POWERGRAMS

23 The Alabama Power brand is promoted by advertising, safety messages, corporate sponsorships and for simply geing the lights back on aer an outage. But there's another not so well- known way. Distribution engineers are making their mark in regional and national organizations. They are on the cuing edge introducing and developing technologies that are moving the needle in the electric utility industry. "I'd say our engineers are trailblazers and pioneers in coming up with a lot of new ideas embraced by the utility industry as a whole," said Bobby Hawthorne, Distribution Engineering Services manager. "Alabama Power has a seat at the table when new methods and innovations are first discussed. We're in the loop from the get-go." And there's another upside. "There is significant satisfaction when you see your ideas become part of the program, which approves the efficiency of engineers throughout the world and in turn makes customers' lives beer," said Engineer John Bowen. Engineer Jim Fleming, for example, serves on a commiee with the influential National Electrical Manufacturers Association. The 91-year-old organization sets standards for products used in generation, transmission, distribution and control. Fleming is on the commiee reviewing standards and testing of outdoor, roadway and area lighting equipment, such as fixtures and poles. The group's 50 standards, used by utilities and lighting manufacturers nationwide, must be revised or reapproved every five years. "I have the opportunity to make recommendations as existing standards are revised and new standards are wrien," Fleming said. "I help recommend designs to make the equipment more robust and more user-friendly for use on our system." Alabama Power benefits by having a voice early in the development of lighting equipment. Fleming cites the example of LED lighting. "Many times, new technology is first mentioned at the commiee meetings," he said. "As Alabama Power began to talk about the introduction of LED lighting, this opportunity to speak with the manufacturers, and especially the other users, was extremely valuable to the company." For Bowen, a language barrier was the springboard for his claim to fame. The utility world gathers every summer at the annual Cyme International Users Meeting in Canada. Cyme, a leading maker of utility distribution engineering soware, holds the conference in Montreal to assemble customers and experts to network and brainstorm. A SEAT AT THE Bowen, at far right, at regional gathering of engineers in Vermont.

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