Updates
November 30, 2014
Fall Workshops
The NATF hosted a number of member workshops and meetings this fall. Topics included vegetation management, security, resiliency, transmission-nuclear power plant interface, and cold weather preparation.
September 29, 2014
September Board and Members Meetings
The NATF held a board meeting and its annual members meetings in September. Members approved a long-term operational plan and 2015 business plan and budget, elected new board members, and discussed a range of industry topics, including operating experience and human performance.
September 02, 2014
New Equipment Performance & Maintenance Working Group
The NATF is built on the principle that open and candid exchange of information among its members is the key to improving the reliability of the transmission systems in the U.S. and Canada. The NATF’s Practices Program achieves this principle by conducting monthly web meetings and high-quality workshops and by facilitating the development of NATF practices and principles of operating excellence.
Through its Practices Program and other areas, the NATF continually monitors emerging issues that have the potential to affect the reliability of members’ electric transmission systems and focuses efforts on helping members address those issues.
As part of the NATF’s long-range operational plan to identify priorities over the next five years, members agree on the need for increased emphasis and dedication of resources regarding (1) transmission and substation equipment performance, (2) equipment asset management, and (3) spare equipment for critical facilities.
In response, members have formed an Equipment Performance & Maintenance Working Group, under the NATF Practices Program, to share ideas and operating experiences related to these three topics. The working group will collect and analyze equipment performance and asset management data, and develop associated NATF practices to promote reliability excellence.
To expedite the development of products and prevent duplication of effort, the NATF working group will collaborate with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which has been collecting equipment performance data on transmission assets since 1998.
September 02, 2014
Training Workshop
The NATF held its annual train-the-trainer workshop last week.
August 27, 2014
NATF Increases Focus on Grid Resiliency
“Reliability” is at the core of the NATF’s mission and vision, but an increasingly important focus area for us is “resiliency.” These two areas are interwoven, with reliability improvements centered on keeping the lights on and resiliency efforts geared towards preparing for, operating through, and recovering from severe events.
To better coordinate ongoing efforts, the NATF has created a “Resiliency” initiative. Formal NATF initiatives are large, multi-discipline projects designed to address important industry concerns or issues. This new initiative incorporates previous topics of as GMD and EMP with severe weather, security (cyber and physical), and other hazards that could impact the transmission system.
In order to leverage industry resources as efficiently as possible, the NATF has been coordinating with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on resiliency-related meetings and workshops. This year’s culminating activity is a joint NATF/EPRI Resiliency Summit to be held in October for members of both organizations and invited guests. The summit will focus on policy discussions and technical topics to sharpen NATF/EPRI efforts in using a new matrix designed to capture and guide our work products.
June 26, 2014
June Board and Members Meetings
The NATF held its quarterly board and members meetings this month. Members discussed current and proposed NATF activities and exchanged information on topics such as security, human performance, and asset management.
June 09, 2014
Modeling Workshop
The NATF’s Modeling Practices Group held its annual workshop last week.
June 02, 2014
Transmission-NPP Interface Practices Group Workshop
The NATF’s Transmission-Nuclear Power Plant Interface Practices Group (one of the NATF’s newer groups) held a workshop last week.
May 19, 2014
System Protection and Security Workshops
Two NATF groups held workshops last week. The System Operations Practices Group held its annual workshop, and the Security Practices Group held its spring workshop.
May 12, 2014
System Operations Workshop
The NATF’s System Operations Practices Group held its annual workshop last week.
April 28, 2014
Spring Compliance Workshop
The NATF’s Compliance Practices Group held its spring workshop last week.
April 21, 2014
Human Performance Symposium
The NATF’s Human Performance Practices Group held its annual symposium last week.
March 24, 2014
March Board and Members Meetings
The NATF held its quarterly board and members meetings last week. Members approved the NATF’s updated strategic plan and discussed key industry topics and NATF activities. Particular focus was given to security and resilience.
January 31, 2014
NATF Launches Redesigned Site
The NATF unveiled a new and improved public site today: www.natf.net.
In addition to expanded content, the new design features improved graphics, layout, and navigation. These updates will help us provide greater value in sharing information to current members, prospective members, and outside organizations.
Two key improvements for members are the addition of a more visible “Members Site” link, which is located at the top left of every page, and a streamlined web address.
January 29, 2014
NATF Updates Staff E-mail Addresses
NATF staff e-mail addresses have changed to the natf.net domain, effective January 29, 2014. The transmissionforum.net e-mail addresses will forward to the new accounts for approximately one year to ensure a thorough transition. E-mails sent to the old accounts will receive an automated reply notifying senders to update their records. As part of this initiative, we’ve added a new e-mail account (info@natf.net) for general NATF information and questions.
July 09, 2013
NATF Signs MOU with NERC
NATF, NERC sign memorandum of understanding to improve coordination on selected reliability activities of mutual interest.
July 01, 2012
NATF to Collaborate with INPO
NATF and INPO establish MOU to collaborate on reliability and safety topics related to the transmission system interface with nuclear power plants.
September 26, 2011
North American Transmission Forum Hires CEO
The board of directors of the North American Transmission Forum elected Thomas J. Galloway as the organization’s first president and chief executive officer effective October 16, 2011. “Adding Tom as CEO marks an important milestone in our organization’s growth and success,” said Billy Ball, Southern Company chief transmission officer and NATF board chairman. “Tom’s leadership skills, personal passion for excellence and experience at the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation make him well suited to be our first CEO. We are very excited about the future of the Forum under Tom’s leadership.”
January 01, 2010
Transmission Forum Becomes Independent Corporation
The North American Transmission Forum, the organization formed in 2007 to improve the operations and reliability of the electric power systems in North America, has organized as an independent non-profit corporation.