Finalists Named for Annual Edison Award, Electric Industry's Most Prestigious
Honor

    


    
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<p>WASHINGTON, <span class="xn-chron">April 26</span> /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today named six finalists for the Edison Award, the electricity industry's highest honor.</p>
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<p>American Electric Power, <span class="xn-location">Portland</span> General Electric, Public Service Enterprise Group and Xcel Energy were nominated for the U.S. Edison Award, while TransAlta Corporation was selected along with a joint nomination by British Columbia Transmission Corporation and Hydro-Quebec for the international Edison Award.</p>
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<p>The award, presented annually by EEI, recognizes U.S. and international electric companies for distinguished leadership, innovation and contribution to the advancement of the electric industry for the benefit of all. The finalists were selected by a committee composed of energy trade publication editors.  Winners will be selected by a panel of former electric company chief executives.</p>
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<p>This year's award, the 83rd annual, will be presented in <span class="xn-location">Hollywood</span>, Fla., during the EEI Annual Convention and Expo that runs June 13-16.</p>
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<p>EEI <span class="xn-person">President Tom Kuhn</span> praised the contributions by finalists, saying, "The commitment by our industry to reducing emissions, strengthening reliability, operating more efficiently and introducing innovation is ever apparent, as these six companies have exhibited with their unique and remarkable efforts."</p>
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    Descriptions of the international companies' efforts are as follows:

    
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<p>British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) and Hydro-Quebec - The Hydro-Quebec Research Institute (IREQ) developed a high performance robot (LineScout Technology) designed to complete detailed and comprehensive inspection of energized transmission lines of up to 765kV.  BCTC and Hydro-Quebec worked together to implement the technology in BCTC's operations and to improve the use of the LST for the inspection over lengthy water crossings, thereby reducing costs, increasing reliability and improving safety.</p>
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<p>TransAlta Corporation - With the governments of <span class="xn-location">Canada</span> and Alberta, the company embarked upon Project Pioneer, one of the world's first and largest fully integrated carbon capture and storage facilities for a coal-fired power plant.  If successful, CCS will preserve the value of billions of dollars of existing energy infrastructure and the fuels that drive it.</p>
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<p>The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members serve 95 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder-owned segment of the industry, and represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. We also have more than 65 International electric companies as Affiliate members, and more than 170 industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate members.</p>
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For further information: Andrew O'Connor, [phone] Web Site: http://www.eei.org