension of
the project?
A Smart Grid project has three vital elements: People,
process and technology. Of the three, the one that gets
the most attention and arguably is the easiest of the
three is technology. However, the people element is the
most sensitive because some positions will go away and
some will be created. It is unlikely that all of the incumbents
in the eliminated positions will be suitable candidates for
the created positions.
Start the training and hiring effort early. These are often
long, lead-time items. It also is important to engage with
unions early to establish a collaborative approach to both
the short-term and long-term changes needed.
Process change also means that people will be doing their
work in unfamiliar ways, which often results in resistance
to change. Change management efforts should be part of
the project plan from the outset. A dramatic change in
processes often means the old organizational structure
and the old roles and responsibilities are no longer
appropriate. This could result in turf battles and more
change-management challenges. The people dimension
of the project requires strong, persistent, and skilled
leadership.
What is the level of project maturity in your
organization?
Projects are the vehicle through which strategy
is deployed. A high level of project management
capability translates to successful projects and a
realization of strategic ambitions. Ensuring that you have
the right people, skills, tools and structure in place before
undertaking a major strategic project is a key success factor.
Smart Grid projects are different from other projects in
several important ways:
How Smart Grid projects are different

1. They cut across organizational lines
2. They often have customer impact
3. They require public engagement
4. They require major process changes
5. They require unique skills
Many Smart Grid projects involve several functional

units in the organization, while a typical engineering or
construction project may be contained in a single unit.
Project management in a cross-functional project introduces
a number of challenges that may be unfamiliar to a project
organization accustomed to single-function projects.
believe that it may not be possible to cope successfully

with electric vehicles, distributed generation and storage,
renewable portfolio requirements, and other features they
will need to function in the future.
FEATURE
10 questions
Have you documented your

current state?
Every navigation problem begins
by determining where you are.
Without this knowledge, it is
impossible to chart a course
to your destination. Many aspects
of the current state need to be
known to create a successful
implementation plan. Since almost all
Smart Grid projects include a large IT
component, it is important to know many
things about your current systems, such
as current architecture, capacity of the
data center to handle additional servers,
cooling capacity, electric service capacity,
uninterruptable power supply capacity, etc.
Are your current processes documented?
Do you know the capabilities of your
people and their capacity to do additional
work or learn new tasks? The more
complete your knowledge of the current
state, the better your implementation
plans will be.
10
cause a public relations nightmare that could stop a project in its tracks and have farreaching consequences. Only those utilities who are prepared to be extremely vigilant and
disciplined with regard to security and privacy should contemplate a Smart Grid project.
Technology enables processes. Which processes are you trying to improve,
and are you ready to do the process improvement work needed to extract
value from the technology?
Smart Grid software and hardware is only valuable if it enables processes that deliver
benefits important to the utility and its stakeholders. Business case development
should identify the type and magnitude of the benefits, while identifying the beneficiaries.
These benefits in turn need to be tied to process improvements that will deliver the
promised benefit. Process design and implementation can have significant effects on staffing,
organization, policies, and procedures.The work of designing and implementing new
processes is not trivial, and it should be understood from the outset and incorporated in
plans and budgets.
Extracting value means avoiding the inclination to pave the cow path by using advanced
technology to simply automate the old, manual way of doing business. Staying with the
familiar is both low risk and low reward. Starting with a clean sheet of paper and designing
elegant and efficient processes from the ground up carries the highest potential reward;
but it also requires specialized knowledge and skill, takes time, and involves risk.
Are you prepared to engage all of the varied stakeholder groups that either
will be impacted by the project or who will have an impact on the project?
Stakeholders include all people inside and outside the organization that either
will be impacted by the project or who could have either a positive or negative
impact on the project. Knowing who these stakeholders are, what their needs
and interests are, assessing the impact of the project on them, or considering the
impact they could have on the project requires time, effort and expertise. Opening
channels of communication with stakeholders and engaging them throughout the
project is critical.
10
Where will the funding

come from?
An accurate estimate of the
cost of your project needs to
be developed. In the early stages
of developing a business case, a crude
estimate may suffice; but before entering
into contracts and initiating the project,
a more detailed estimate and budget
needs to be created. Adequate funds for
known costs and contingencies need to
be identified to avoid unpleasant surprises
later in the project. Scope creep, delays,
and errors can add substantially to the
total cost of the project.
Are you prepared to meet

the security and privacy
requirements of a Smart
Grid project?
Security and privacy are major
concerns expressed by the public
and regulators.The new capabilities
introduced by a Smart Grid project
carry new risks.These risks need to be
understood and addressed in the planning
stage. Security and privacy policies and
plans need to be in place before contracts
are signed to ensure that privacy and
security concerns are addressed from the
outset, and that they are incorporated
in all contracts and statements of work.
Even small, seemingly inconsequential
breaches of security or privacy can
Who are your stakeholders?

1. Who are all of the people impacted by the project or who can have an impact on the project?
2. Who are the internal stakeholders? Think about various employee groups who will have their
job eliminated or changed, unions, those who have the most customer contact, etc.
3. Which local, state and federal government entities need to be addressed?
4. Who are the influential individuals and what influential groups exist in your community?
5. Which of your customers have unique needs? Consider low income, those on life support
equipment at home, etc.
6. Who are the known opponents of the project?
7. What languages do you need to employ in your communication efforts?
Meeting stakeholder needs

1. What information needs do your stakeholders have?
2. When will they need the information?
3. What kind of communication do they prefer? Print? Public meetings? Video?
4. Which of your stakeholders can have the greatest positive or negative impact on your project?
5. Which channels of communication have been used with each stakeholder group in the past
and which have been most effective?
6. How will you create a two-way engagement and not just one-way communication?
With the answers to these 10 questions in hand, not only will you be embarking on
your project with eyes wide open, you will have laid the foundation for success.
Many thanks to my colleagues on the Linked In, Smart Grid Executive Forum for their contributions to this article. To reach the author,Terry McDonald, email tsmcdonald42@gmail.com.
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FEATURE
LEGAL ASPECTS
Legal Aspects of Data

Collection by Electric
Utilities: What You
Can (and Cant) Do
with CustomerSpecific Data
By Wally Van Valkenburg and Nate Moceri, Stoel Rives, LLP
Smart Grid technology promises to significantly increase

the amount of information energy providers can gather
about personal and commercial energy use. While the
technology provides obvious benefits, it may potentially
expose previously unavailable personal information.
12
Such information may reveal daily

schedules and habits (including when
people are home, away or asleep)
and whether people use certain
electronics (such as alarm systems,
expensive electronic equipment or
medical equipment). While much of
the commentary to date has been
on protecting individual consumers,
similar privacy issues exist for
commercial businesses whose energy
usage data may reveal business
activities, manufacturing
procedures, and trade
secrets.
Data collected
by utilities
using advanced
metering (or
smart meters) is
known as consumer-specific
energy-usage data (CEUD). CEUD
differs from personally identifiable
information (PII), which is identityspecific information (such as name,
address, social security number, etc.),
as opposed to behavioral information.

The merging of CEUD and PII makes
Smart Grid data collection particularly
sensitive because
of the ability to tie
energy usage data to
a particular
individual or
household.
Accordingly, there is a general

consensus among government,
business, and consumers that
consumers should have the right to
access their own CEUD and protect
its privacy.
1 DOE Data Access Report, infra, at 2.

2 See www.gc.energy.gov/documents/Smart_Grid_Communications_Requirements_Report_10-05-2010.pdf
3 See http://www.gc.energy.gov/documents/Broadband_Report_Data_Privacy_10_5.pdf
The Regulatory Framework

Traditionally, utility regulation has been
a state responsibility with state public
utility commissions having primary
oversight. The national interest in
clean energy and energy security,
however, has led to a significant level of
federal involvement with Smart Grid
developments, including in areas having
to do with data collection and privacy.
On October 5, 2010, for example, the
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
issued two reports: Informing Federal
Smart Grid Policy: The Communications
Requirements of Electric Utilities and
Data Access and Privacy Issues Related
to Smart Grid Technologies (hereafter
DOE Data Access Report). The first
report focused on the communications
infrastructure necessary
to create the Smart Grid,
while the latter explored
unresolved issues related
to data usage by utilities.
Together the reports
provide a good overview
of both the current
regulatory framework and
the issues regulators expect
to confront. Prior to the reports, the
Energy Independence and Security Act
of 2007 (EISA) established a Federal
Smart Grid Task Force, which includes
seven different federal agencies.
Further, a number of states have begun to investigate Smart Grid data privacy, data collection and third-party use policies;
and a few have actually implemented regulations. In September 2010, California enacted Public Utilities Code 8380,
which prevents utilities from sharing customer information with a third party without customer consent, unless the data
is aggregated and identity information has been removed.4 It also prevents utilities from selling customer information or
offering customers discounts to access their data without consent. Finally, if the customer chooses to disclose his or her
energy data to an unaffiliated third party, liability shifts from the utility to the third party once the data is transferred.5
Other states are just beginning Smart Grid regulatory analysis. Texas requires that consumers be able to access their
meter data taken every 15 minutes on an online web portal and prohibits the sale of customer-specific data.6 California,
Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida require consent before utilities can release customer information to a third party, even
in the absence of Smart Grid-specific legislation.7 Oregon, Colorado, Michigan and Louisiana utility commissions, among
others, have begun investigations related to Smart Grid privacy, data collection and its use.8 The Washington State
Utilities and Transportation Commission requires electric utilities to submit periodic reports regarding plans for Smart
Grid technologies.9 Washington already prohibits utilities from disclosing or selling, without customer consent, private
customer information to third parties for marketing purposes.10
The Future of Data Collection and Usage

Who owns energy consumption data? Its unclear, but
the utility and the customer both require rights to use the
data.
Who should be entitled to privacy protections relating
to energy information? Both the customer and the utility
have protectable
interests.
What privacy
practices
should be
implemented in
protecting energy
information?
Answers varied, but
many commenters
thought existing
standards could easily be adapted to address the issue.
Should consumers be able to opt in or out of smart
meter deployment or control what information is
shared? Most agreed that consumers should be required
to participate to achieve reliability, environmental and other
benefits, but they should have control over whether their
information is shared with third parties.
describe the type of data collected and reasons for its use,
and not disclose data to third parties without customer
consent. However, there is broad agreement that utilities
should have access to CEUD for utility-related purposes,
such as managing the network, distributing energy, billing and
anonymous aggregation for reporting local profiles.
Even in the absence of Smart Grid-specific regulation,
regulations of more
general applicability
may apply to data
collection and usage
by utilities. The best
example of such
regulations may be
the Federal Trade
Commissions Fair
Information Practice
Principles (FIPPs),11
which were specifically cited in the DOE Data Access
Report as a potential source for privacy regulation in
the Smart Grid Context. The FIPPs encompass five core
principles of privacy protection:
L
A
I
T
N
E
D
I
F
CON
Generally, the DOE recommends that utilities allow

consumers to have access to their own CEUD and a wide
array of choices about how to manage it. Utilities should
4 See Senate Bill No. 1476, 2010 Cal. Stat. Ch. 497, available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/
sen/sb_1451-1500/sb_1476_bill_20100929_chaptered.pdf.
5 Id.
6 DOE Data Access Report, supra , at 18; see also the Smart Meter Texas, HYPERLINK http://www.
SmartMeterTexas.com www.SmartMeterTexas.com.
7 Id.
Notice/Awareness: Giving notice of an entitys

information practices before any personal information is
collected so that consumers can make informed decisions.
Choice/Consent: Giving consumers options as to how
their personal information is used, including internal uses
(e.g., company marketing lists) and external uses (e.g.,
sending to third parties).
The DOE Data Access Report identified a number of issues

related to data usage by electric utilities. Some of the more
important questions included:
8 Public Service Co. of Colorado Supplemental Comments in Response to Decision No. C10-0175, In re
Investigation of Sec. & Privacy Concerns Regarding the Deployment of Smart-Grid Tech., No. 091593EG (Colo. Pub. Util. Commn Mar. 26, 2010); See Oregon Public Utilities Commission, Development
of Smart Grid Objectives and Action Items for 2010-2014, No. UM 1460 (Dec. 8, 2009), http://apps.puc.
state.or.us/edockets/docket.asp?DocketID=15928.
9 WAC 480-100-505.
10 WAC 480-90-153, 480-100-153.
11 See http://www.ftc.gov/reports/privacy3/fairinfo.shtm.
13
FEATURE
LEGAL ASPECTS
Access/Participation: Giving
consumers the ability to access
their data and to contest that datas
accuracy and completeness.
Integrity/Security: Securing
collected data, destroying old and
unnecessary data, and making data
anonymous.
Enforcement/Redress: Enforcing
standards through industry selfregulation, legislation, and other
regulations providing civil and
criminal penalties.
Section 5 of the FTC Act, which
applies to all industries, requires
companies to engage in fair privacy
practices.12 Therefore, the FIPPs
provide a good benchmark for privacy
practices in collection of data by
utilities.
Another source of guidance in

this area is NISTIR 7628, the NIST
Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber
Security,13 which generally parallel the
FTCs approach. NIST recommends
that utilities:
Assign staff to privacy policy
implementation;
Notify customers what data is
collected and how it will be used
before collecting the data;
Describe customers choices in data
collection and use;
Ensure that only data necessary for
the specified purpose is collected;
Ensure that customer information is
used and retained only as necessary
for those purposes;
Ensure customers ability to access,
update, and correct their own data;
and
Ensure that customer-specific
information is protected from loss,
theft [and] unauthorized access.
Beyond federal regulation, most states
provide a wide range of privacy laws
that regulate various entities and
types of customer information. For
14
12 See 15 U.S.C. 41-58.
13 See http://www.nist.gov/smartgrid/upload/nistir-7628_total.pdf.
14 Cal. Pub. Util. Code 394.4(a), 394.5.
15 Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22575.
16 See Cal. Civ. Code 1798.1(a), 1798.82(e).
instance, common law remedies could apply to claims of invasion of privacy, public
disclosure of private facts, and breach of duty of confidentiality.
Current privacy laws from other industries may also provide a benchmark
for future Smart Grid privacy laws. Financial institutions are regulated by the
Electronic Funds Transfer Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. They regulate the
privacy of personally identifiable financial information disclosed to third parties.
The healthcare industry is regulated by the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act, which requires a patients opt-in consent to use or disclose
protected information. The government, communications industries, and cable
television providers are all subject to similar regulations. Finally, online privacy
laws include the CAN-SPAM Act and the Patriot Act.
To illustrate just how complicated the regulatory framework can become,
consider California: California Public Utilities Code 394. It mandates that electric
utilities keep confidential customer specific billing, credit or usage information,
while requiring notice to customers.14 Californias Business and Professions Code
requires commercial websites to post privacy policies online and that certain
content be included.15 Californias Information Practices Act of 1977 regulates the
privacy of personal information collected by businesses, but is narrowly defined
to mean the use in connection with an individuals first or last name.16 Finally,
California Public Utilities Code 8380 provides several Smart Grid-specific
regulations (see earlier discussion). Patchwork legislation is likely going to be
common for Smart Grid privacy issues until comprehensive regulation is passed.
Further, which laws apply often depends on the system architecture of energy
data collection which could implicate telecommunications service provider rules,
federal laws applicable to interstate commerce, state privacy laws, EUs Privacy
Directive limits, or the FTCs enforcement against unfair and deceptive business
practices.
Smart Grid technology could present security risks. Most states have data breach
laws that require notification in the event of a security breach, penalties for failing
to disclose, and private rights of action. Congress also has introduced bills that
would require companies to provide consumers affected by a security breach
with two years of credit reports and monitoring services to detect any misuse of
their personal information.17
There are many unresolved issues dealing with third-party access. Many
jurisdictions require utilities to protect the security of the CEUD it collects.
However, except in California, if a customer consents and requests a utility to
transfer CEUD to third parties, there are no legal protections in place to limit a
utilitys liability for any subsequent third-party breach of security or confidentiality.
The DOE found little consensus with respect to whether utility liability should be
limited when disclosing data to authorized third parties, whether utilities could
charge a fee for the data and whether third-party providers should be required
to obtain further consent before disclosing the data. However, there is universal
agreement that consumers should have control over whether, and for what
purposes, third parties should be allowed to access CEUD.
Conclusion
Privacy implications in the Smart Grid world are yet to be fully addressed. State
PUCs are only starting to assess Smart

Grid privacy and few state Smart Grid
regulations have emerged. While the
tangled web of privacy issues develops,
there is a tremendous opportunity for
forward-looking companies to lead
through adoption of responsible data
management practices.
As Commerce Secretary Gary Locke
noted,
The major benefit

provided by the Smart
Grid is also its
Achilles heel from a
privacy viewpoint.
18
To realize the benefits, utilities will

need to pay equal attention to
protecting the heel.
Wally Van Valkenburg is a partner

and Nate Moceri is an associate
with Stoel Rives, LLP, a law firm
based in Portland, Ore. For more
information, go to www.stoel.com.
17 See the Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2010 and the
Data Security Act of 2010.
18 Jules Polonetsky & Christopher Wolf, How Privacy (Or Lack of It)
Could Sabotage the Grid, SmartGridNews.com (Nov. 3, 2009),
http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/Technologies_Metering_News/How-Privacy-Or-Lack-of-It-Could-Sabotage-theGrid-1352.html
FEATURE
SMART GRID TRIFECTA
Electric, Gas
and Water:
The Smart
Grid Trifecta
By Frits Bliek and Ron Chebra, KEMA
The development and implementation of revolutionary,

Smart Grid technology applications for electric utilities
is underway. While its a work in progress, the Smart
Grid offers great promise in increasing the reliability
and sustainability of natural gas and water deliveries for
utilities. This promise becomes clearer when coupling an
electric grid system with a gas or water grid system.
Gas Smart Grid Trends
Innovations in natural gas Smart Grids are unfolding around four major developments:
Coupling gas and electric infrastructures, optimizing gas quality, optimizing grid
operation, and optimizing asset management.
16
Gas-fired power units (ranging from combined cycle gas turbine power plants to
micro combined heat and power units for in-home or small office building power
production) are merging with smart electricity infrastructure.This trend provides
flexible power generation that supports the electricity grid as well as the integration
of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.
The Smart Grid can help with the economic optimization of gas grid operations.
As gas transmission grids and sources are increasingly coupled with each other, gas
market volatility can increase. This coupling allows shippers and traders to rapidly
change the way they source their gas portfolios. For gas transmission operators and
trading companies, continuous and real-time optimization of the dispatching process
becomes a complex and worthwhile process that can help significantly reduce
operational expenses.
A Smart Grid also can help optimize gas quality in emerging gas grids where
new sustainable gases, such as biogas and hydrogen, will be injected. Under these
circumstances, the traditional, centrally controlled gas quality, flow and caloric value
can no longer be controlled by the gas transmission system.This requires intelligence
added into the grid to control local injection, storage, and usage while continuously
optimizing the gas grid locally.This requires a completely new design. In addition,
todays gas grid needs to be prepared for future, smart-enabled functions.
Finally, sensor networks can help

optimize gas grid asset management.
This is an important point, as a large
portion of the worlds gas grids are aging
rapidly. Hence, the integrity and safety
of gas grids have become a major gas
network and grid management issue.
Employing sensor networks and datamining technologies can help reduce
gas grid asset management costs, and
extend gas grid life while maintaining its
safety and integrity.
The potential for developing a Smart
Grid for natural gas, including the
economics, potential demand, and
technology requirements, should be
explored.
Making Smart Grid

work for water
Glendale Water & Power (GWP) in

Glendale, Calif., is rolling out 32,000
water meters and 88,000 electric
meters in its service territory. This
project offers an insightful look into
what it means to implement Smart
Grid beyond electricity. An interesting
distinction of the GWP project is that
the original plan focused on automating
the water system before the electric
system.
GWP General Manager Glenn Steiger
explains the critical, strategic nature of
applying intelligence to the GWP water
system:
The water side for

us, particularly in
Southern California,
is critical because we
dont have plentiful
water supplies. We are
limited. We are currently
under mandatory
water restrictions. The
sustainability of the
water supply in the
Southwest is always
under question. So
anything we do has to
look at how we continue
to sustain and make
our water usage more
efficient. The first thing
we look at is automating
the water system to the
extent that we can. This
is incredibly important
to us. While some
may look at water as a
secondary application of
Smart Grid, we look at it
very much as a primary
application.
meter data management system, and

technology project. It is also much more
than just a Smart Grid project that is put
it in place and left alone. Rather, it is a
project driven by information technology.
Steiger identifies careful planning and
gaining customer and stakeholder
acceptance as leading success factors
for Smart Grid deployment.The
planning process should focus on
building a system and a process that will
accommodate whatever changes occur
since technology and applications are
growing exponentially, and customer
needs are continuously evolving.
Outreach is also important. GWP has
done extensive communications with its

customers and stakeholders to prepare
them for a transition to a real-time
interval data system for water and energy.
In addition to its traditional methods, it is
now using social media to ensure that it
reaches all of its target demographics.
With Smart Grid technologies on
the rise, electric utilities may be able
to maximize their Smart Grid capital
investments by expanding their scope
to include natural gas and water
infrastructure.
Visit SmartGridSherpa.com to learn
more about KEMAs 80+ years of
energy experience.
There are definitely synergies. One of

the things that we are doing right now
is educating our own workforce, which
for years and years, has looked at water
and electricity as two separate entities
that could operate independently of each
other forever. This is no longer the case.
There are many synergies. The system
converges in the meter data management
system now. The synergy and the nexus
between water and electricity are
becoming more and more obvious to
us as we look at the amount of energy
it takes to move water, and the amount
of carbon emitted due to the energy
required to move water.
From there it became a quick decision

to realize the need to look at the project
in a more unified manner, according to
Steiger. In deploying water and electricity
networks, GWP is seeing synergies and
challenges to implementing the two
technologies simultaneously. Steiger says:
The real revelation that has arisen

from the GWP Project, Steiger reveals,
came through understanding that this
undertaking is far more than a metering,
17
FEATURE
SAFETY chAMPIONS
Safety Champions
Inspire, Invest and
Celebrate Safety
Success
By Bill Dampf
We all realize the importance

of safety champions within
our organizations and for
us to continue on our
path to zero accidents
in the workplace, the
need to recruit and foster
new champions will be critical. So what is it that makes
a champion? What is it that distinguishes them from
everyone else in our organization? In this short piece, I
hope to share three qualities that are essential.
18
I will start with letting you know this article is different

than what you normally read. It doesnt include studies or
graphs or even quotes from well-known psychologists. This
is an article that shares lessons that I learned while facing a
personal challenge.
Early last year, I was diagnosed with
esophageal cancer. Since that time, I
have gone through a lot of treatment
and major surgery and as of today,
things are looking good. But during the
last half of 2010, I learned a lot about
people and I learned even more about
myself. Some of these lessons I believe
can help you in your quest to be a
safety champion.
I want to share with you three short
stories. The first is about a young
lady, probably around 18 or 19 years
old. When I was receiving treatment,
I joined hundreds of others who

received treatment at my hospital
every day. The 7th floor was basically
an assembly line where over 350
people per day were getting cancer
treatments.
Once you signed in, you sat down in
the waiting room along with 60 or
so others. Being a people watcher, on
several of the trips that I took to the
7th floor, I often saw this young lady
who was obviously a patient just like
me. But she was different. This young
lady, although completely bald, was
dressed magnificently. She always wore

a beautiful dress and high heels. Her
makeup was perfect and she wore
beautiful jewelry. She walked proudly
with her shoulders back and she
always seemed to be smiling.
I looked forward to seeing this young
lady. You see, she inspired me. I did
not know her personally, but it was
apparent to me that this young lady
did not want to be seen as a cancer
patient. She wanted to be seen as the
beautiful young woman she was. No
one noticed that she was bald. No one
pitied her. We smiled when we saw her.
Seeing her made me think about what
other people saw when they looked
at me. Was I walking around like some
poor, pathetic person who had been
dealt a bad hand? Was I feeling sorry
for myself? Was I giving people the
impression that I wanted them to feel
sorry for me? You see, this young lady
showed me how I should act. Cancer
did not define her. It did not make her
the person she was. The same was
true for me. Cancer didnt make me
the person I was.
My first question to you is,

when people look at you,
what do they see? Are you
someone who inspires others
in the area of safety? Do they
see a tremendous example of
safety, someone who would
not hesitate to approach a coworker who is placing himself or
herself at risk? My challenge to
you is to become a person who
inspires others to be the safest
workers they can be. I want you
to set the example just as that
young woman showed me how
I should act. Thats what safety
champions do.
When I asked my nurse what ringing

the bell meant, she told me that when
you have your last treatment you
get to ring the bell. To be honest, I
thought that was pretty silly. But as
I progressed in my treatment, as I
started to have more problems, and as
I became sicker and weaker, I realized
that there was probably no goal I
wanted to attain more than ringing
that bell.
Then came the day of my last
treatment. I was sick. I was very tired
and weak but I was done. I walked
out that door with my wife who was
by my side every step of the way. I
walked down to that bell and I rang
it. The room erupted in applause and
cheers, and it felt good. Its silly how
much ringing that bell meant to me.
I want to share with you what was
inscribed on a plaque below the bell.
It said: Life is not measured by the
number of breaths we take but by
the moments that take our breath
away. Smile this is one of those
moments. I did smile and my wife,
who was proud, smiled with me.
What are your goals in safety?

Is it to eliminate accidents
from your workgroup? Is it
to convince a co-worker to
become more involved and be
a champion just like you? Is it
simply to make sure that no
one gets hurt on your shift
today? Safety champions have
goals and they work hard to
attain them. If you dont have

personal safety goals, set
them. And once you attain
your goal, I encourage you
to celebrate and ring the bell
of safety success. Its a great
feeling.
The last story is about one of my
nurses. This nurse had taken care of
me when I was treated and she was a
very pleasant person.
On my last day of treatments the
day I rang the bell, this young nurse
was taking care of me for the entire
seven hours. Knowing it was my last
treatment, this young lady asked
me if she could sing me a song. It
was something she did for all of her
patients on their last day of treatment.
Feeling a little nervous, I said, Of
course, and standing next to my bed
she sang the song, You will never
walk alone. She sang it beautifully
and she looked right into my eyes as
she did it. Now, Im not a man that
cries often but my eyes welled up.
When she was done, the area I was in
applauded her.
Now, whats the message? The

message I want to share is that
this young nurse was totally
invested in her patients and in
their treatment. She not only
did the work physically, but
she was emotionally invested.
As a safety champion, how invested
are you in your responsibilities to
protect those you work with? To be
successful, you have to put yourself
out there even when its not easy or
comfortable. Safety then becomes a
part of who you are.
Remember safety champions inspire
others, set goals, and work hard to

attain them. Finally, they become
personally invested in the things they
care about.
Bill Dampf is a Corporate Safety
Manager for a Midwest electric
and natural gas utility. He is a
certified safety professional,
author and public speaker. Bill
would welcome the opportunity
to share his passion for safety
with your organization and
workers. He can be reached at
573-230-3910 or at
bdampf@aol.com.
The second story relates to that same

7th floor. One day, I saw a patient
come out of the treatment center,
walk over to a large brass bell that
was hanging on the wall, and he rang
that bell loudly. The waiting room
erupted in applause and many stood
up cheering for the person.
19
GUEST COLUMN
PUBLIC NOT FOCUSED
The Public Is
Not Focused
on Smart
Electricity
Technologies
The latest wave of E2 (Energy + Environment)

research shows that Americans are slow to
learn about advances in Smart Grid and smart
meter technology that are reshaping electricity
distribution.
20
According to research completed in

early June, almost half said that they
have never heard the term Smart
Grid (compared to 65 percent who
had not heard the term two years
ago), and another third said that they
have heard the term but dont know
what it means. Awareness of the term
smart meter is even lower. (See
Charts 1 and 2.)
At this point, the importance and
potential benefits of advanced
electricity distribution technologies
are simply not on the average persons
radar screen, despite the fact that
significant investments are underway
in many parts of the country.
The Potential for

Public Support Is
Great
Because awareness remains low, the
E2 survey starts by providing basic,
objective explanations about what
these technologies are and what
they can do and then asks related

questions. After survey respondents
read the information, support is very
high: More than two-thirds say that
their utility should start now and
work quickly to implement Smart
Grid and smart meter technologies.
Initial interest in smart meter-enabled
programs is also high. After reading
hypothetical program descriptions, a
large majority of respondents say they
would be likely to choose time-of-use
rates and to participate in demandresponse programs. (See Chart 3.)
Although most respondents did not
indicate that worries are top-of-mind,
some issues do raise concerns:
How accurate are these new
meters? Will they be reliable?
Will the utility benefit from these
changes, rather than customers?
Will I be losing control and/or
privacy?
Will the meters impact my health?
Will this help senior citizens?
Will it help people who struggle

economically?
Will the benefits of these
technologies outweigh the costs?
Chart 1: Americans remain

under-informed about Smart
Grid: About 75% say they know
nothing or very little about it.
Chart 3: About 7-in-10 say

they are likely to participate
in a Demand Response
program, with projected
savings having a moderate
impact on support.
For more information on the E2 research program, contact
Jack Lloyd, Market Strategies International at 734-542-7600
or Jack.Lloyd@marketstrategies.com.
Chart 2: About 7-in-10

know little or nothing about
the term Smart Meter.
Less than 25% say they
understand the concept.
21
platinum members
Each edition, Western Energy shines its spotlight on two platinum members, organizations that contribute
greatly to WEIs network of expertise and innovation.
SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
Siemens recognizes that Smart Grids are more than just smart meters. Thats why we are proud that we are the only
supplier of products, services and solutions across the entire energy conversion chain. Whatever the scope of your Smart
Grid project, we can help you from start to finish - from consulting and planning, to products and services, to implementation.
Rep: Kari Keiski, Business Development Manager 503-761-7054, kari.keiski@siemens.com
Website: www.energy.siemens.com
B&V MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
B&V Management Consulting, the management consulting division of EPC giant Black & Veatch, provides a broad range of
advisory services for electric utilities; helping them develop the best strategies to address DSM/EE, Smart Grid, Renewable
Energy, Cyber Security, Cost Control, Rates & Financing, and Sustainability challenges. Advisory services are coupled with
Independent Engineering resources for due diligence and transaction support, and a integrated Information Technology
group to help direct and implement a utilities technology strategy and software.
Rep: Tom Peterson,Vice President 213-804-6702, petersontr@bv.com
Website: www.bv.com/consult
www.siemens.com
www.bv.com
www.economists.com
22
www.henkels.com
www.kema.com
www.vertexgroup.com
gold members
Active TeleSource
Nexant, Inc.
Ricoh InfoPrint Solutions
Cisco Systems, Inc.
OMARK Consultants, Inc.
Snelson Companies, Inc.

HDR Engineering, Inc.
PECI
UtiliCon Solutions, Ltd.
Mears Group, Inc.

TROI IT Solutions
Five Point Partners
Haploos Consulting
WE
Electric, Gas and

Water: The Smart
Grid Trifecta?
Fine Tuning
Communications to
Educate Customers
Western Energy
Safety
Champions
Inspire, Invest
and Celebrate
Safety Success


10 Questions
to Ask Before
Starting a Smart
Grid Project
What You Can
(and Can't) Do with
8/1/11 9:20 PM
FEATURE
fine tuning
Fine Tuning
Communications
to Educate
Customers about
the Smart Grid
By Jay Robinson and Mark Townsend
Effective customer communications are

more important than ever. While established
channels such as monthly statements and
bills can do a lot for the bottom line, they
also give utility companies the opportunity
to educate customers about new trends and
emerging services, such as new Smart Grid
initiatives.
24
When it comes to information about

energy services, customers naturally look
first to their utilities as a trusted source of
information. While utility companies have
always had consumer education initiatives,
educating customers about more complex
messages and emerging technologies, such as
Smart Grid, which require a more relevant,
sophisticated and targeted communications
strategy. Many companies want to
communicate with customers about these
initiatives, but its important not to inundate
consumers with too many messages or they
will ultimately be tuned out.
Start with the Bill
A logical place for utility companies to start

educating customers is the utility bill. By leveraging
data-driven relevant messaging techniques, utility
companies can optimize this existing communication
channel rather than waste time and resources
creating new mediums. For example, Precision
Marketing lets companies leverage data analytics
which make it possible for utility companies to
use data they already have, to more effectively
talk to their customers about topics ranging
from their current billing statement to alternative
energy initiatives. They may be customers who
are frustrated that their bills seem to climb higher
each month with no usage changes; or those who
are frustrated because they have difficulty reading
and understanding their bills. This was the case
with many of the customers for the Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power (LADWP), which
will be discussed later in this article.
Precision Marketing applications can help utility
companies make monthly billing statements clearer.
By looking more closely at statement design, such
as how services are labeled and where they are
placed on the page, utility companies can improve
the readability of the document and help ensure
customers can thoroughly read and understand
them. This helps utility companies educate their
customers and also helps reduce the volume and
costs of call center inquiries.
Once companies improve the readability of their
bills, they can use them to communicate usage
data and ways customers can conserve energy and
save money information that can contribute to
customer loyalty. Also, utilities can inform customers
about upcoming changes that will impact them.
Smart Grid Needs Smarter Education
One example is Smart Grid. This term is widely

known in the utility industry, but for customers
it is another story. Initiatives to support these
intelligently integrated networks are being deployed,
yet many customers are still in the dark as to
what it all means to them. According to two
recent Smart Grid surveys, many customers are
not even aware of Smart Grid initiatives, while
others have major concerns about the impact. An
Itron-sponsored survey developed by Zpryme,
revealed that 41 percent of its participants were
aware of the Smart

Grid to varying degrees,
while a Consumer
Electronics Association
(CEA) survey found
that only 27 percent
were aware of it. Both
surveys also found that
most customers are
concerned about their
energy use but know
little about emerging
energy management
systems. Smaller
percentages had already
invested in them. The
Zpryme survey found
some surprises in
consumers motivation
to watch their energy
costs. For example,
76.5 percent of survey
respondents said that
rising gas prices made
them more likely to pay
more attention to their
electric bills.
Communicate,
Educate and
Optimize: The
LADWP Story
76.5
rising gas
prices made them more
said
likely to pay more attention

to their electric bills
The proof is in the

pudding, especially at
LADWP. As the nations
largest municipal utility
serving the water and
electricity needs of the
city of Los Angeles, the
company was facing high
call center volume from
customers that did not
understand their bill.
LADWP estimates that
about 25-30 percent
of the customer calls
received were about bill
confusion. As a result,
LADWP revamped its
monthly statement to
improve the clarity and
comprehension of customer
invoices. This reduced call
center inquiries and also helped
influence customer behaviors.
The first step was the
introduction of color into the
bill, which helped it stand out
against other mail customers
received and directed their
attention to the most important
messages in the statement (e.g.,
due date).
Next, the company completely
redesigned the layout by adding
graphs to show customer usage
patterns and visual elements,
For utility companies,

this presents a great
opportunity to start
the education process.
Because Smart Grids can
integrate the behavior
and actions of everything
connected to them, they can
offer a number of potential
benefits to customers.
However, if customers do
not know what strategies are
available or are not educated
on how they can help utility
companies provide them with
more information, they may
not be open to the change.
By improving the dialogue,
utility companies can build
trust with customers and help
them understand the benefits
Smart Grid initiatives can
provide. Trust equals adoption.
To do this, utility companies
must create relevant

and concise messages
for each customer,
leveraging their data on
usage and consumption,
to better understand
how each customer can
benefit from these new
initiatives.
25
FEATURE
fine tuning
such as icons for each service (water,

electric and gas) making the bill easy to
follow and understand.
Example Old Bill
So far the changes have been a success

and have garnered positive reactions
from LADWP customers and local
media, such as Southern California Public
radio and the Los Angeles Daily News. In
addition, the company is on target to
reduce call center inquires and is tracking
information on how customer behavior
has changed. This includes adding energy
consumption and emissions. LADWP
also is expected to lower overall costs of
statement operations through additional
process automation.
By optimizing communications, as LADWP

has done by making statements more
clear and compelling, utility companies can
improve customer service and establish
themselves as trusted resources instead
of simply being providers.
For more information,

please visit
www.gobeyondthemeter.com
Jay Robinson is a Senior Solutions
Consultant, Professional Services and
Software, at InfoPrint Solutions. Mark
Townsend is the Assistant Director
of IT Services for the Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power
(LADWP).
26
Example New Bill
wei PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE
The Western Energy Institute offers a wealth of

opportunities for member utilities and service companies
to get involved each year. From executive roundtables
designed to foster discussions and promote discourse
amongst industry leaders to skills development courses
targeted at promoting the skills necessary for success in
utilities, WEI offers something for everyone.
For individuals that want to be involved in more than
just the meeting itself, each meeting relies on a Program
Delivery Team, composed of WEI member professionals,
to develop agendas, secure speakers, and identify relevant
issues. While most of our meetings take place in the
spring and fall, there are opportunities to get involved with
WEI year round. Have a look through the programs still
scheduled for this year and feel free to follow up online
at westernenergy.org/programs or with a WEI Program
Manager if you would like more information.
ADMINISTRATIVE EVENTS
September 25, 2011
Coeur dAlene, Idaho
Board of Directors Meeting
The fall meeting is held prior to the Annual Meeting in September.

Attendees include members of the Western Energy Institutes Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of senior executives from
energy companies responsible for their companys business strategies.
The role of the Board is to oversee the participation in and evaluation of
WEI activities.
Program Manager
Diana Zoren
971-255-4965
zoren@westernenergy.org
Coeur dAlene, Idaho

Annual Meeting
The Wests natural gas and electric communities come together

for three days to participate with
North Americas recognized experts
in resolving the critical issues
facing the utility industry. This
meeting provides a forum for executives and industry constituents
to conduct discussions in a stimulating, yet relaxing networking
environment that encourages ideas
and fosters new opportunities for
member companies
Program Manager
Diana Zoren
971-255-4965
EXECUTIVE FORUMS
October 5-6, 2011
Las Vegas, Nev.
Human Resources
Executive Forum
This executive-level forum brings
together energy HR professionals
who identify critical industry
issues, share challenges and
accomplishments, and facilitate
dynamic discussions on timely
topics. Participants organize and
lead discussions based on a memberdriven agenda. This invitation-only
forum is offered twice annually
Program Manager
Becca Petersen
971-255-4966
petersen@westernenergy.org
October 5-6, 2011

Portland, Ore.
Programs
at a Glance
September 25-27, 2011
Key Account Forum
This industry forum brings

together senior-level professionals
who are responsible for key
accounts and large customers
27
wei PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

for roundtable conversations
about timely business practices.
The member-driven agenda
emphasizes peer discussions
and information sharing. This
invitation-only forum is offered
twice annually.
Program Manager
Kevin Sullivan
971-255-4973
sullivan@westernenergy.org
October 20-21, 2011

Las Vegas, Nev.
Energy Efficiency
Forum
This forum explores energyefficiency challenges and solutions

for the Western United States
and Canada. This invitation-only
forum is offered twice annually.
Program Manager
Kevin Sullivan
971-255-4973
October 25-27, 2011
Program Manager
Orran Greiner
971-255-4967
greiner@westernenergy.org
November 2-4, 2011

San Diego, Calif.
Energy Management
This meeting brings together

member professionals responsible
for natural gas supply,
transportation, and storage for
roundtable discussions focused
on Western North America.
Topics include demand and supply
forecasts and factors expected to
influence the costs and delivery of
natural gas. This invitation-only
Program Manager
Kevin Sullivan
971-255-4973
Spokane, Wash.
Industry Forums
Business Analytics
Forum
This forum gathers professionals

from areas such as financial,
operational and customer service
who are responsible for mining data
and developing metrics at member
utilities. This invitation-only forum
is offered twice annually.
Program Manager
Kevin Sullivan
971-255-4973
October 26-27
Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Operations Business
Strategies
28
reliability issues challenging their

companies. This invitation-only
This strategic forum is designed for

senior electric utility executives.
Participants engage in a roundtable
format to discuss the system
Long Beach, Calif.
Joint Use Conference
Considered the premier joint-use

meeting, this conference is designed for representatives of utility,
telecomm, wireless, broadband
and Competitive Local Exchange
Carrier (CLEC) companies. Also included are consultants and service
companies who deal with joint use
administration and contracts. The
interactive mix of formal presentations, dynamic table topics and
opportunities to exchange information allows attendees to derive
maximum value from program content. Vendor display opportunities
are available.
Program Manager
Orran Greiner
971-255-4967

Portland, Ore.
Electric and Natural

Gas Safety
Safety and industrial hygienist

professionals come together twice
a year to explore pressing safety
issues. This program is designed
to encourage peer networking and
share best practices. The spring
meeting is held in conjunction with
the Operations Conference.
Program Manager
Orran Greiner
971-255-4967

Portland, Ore.
Supply Chain Strategies
This meeting brings together

directors and managers responsible
for supply chain initiatives at
their utility to share best practices
and learn from industry experts.
This engaging forum highlights
a member-driven agenda in a
peer-to-peer setting. It provides
an interactive, roundtable format
to discuss pressing issues around
this important utility segment
with the opportunity to hear from
key industry suppliers. Topics are
focused at the strategic level and will
consist of issues from purchasing,
to contracting, warehousing, and
compliance.
Program Manager
Kevin Sullivan
971-255-4973

Bellevue, Wash.
Environmental
Strategies
This program provides member

companies an open communications
path for addressing common
issues regarding environmental
management, engineering, science,
and planning. The roundtable
Program Manager
Diana Zoren
971-255-4965
October 4-5, 2011

Portland, Ore.
Utility Pole Conference

and Trade Show
(hosted by NWPPA)
Offered once every two years
and cosponsored by the Western
Energy Institute and Northwest
Public Power Association, the Pole
Conference gives engineers and
purchasing personnel an opportunity
to discuss the latest regulations and
technology. It provides opportunities
to learn about new technologies and
obtain hands-on demonstrations
of new, innovative pole products
and equipment.Vendor display
opportunities are available.
November 8-10, 2011

Tempe, Ariz.
Western Region Mutual

Assistance Agreement
(WRMAA) Annual
Meeting
The agreement is designed as a

tool for all gas and electric utilities
throughout the Western United
States and Canada to assist
one another in the event of an
emergency affecting generation,
transmission, distribution, and/
or services. Parties to the Western
Regional Mutual Assistance
Agreement and others involved in
emergency response and business
continuity planning, come together
in an annual meeting to discuss
common practices, review the
agreement, and develop peer
relationships. In the spring, this
program meets with Emergency
Response and Assistance Practices.
Vendor display opportunities
available.
Program Manager
Kevin Sullivan
971-255-4973
Skills Development
Program Manager
Kevin Sullivan
971-255-4973
2012 Course
October 12-14, 2011
An intensive training program

intended to grow and develop
high potential managers and
supervisors through exposure to
an enlightened, big picture view of
business, its interrelationships, and
what drives success. Each session is
conducted by faculty and speakers
that include industry executives
and subject matter experts.
Bellevue, Wash.
Underground/
Overhead Electric
Distribution Meeting
Electric utility professionals share

information, case studies, and
solutions to everyday issues facing
industry distribution systems. This
session is offered twice annually.
Program Manager
Kevin Sullivan
971-255-4973
Various Locations
Business Acumen for
Emerging Leaders
Program Manager
Becca Petersen
971-255-4966
Session One: February 27-29

Hosted by NV Energy in LasVegas, Nev.
SessionTwo: April 23-25
Hosted by Portland General Electric in
Portland, Ore.
SessionThree: June 18-20
Hosted by Intermountain Gas in Boise,
Idaho
Session Four: August 13-15
Hosted by ATCO Electric in Edmonton,
Alberta
Session Five: September 23-25
Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado, Calif.
August 29-Sept. 2, 2011

Wilsonville, Ore.
Northwest Electric
Meter School
The Northwest Electric Meter

School furthers the education
and skills of electric metering
apprentices and journeymen
through industry expert lectures
and hands-on laboratory training.
It covers the basics of electronic
metering theory, AMI, and highend meter applications. Vendor
display opportunities are available.
Program Manager
Becca Petersen
971-255-4966
March 12-16, 2012

Pullman, Wash.
Hands-On Relay School
The Hands-On Relay School

trains protective relay technicians,
electrical/power plant technicians,
and protective relay test specialists.
The Relay School is designed to
help students become familiar with
multiple test methods for a variety of
protective relays and test equipment
and to learn correct preventative
maintenance methods. The course of
instruction emphasizes the exchange
ideas and resolution of problems in
an open forum.
Program Manager
Becca Petersen
971-255-4966
format provides an effective

method to address common issues
and also creates opportunities to
meet industry peers and establish
networks that can be accessed in the
future. The spring meeting coincides
with the Operations Conference.
The fall meeting is dedicated to
member company reports on annual
environmental accomplishments.
29
ADVERTISER INDEX
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Water: The Smart
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What You Can
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918-447-5500
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402-873-0710
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California Turbo, Inc.

800-448-1446
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Siemens
800-347-6659
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909-517-3011
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Alden Systems
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WE

Electric, Gas and

The Smart Grid Issue:

SpirALL MFL Pipeline Inspection Technology

Is it possible to meet the increasing

Through Smart Grid technologies, energy efficiency can be

Answers for energy.

6 Letter from the President/

8 10 Questions to Ask Before

Starting a Smart Grid Project

12 Legal Aspects of Data

Collection by Electric Utilities:

Western Energy / Summer 2011 / westernenergy.org/we

16 Electric, Gas and Water:

The Smart Grid Trifecta?

18 Safety Champions Inspire, Invest

Electric, Gas and

The Official Publication of

The Smart Grid Issue:

and Celebrate Safety Success

20 Market Strategy: The Public is Not

24 Fine Tuning Communications to

27 WEI Programs at a Glance

WE Magazine is printed on recycled FSC

Heading to the Smart Grid? Youll need a Sherpa.

Visit SmartGridSherpa.com for expert guidance

Lets not get bogged down by

At a recent planning meeting I attended, two people

Western Energy / Summer 2011 / westernenergy.org/we

I want to introduce myself

*Black & Veatch and KEMA are WEI Platinum members

175thAnnivHorAd-WEM_Layout 1 7/20/11 1:20 PM Page 1

ELSTER AMERICAN METER

Elster Gas North America enables vital connections through

Western Energy / Summer 2011 / westernenergy.org/we

If you ask the wrong

Its a bit of wise advice that has been around for

Do you have a clear, unified

One useful method for clarifying

Many utilities are now using lifecycle costing or total cost of

It is unlikely that a utility will have all of the expertise

Top candidates for outsourcing

The skills will not be

Meter data audit

The increased workload

Highly specialized skills

Ensuring that the right quantity and quality of talent is on

What are the long-term impacts on staffing,

How Smart Grid projects are different

Many Smart Grid projects involve several functional

Western Energy / Summer 2011 / westernenergy.org/we

believe that it may not be possible to cope successfully

Have you documented your

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Meeting stakeholder needs

Top Tier Contractor for

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