Utilities are now getting much more data about their equipment via meters, sensors and other intelligent devices and seeing the benefits of software that can pull together all that information and make sense of it. As a result, strategic asset management is entering its next phase, which is the focus of our latest eBook developed with the experts at UTILICASE. Download the free eBook to learn how your utility can glean the benefits of advanced analytics to develop a more strategic asset care program.

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How are we going to turn our frail and neglected electric power transmission system into a secure and reliable smart grid? It’s a critical and timely issue, which is why we’ve loaded this toolkit with some of the best analysis, most-promising trends and smartest research relating to next steps in electric power transmission.

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Europe has been aggressively developing renewable energy resources, but a study by Siemens and a German technical university found that poor choices have been made in siting renewable energy projects. The result? A tremendous waste of money. Read the story for details on what Siemens recommends to remedy the problem.

President Obama restated his interest in designating utility workers first responders while he met with a utility executive group to go over restoration planning after major storms. Not only is it a useful and practical solution for speeding up response to outages, it also represents an opportunity for the industry to make its case for the money needed for grid modernization because of the widespread interest in restoration issues.

For a mid-size company, S&C Electric has heavyweight influence on the smart grid. Kyle Seymour, S&C's new CEO, and outgoing CEO John Estey spent some time with Smart Grid News recently and shared their thinking on strategy, what's coming next, challenges and competition, and opportunities. It's an interesting read.

Cisco announced two new offerings Monday, a security architecture and a substation solution. SGN Chief Analyst Jesse Berst shares some insights on what that means for Cisco, utilities and other communications providers.

Many utilities are deploying smart grid technologies. But apparently Florida Power & Light's "network first" approach and willingness to invest heavily when others were not has given it some major bragging rights. Find out why MIT Technology Review says the utility is the first to put a comprehensive, large-scale smart grid online.

Put on a hat and pour yourself a mint julep because it's post time for this week's smart grid derby. Our stable of winners includes Toshiba, selected to help TEPCO with its smart meter deployment, and Echelon, which has a gig in Zimbabwe. Click to see who else made the winners' circle this week.

New Jersey's largest utility wants to invest $446 million in solar. More than half of it would go to plant solar farms atop landfills and brownfields in the Garden State. Public Service Electric & Gas announced Tuesday it has preliminary approval from state regulators with a final decision due by month's end.

An Austin-based IT consultancy has just published a short guide on how to "take your office off the grid." It doesn't really say much new, but it does illustrate a concerning trend - more and more businesses are coming to believe that grid divorce is desirable and possible. We told you about Walmart; click to read how Verizon is parting ways with utilities.

Supporters and critics alike have been watching closely as some states move to raise renewable energy requirements and others try to dismantle them. In the latest chapter, the Colorado House approved a bill Tuesday that would raise renewables requirements for rural electric cooperatives to 20% - a 10% increase. The Senate still has to weigh in.

This film from Hubbell Power Systems explores the life and times of journeyman linemen, apprentices and their families. Their team has traveled all over North America documenting the stories of the lineman brotherhood.