For Immediate Release, Please
Ellicott City, MD 21042
10176 Baltimore National Pike
Suite 204
NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
Phone:
Eric Leivo (eleivo@newton-evans.com) or Liz Forrest (eforrest@newton-evans.com)
+1 410 465 7316
800 222 2856
Fax:
+1 410 750 7429
Initial Findings Out from the January 2010 Newton-Evans Study of Electric
Power T&D Investment
Tracking Study Finds Increased 2010 CAPEX and O&M Budgets for Smart
Grid-Related Automation and Transmission Categories
January 22, 2010 — Ellicott City, MD. Initial findings from
the January 2010 Newton-Evans global tracking study of
electric power transmission and distribution investment
are somewhat positive, compared with the most recent
tracking study (July 2009). Each of five “smart grid”
component areas, plus transmission and distribution
infrastructure development, has been reported by utilities
located in more than 25 countries to more likely be either
“increased” or “unchanged” rather than “decreased” from
January of last year. The highest percentages of officials
reporting increases were in the areas of protection and
control, and transmission infrastructure CAPEX budgets.
The biggest decrease in CAPEX outlays for 2010 is
reported to be in distribution infrastructure, based on the
first 50 replies received and tabulated.
O&M budgets reflect a somewhat different story. Most
categories of O&M spending were less likely to see an
increase from the budgets of a year ago. Distribution
appears to be the key victim, with 17% of the respondents
indicating a lower figure budgeted for 2010 O&M expense
or distribution network operations and engineering.
The survey also requested utility officials to provide the
reasons for their CAPEX plans, looking into the rationale
for change in year-over-year budget plans. In summary,
smart grid initiatives were cited as being more important
factors than either regulatory mandates or government
stimulus programs.
-more-
Likewise, decreases in CAPEX budgets were reported to
be caused first and foremost by the economic outlook for
2010, a more important factor than regulatory mandates.
However, with the recent example of FPL pulling back
some $10 billion in multi-year CAPEX spending because
of unfavorable regulatory decisions, these can become
very influential in states with key rulings this year.
Readers can keep up to date via the Newton-Evans’
website with the research team progress being made on
the January 2010 CAPEX study. Pre-publication
subscriptions to the updated report, which is priced at
US$495.00, are currently being accepted via email,
phone and mail. Newton-Evans will begin accepting online orders on February 15th. The report will be published
as a PDF document. In the meantime the July 2009 report is available for online purchase or by calling the
Newton-Evans offices at 1 800 222-2856 or +1 410 465-7316.
10176 Baltimore National Pike
Suite 204
Ellicott City, MD 21042
-30-