SaskPower has made significant investments - $1.279 billion - into the province’s electrical grid in 2014, as aging infrastructure, increasing demand and changing environmental regulations continue to challenge the Crown corporation.
“Our province is focusing on investing in infrastructure to keep our province strong, and that includes our electrical grid,” Minister Responsible for SaskPower Bill Boyd said. “Those investments do have an impact on SaskPower’s annual income, but they are necessary to renew and improve the system and meet increasing demand for electricity in our growing province.”
“Like many electrical utilities, SaskPower is continuing to operate in a challenging environment,” said President and CEO Mike Marsh. “Demand for electricity has grown nearly 10 per cent in just two years, and our peak demand continues to break records. It’s critical that we invest in renewing and maintaining our system so that we are positioned to supply reliable, affordable and sustainable power today and into the future.”
Key SaskPower highlights reported in its 2014 Annual Report include:
* $409 million to upgrade power stations
* $583 million to connect customers to the system, as well as transmission and distribution upgrades
* The successful launch of the Boundary Dam carbon capture and storage project, the first of its kind in the world
* Construction continued on the Shand Carbon Capture Test Facility, scheduled to be complete this year
* Work continued on the expansion of the Queen Elizabeth Power Station in Saskatoon, which will add 205 megawatts to the grid when complete in 2015
* Work on the $380 million I1K transmission line, which will run from Island Falls to Key Lake to serve industry and improve reliability in the province’s north
* SaskPower reached an agreement with Manitoba Hydro to import 25 MW of power from 2015 to 2022
* SaskPower was recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Top Employers for Young People, as well as one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers
* SaskPower was awarded Progressive Aboriginal Relations Silver Status by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
* The interactive Power to Grow tour traveled across the province last summer, making over 100 stops and reaching more than 26,000 people
* SaskPower invested nearly $1.6 million in the communities and organizations that make our province a great place to be
During a recent Industrial Control Systems Joint Working Group meeting, representatives from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and International Society of Automation (ISA) outlined a new program to address the growing risk of unprotected and under-protected building control systems in the U.S. and abroad.
Electrical contractors are approaching a tipping point in terms of pursuing roles and opportunities in the growing market of smart buildings, according to Smart Buildings And Internet of Things (IoT) Impact on Electrical Contracting, a new report from Electri International. Part 1 of this 3-part series provided an overview of the IoT challenges facing electrical contractors; Part 2: opportunities. Here in Part 3: two case studies.
The Rivierè-des-Mille-Îles Park encompasses an array of natural forest, waterways, marshland and shoreline in the city of Laval, Quebec. With its exceptional biodiversity, it’s a unique natural attraction for the city, and welcomes over 150,000 visitors annually.
Electricians and facility maintenance technicians should ideally work on de-energized electrical equipment, but that isn’t always possible, so their hand tools should provide as much protection as possible. The new Fluke1000 V Insulated Hand Tools are designed to keep workers safe in hazardous areas and are rugged enough to use in the toughest environments without breaking.
MaxLite has earned a U.S. patent for the innovative linking design features of its TriMax Vapor Tight fixture. This patent, issued as U.S. Patent No. 10,168,012, brings the number of MaxLite’s issued and pending patents worldwide to 106, a testament to MaxLite’s focus on developing cutting-edge innovation.
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