The NRECA Business and Technology Strategies (BTS) department’s Transmission and Distribution (T&D) work group supports electric cooperatives in extending the life of existing infrastructure, maintaining system reliability, improving power quality and leveraging advanced technologies. The work group brings together co-op engineers who provide direct support to the Rural Utilities Service and other key standards bodies, such as the National Electrical Safety code and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Work group members also collaborate on research with industry partners, such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the national laboratories.
Available Resources
Reports, articles, white papers and other resources related to Transmission and Distribution may be found here: Topics > Transmission & Distribution.
Transmission & Distribution Engineering Committee
The Transmission & Distribution Engineering Committee (TDEC) is a group of volunteer engineers, operational and materials managers from electric cooperatives, NRECA and engineering consultants who work with electric co-ops.
TDEC assists RUS on the development, analysis and updating of federal technical standards, guidelines and specifications. TDEC also monitors and reviews other engineering and operational standards, code changes and new designs involving the transmission-and-distribution and supply-chain-management fields, so as to maintain the competitiveness of electric cooperatives in today's changing environment.
Research Memberships
NRECA has agreements with several leading research organizations in order to provide our members with access to their research reporting.
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[accordion title="National%20Electric%20Energy%20Testing%2C%20Research%20and%20Applications%20Center%20(NEETRAC)"]NEETRAC is an advanced testing, analytical and applied research service working exclusively with the electric utility industry. They perform mechanical and electrical testing and evaluation of all types of underground and overhead systems and components and publish the results for their members, one of whom is NRECA.
NEETRAC Resources[/accordion]
[accordion title="Centre%20for%20Energy%20Advancement%20through%20Technological%20Innovation%20(CEATI)"]CEATI operates through a number of Interest Groups, listed below. Cooperatives have an opportunity to participate directly in the Interest Groups. For more information please see:
Technology Advisory: New Opportunities for Co-ops to Engage with CEATI.
- DLAM (Distribution Line Asset Management)
Provides guidance to Utilities to assist with making informed asset management decisions through collaboration with other utilities. Pools resources to facilitate research in areas beyond the current knowledge of participants.
- PQAT (Power Quality and Advanced Technologies)
Provides a forum for collaboration to assist in providing consistent quality power for customers. Includes collaboration on tools and methods to more quickly assess PQ events and conditions revealed through automated analysis of PQ data.
- SEAM (Station Equipment Asset Management)
Facilitates research that will optimize life cycle management of station equipment and apparatus, reduce costs through collaboration of methods, practices and use of new technologies and to help utilities to plan future development of their stations.
- TODEM (Transmission Overhead Design & Extreme Event Mitigation)
Develop and share strategies to deal with overhead transmission line design issues and to mitigate the impact of extreme events. Develop benchmarks for increased utilization of existing lines as well as the design of new lines. Address corrosion of transmission components; develop containment strategy against line cascade; and develop technologies to reduce life cycle costs.
- VM (Vegetation Management Task Force)
Focuses on vegetation management of Transmission and Distribution corridors with an emphasis on asset management and program planning, as opposed to specifications required for field work.
CEATI Resources[/accordion]
[accordion title="Distribution%20Systems%20Testing%2C%20Application%20and%20Research%20(DSTAR)"]DSTAR offers distribution utilities cost-effective, responsive means of addressing complex problems that are directly applicable to everyday distribution design, planning, engineering, operation, and maintenance.
DSTAR Resources
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Subject Matter Expert for Questions on Transmission and Distribution
Co-ops are encouraged to contact the T&D work group lead with questions, comments and suggestions about current projects and the research agenda:
Patti Metro, NRECA Senior Grid Operations and Reliability Director, Patti.Metro@nreca.coop 571.334.8890
