Like many electricity providers worldwide, South American transmission and distribution (T&D) utilities face changes and challenges. DistribuTECH Brasil is designed to educate utility managers, helping them better understand fast changing technology and business environments. Conference presentations will provide insight into the benefits and issues involved in using data communication and processing to improve efficiency, quality and reliability.

The conference program will cover the electricity grid from the power plant to the end-use customer. It will address the challenges associated with T&D asset valuation in the changing regulatory environment, including rate case decisions. And, because smart metering installations are exploding worldwide, DistribuTECH Brasil’s conference program would not be complete without covering smart metering program implementation.

The conference program also will address the impacts of new technologies and demands on grid automation and operational tools. It will help attendees envision and understand the future utility.

DistribuTECH Brasil will begin accepting abstracts for the conference program in November.

CALL FOR PRESENTATION TOPICS:

THE POWER DELIVERY BUSINESS
How will the new technologies impact the Power Delivery Business? How should utilities and regulatory agencies face the new challenges of improving reliability and supply quality, as well as reducing costs?

Topics of Interest:

• Asset Management and Valuation
• Rules and Regulations
• Rate and Tariff Structures
• Workforce Challenges and Development
• T&D Quality of Supply
• T&D Reliability
• Revenue Protection
• Capital and O&M Expenditure Reduction
• Multi-owner Installations
• Transmission Development and Construction
• Decentralized and Distributed Generation Integration
• Connecting/Integrating Transmission and Distribution Grids
• Environmental Protection and Management

ADVANCED METERING
Intelligent meters allow utilities to offer new services and improve energy supply quality. Utilities, customers and governments, however, must be prepared for this huge transformation.

Topics of interest:

• Smart Metering
• Automatic Meter Reading
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure – Implementation
• Rules and Regulations
• Complex Economics/Financing Environment
• Mandated Large-scale Meter Replacement
• Financing Mandated Installations
• Customer Expectations of Advanced Metering
• Customer Education for Advanced Metering
• Customer Acceptance of Advanced Metering
• Power Quality Monitoring
• Meter Data Management
• Data Analytics
• Interoperability - Standards Development
• Loss Detection and Reducing and Recovering Non-technical Losses
• Communication Technology for AMI
• Protocols
• Cyber Security
• Case Studies – Europe, North America, South America

SYSTEM AUTOMATION
Intelligent devices and sensors will change operational and maintenance procedures. How should utilities adjust to these issues?

Topics of interest:

• Network Automation
• Substation Automation
• Distribution Automation
• Volt/VAR Integration with DMS
• Energy Storage for Grid Stability
• Intelligent Devices and Sensors
• Interoperability - Grid Automation Standards
• System Automation Feasibility Studies
• Grid Automation Investment
• Funding Grid Automation Projects
• Communications Technologies for Grid Automation
• System Modeling and Communication Protocols, including IEC 61850
• Cyber Security

SYSTEM OPERATION
Increasing power system complexity, as well as pressure to reduce costs and improve reliability, requires improvements to operating tools.

Topics of interest:

• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems – SCADA
• Energy Management Systems
• Phasor Measurement – Technology and Applications
• Distribution Management Systems
• Outage Management Systems
• GIS/Geospatial Technologies
• Data Management and Integration
• Renewable Energy Integration
• Grid Monitoring Technologies
• Mobile Computing
• Field Service Management and Operations
• Communications Technologies
• Equipment Monitoring/Testing/Diagnostics
• High Voltage Cable
• High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)