Workforce
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Management
Womack Named CEO of Southern Company, Other Leadership Changes Announced
Southern Company’s Board of Directors announced on Jan. 5 that Chris Womack, who has served as president of its largest subsidiary, Georgia Power, since 2020, and as Georgia Power’s chairman, president, and CEO since 2021, has been appointed CEO of Southern Company effective immediately following the conclusion of the company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. […]
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Trends
Grid Infrastructure and Renewable Energy Projects Thrive, Workforce and Supply Chain Issues Continue in 2023
The Inflation Reduction Act will spur growth in clean energy and upgrades to grid infrastructure, but workforce shortages and supply chain constraints are likely to challenge power companies for at least the
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Workforce
Three Ways Power Companies Should Plan Ahead to Integrate, Activate, and Retain Top Talent
Workforce issues are top of mind at many power companies. As workers become harder and harder to find, it’s important for leaders to implement proven strategies for recruiting and inspiring qualified team
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Workforce
The Next Step for Utilities in Workforce Transformation
Hurricane Ian, which struck Florida in late September last year, was a devastating storm and a harsh reminder of the impact of Mother Nature’s wrath. Unfortunately, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and powerful, and our aging grid is struggling to keep up. COMMENTARY Sanibel Island on Florida’s west coast, for example, lost power […]
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Interview
The POWER Interview: A Renewed Shift in Energy Investing
Companies involved in energy production continually look to maximize their investments, and today are tasked with navigating increasingly volatile energy markets. These companies must choose where and how to compete as the world transitions to a low-carbon future. Where are the best opportunities for investment? How important is seeking out positions that reduce exposure to […]
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Power
Using Technology to Improve Management of Utilities’ Fleets
Utility fleet managers faced their share of challenges in recent years. They needed to respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations and rising customer expectations while keeping drivers feeling safe and supported. They also needed to maximize the utilization of vehicles while extending lifecycles and complying with regulations—even as they evolve faster than ever. Like […]
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Top Plant
A Half-Century of Reliability: Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant
Baltimore Gas & Electric set out to build the 1.8-GW Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in 1967 because fossil energy was becoming expensive and controversial. Over its nearly 50 years of operation
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History
History of Power: Dominion Energy’s Fluid Transition
A company that has corporate roots that go back to the Colonial era, Dominion Energy has been shaped by acquisitions and market forces. It is now in the midst of an extraordinary transformation to expand its
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Management
A Pillar in the Community and Collaborator Around the World: DLC Powers Pittsburgh
The Duquesne Light Co. (DLC) may not be among the best-known electric power companies in the U.S., but for its customers in Allegheny and Beaver counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, the company has been a steady presence in the community for more than a century. “We are a Pittsburgh-based utility company. We’ve been in operation for […]
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Solar
How to Continue the Solar Jobs Success Story
Solar power has transformed the energy landscape over the past decade, growing from a minimal percentage of U.S. energy use to become the top source of new electric generating capacity for three years in a
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Wind
Siemens Gamesa Will Cut Nearly 3,000 Jobs
Renewable energy giant Siemens Gamesa announced it will cut nearly 3,000 jobs as the company tries to turn around its financial fortunes. The group in a statement on Sept. 29 said, “In order to realize the company’s projections for growth, Siemens Gamesa is working to strengthen specific areas within key leading markets to capitalize on […]
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O&M
2022 Experience POWER, Distributed Energy Conference, and HydrogeNext Show Preview
Again, this year, Experience POWER will be co-located with the Distributed Energy Conference (DEC) and HydrogeNext, giving attendees the opportunity to learn from and network with trailblazers from the power industry, who are leading the way in the world’s energy transition. These three events cover the full energy value chain for the power industry, delivering […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Common Mobility Tax Mistakes in the Energy Sector and How to Avoid Them
As international travel picks up, energy corporations are turning to mobile employees to fulfill their international staffing needs. However, as mobile work gains steam, tax and compliance risks continue to grow as well—unbeknownst to most corporate leaders. Many businesses, unfortunately, are failing to set up an adequate plan to protect against tax violations in the […]
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History
Southern Company: A History of a Prolific Power Technology Pioneer
Atlanta-based energy giant Southern Co. has rapidly evolved to keep in step with the evolution of power. As part of its corporate growth, the company has notably pioneered technologies that have reshaped
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Technology
The Role of Videoscopes in Gas Turbine Inspections: Insights from the Field
Traditional gas turbine inspections can be time-consuming and expensive. However, a remote visual inspection can be an effective alternative to tearing equipment apart to get a look inside. Advanced
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Engineering
Ferris State University’s Construction Management Program Expands Its MEP Courses
The Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) trades make up a significant portion of a construction project’s budget, and MEP scope continues to grow in complexity and size as we get further into the 21st century. Depending on the type of project, the MEP scope can account for upwards of a third of an overall project’s […]
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Workforce
Leveraging Digital Confined Space Technologies to Mitigate the Growing Labor Shortage
It’s becoming harder and harder for managers to find the skilled labor needed to operate and maintain power plants. That’s why utilizing technology to enhance safety and efficiency is so important. Digital
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Press Releases
Swagelok Company Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Company Marks Milestone by Growing Workforce on Cleveland’s West Side SOLON, OHIO—Swagelok Company, a leading solutions provider of fluid system products, assemblies, and related services, is marking its 75th year in business by expanding its workforce on Cleveland’s west side through the addition of positions in its existing Strongsville facility and the purchase of an […]
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Engineering
Cultivating the Next Generation of Women Engineers
For most of my childhood growing up in a small town in the foothills of North Carolina, my dad worked in the blanket factory as a supervisor in the labs—working on fabric treatments, dyes, weaves, and all the other things that you’d never think about going into the design of a blanket. On Saturday mornings, […]
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Workforce
Addressing the Challenges Presented by a Retiring Utility Workforce
POWER magazine has always held a special place in my heart. After my father left the Navy, he became a power engineer and a loyal subscriber to the magazine. As a kid, I remember stacks of the publication all over the house. At the high point my father had hundreds of issues amassed over decades. […]
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O&M
Advanced Analytics Applications Power Predictive Maintenance Efforts
Moving from reactive to predictive maintenance requires the right tools for use by subject matter experts. As the power industry continues to advance from preventative to predictive maintenance, one thing is
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IIOT
Boosting Productivity in the Utility Industry with Mobile Solutions
In the utility industry, downtime and outages—from losing power to water shortages and burst pipes—can impact a customer’s day-to-day life, causing safety concerns and costly damages. This is especially true during sweltering summer months or freezing winter seasons caused by extreme weather and climate change. Today, digital transformation is shifting customer expectations as they demand […]
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Cybersecurity
Goldman Sachs Stake in Fortress Underscores Supply Chain Cybersecurity Priority
A Goldman Sachs private equity business is taking a stake in critical industry cybersecurity firm Fortress Information Security. The $125 million investment underscores a heightened awareness of supply chain vulnerabilities within the investor community. Fortress, which announced the investment from Goldman Sachs Asset Management Private Equity on April 19, said it also highlights a wider […]
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Press Releases
Black & Veatch Selects Mario Azar as New Chairman and CEO
CEO Steve Edwards to retire after 44 years with global infrastructure leader OVERLAND PARK, Kansas (15 APRIL 2022) – The Black & Veatch Board of Directors today announces it has selected Mario Azar as the chairman and CEO for the company upon the decision of Steve Edwards to retire after 44 years of outstanding leadership, […]
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Engineering
How to Complete Successful Power Projects Working with EPC Contractors
Power companies rely heavily on engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors to build new power facilities and keep old ones in top condition. However, some projects go smoother than others
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Engineering
Making Power Plants Purr or Putting Them to Sleep: Hard Equipment and Soft Tools
Maintenance equipment and tools have always been important for plant operators. In the early days, the tools were likely made entirely of iron and steel, copper and brass, lead, leather, rubber, or glass. Some
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Press Releases
StaCool Vest™ Keeps Workers Cool and Productive
(Lecanto, FL) – The StaCool Vest™ Core Body Cooling System is helping workers beat the summer heat, to stay cool and productive. Micro-thin, highly breathable materials are easy to care for, providing wearers unsurpassed cooling comfort without compromising mobility. With models that can be worn over or under normal clothing, there is a StaCool Vest™ […]
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News
Illuminating Your Path to Operational Excellence, Part 2
Following part one in this two-part series about operational excellence (OpEx) in the power industry, Hexagon discusses the value of setting milestones to help reach OpEx goals. In addition, the significance of embracing cultural change, leadership’s crucial role in change management, and how to develop change champions in power organizations is examined, along with technology […]
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Management
Illuminating Your Path to Operational Excellence, Part 1
Operational excellence (OpEx) is a holistic approach to business change that requires small, ongoing modifications capable of producing significant effects. Within power operations, this approach can be used to improve crucial day-to-day procedures, such as shift handover, and address deviations from the norm, for example, market conditions. It is important to acknowledge that OpEx is […]
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Nuclear
Women Are an Important Piece of UAE Nuclear Power Program
Tuesday, March 8, was International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The idea of an International Women’s Day (IWD) was first proposed in 1910 by Clara Zetkin, leader of the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, during a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The […]