management
-
O&M
Benefits, Challenges of Integrating Smart Boiler Systems at Modern Power Plants
Modern power plants have many critical demands, including the need for more efficient energy management, enhanced safety and security, and reduced power consumption. Integrating a smart boiler system is essential to meeting these challenges. These advanced systems enable precise temperature control, optimize energy usage, and offer unparalleled operational convenience that transforms how power facilities manage […]
-
O&M
How Technology Helps Overcome 10 of the Top Operational Challenges in the Energy Sector
Recent government legislation and initiatives have prompted positive momentum in the energy industry. From regulatory matters to technology upgrades to renewable energy trends boosted by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax incentives, energy demand and projects are increasing across the sector. However, every opportunity comes with its own set of issues, especially if an organization […]
-
News and Notes
AEP Abruptly Replaces CEO, Calpine Unveils Leadership Transition
American Electric Power (AEP) and Calpine Corp. separately announced significant leadership reshuffles on Feb. 27, marking new chapters for the power giants. Investor-owned utility AEP, with immediate effectiveness, removed AEP Chair, President, and CEO Julie Sloat, appointing Benjamin G.S. Fowke III, an AEP Board of Directors member and the former chairman and CEO of Xcel Energy, […]
-
Distributed Energy
Study Finds Grid Transparency Behind-the-Meter a Challenge for Utilities
North American electric utilities continue to grapple with the challenge of managing behind-the-meter distributed energy resources (DERs), according to the results of a survey of utility decision-makers published Feb. 15. A study of 100 leaders from utilities in the U.S. and Canada, commissioned by Siemens and done in partnership with Oxford Economics, found that “limited […]
-
Management
The Art of Self-Assessment: Why Your Organization Is Not Improving
It’s not uncommon for organizations to go through performance cycles from good to bad, and hopefully, back to good before repeating the process. However, a well-conceived and consistently applied
-
Trends
Lessening the Impacts of Extreme Weather—How Utilities Should Be Preparing
Climate change is a threat multiplier. Clean-up costs are ballooning and natural disasters are growing more expensive. In 2022 alone there were 18 natural disasters that caused more than $1 billion in damage, up from only three events in 1980. These are taking a bigger bite out of the energy sector’s operating costs and profits, […]
-
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. […]
-
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
-
Press Releases
Platte River’s leadership takes shape to execute on non-carbon energy goal
FORT COLLINS, Colo., August 4, 2022 – After an extensive national search, Platte River Power Authority (Platte River) recently completed its senior leadership team by naming Eddie Gutiérrez as the organization’s chief strategy officer (CSO). “Eddie is a compassionate strategist and communicator and brings decades of advocacy and community engagement experience to Platte River,” said […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
Gas
2022 CTOTF Innovation Excellence Award Winners Announced
The Combustion Turbine Operations Technical Forum (CTOTF), in association with POWER, is excited to announce the recipients of its annual Innovation Excellence Awards. Winners were selected through a judging process performed by an independent panel of recognized utility industry experts. Selections were made in five categories: maintenance, environmental stewardship, safety process, operational, and management and […]
-
Management
Fostering a Speak-Up Culture with Facilitative Leadership
The history books are littered with incidents that could have been prevented if people in the know had been empowered to speak up and decision-makers had acted differently based on the input. For example, the
-
Press Releases
Mobideo Unveils Gamechanger for Turnaround Management
The MobideoSTO Operating System dramatically improves turnaround performance and manageability of the key factors that determine turnaround success – scope, cost, schedule, quality, and EHS. Houston, Texas, 05.05.2021: Announcing the launch of MobideoSTO at an online event entitled “When the going gets tough, the tough get digital”, Mobideo is releasing the premier Digital STO (Shutdown, […]
-
Workforce
How to Optimize Online Meeting Communication and Collaboration
Are we prepared for what the future of work holds? According to a recent McKinsey report, that answer will depend on our ability to adapt to a hybrid workforce. The report, which analyzed more than 2,000 activities across 800 occupations, found that hybrid models of remote work will accelerate and continue after the COVID-19 pandemic […]
-
Workforce
Principles-Based Operations: A Military-Proven Method Part II
In “Principles-Based Operations: A Military-Proven Method Part I,” I alluded to the institutionalization of the military service. Specifically, I wrote about the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power program and some of the principles that make it successful. These high-level values are instilled in recruits through the training process and during day-to-day interactions. In Part I, I […]
-
O&M
Principles-Based Operations: A Military-Proven Method Part I
Many power plant operators began their careers in the armed forces. Why is the military such a good training ground? Perhaps the answer lies in the principles instilled in recruits from day one of boot camp
-
Renewables
Power Plant Efficiency: A Key to Profitable Performance
Building power plants is only the first step to generating success. Running plants efficiently, and consistently improving efficiency as they run, is the path to putting profits on the bottom line. Building
-
History
New Thinking on Old Safety Issues
Human workers are imperfect, which is why there’s no magic bullet that will give you a safe workplace. But new research on human behavior and how that translates into safety attitudes is helping some in the power industry get beyond the traditional platitudes. Safety first. Safety is no accident. Be aware—Take care. Those and others […]