Cutting-edge technology, wind expansions and new markets highlighted by 2020 Edison Award finalists
The Edison Electric Institute announced seven finalists for its 2020 Edison Award last week, including five U.S. companies and two international contenders.
From among those domestically nominated, Consumers Energy, Dominion Energy, NV Energy, PacifiCorp, Southern Company, and Xcel Energy were selected. Canadian energy and utility company ATCO and Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Electricité (CIE), the electric power company of Cote d’Ivoire, rounded out the international showing. All were chosen for contributions to, leadership of, or innovation toward the advancement of the electric power industry.
“EEI’s member companies are committed to delivering a cleaner, smarter, and stronger energy future for the customers and communities they serve,” EEI President Tom Kuhn said. “The projects and technologies deployed by each of the finalists provide terrific examples of the exceptional work being done across our industry, both in the U.S. and around the world. Each of the finalists is truly deserving of this outstanding recognition.”
From the U.S. finalists, Consumers was chosen for the deployment of energy grid modernization technology and the development of new ways to deliver electricity to densely populated regions, efforts coupled with an increasing focus on renewable energy and battery storage capabilities. Dominion was lauded for its in-house automated and extendable transmission outage planning analysis platform, which increased their analytic capabilities and improves both the quality and speed of their ability to address reliability issues amidst project work.
PacifiCorp/NV Energy gained their spot for work with the California Independent System Operator to launch the Western Energy Imbalance Market, the region’s first real-time market outside California — an effort that, by the end of 2019, represented 80 percent of the load in the Western Electric Coordinating Council. Southern Company was nominated for its leadership and technical expertise in the testing, development, and deployment of a wide-ranging portfolio of energy storage solutions, which could add more renewable energy to the grid, and boost resiliency and reliability, among other benefits. Xcel earned its place for implementing the country’s largest multi-state wind energy expansion, which is aiding its push for 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2050.
On the international stage, ATCO was honored for leadership in the development of modern energy infrastructure in North America, original models for consultation and engagement, long-term relationships, and reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, CIE was chosen for its Electricity for All program, which aims to address customers’ principal barriers and accelerate access to electricity for the most vulnerable in society, increasing access to 50 percent by the end of 2019.
This is the 92nd Edison Award competition. From the finalists, winners will be chosen by a panel of former electric company chief executives.
