Gas Insulated Substations Conference

Technology Developments and Lessons Learned

March 17-18, 2025 | Richmond, VA ::

0325-gis-conference

Hosted by Dominion Energy

“It was such a great conference with many interesting topics! I loved that all parts of the industry were there, from manufacturing to utility, to openly share their expertise. It was also the perfect size – not too big where it’s too overwhelming. Thanks for such a great conference! – Project Manager, Hawaiian Electric

“Great mix of technical information & personal experience” -Electrical Engineer, SECO

“It’s great to bring utilities and vendors together to discuss best practices and lessons learned” -Project Manager, Southern Company

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“This helped me better understand the basics of GIS and helped to get me up to speed with industry developments” – Engineer, Southern California Edison

“A great exposure to the real-life engineering, operations issues, and considerations for GIS” – Stations Engineering Manager, Florida Power & Light

“Excellent conference that covered the topic very well” – Regional office manager, SECO

“Very good conference to learn about GIS equipment and how it is used at various locations” –Sr. Engineering Consultant, SECO

“I would recommend this conference to all new utilities/users who are not familiar with GIS” –Business Development Manager, Siemens

“A very practical conference with frank and open discussions. Very good presenters.” –VP, MJ Electric

Faced with increasing demands for reliability, improved aesthetics, land restrictions, and security, the adoption of gas insulated substations (GIS) continues to increase. This conference will address technical developments and business considerations for GIS through case studies and new developments in technology. One of the most pressing issues in GIS will be discussed in detail with multiple examples of non-SF₆ options.

Participants will have the opportunity to hear lessons learned and challenges with GIS from utilities that have been building and operating GIS while also seeing mobile GIS and a testing lab during a tour.

Register today to hear developments in technology, including gas alternatives and much more driving the GIS revolution.

Learning Outcomes

• Review GIS specifications, technical design and commissioning
• Review Dominion Energy medium voltage GIS applications
• Identify what was involved for CenterPoint Energy’s implementation of GIS for the first time
• Gain insights into AIS to GIS transition as well as converting existing SF₆ GIS to non-SF6
• Review research and development of new gases, gas mixtures and vacuum interrupter technologies
• Describe what Clean Air GIS is and how it compares to other non-SF₆ options
• Take away the lessons learned by ComEd in implementing an urban non-SF₆ station
• Expand on what has been accomplished by PEPCO in a reliability project and what remains to be done
• Review how Arizona Public Service has used GIS to increase reliability for customers
• Identify how downtown Nashville has improved reliability
• Gain hands-on knowledge from a walking tour of Dominion Energy’s high voltage lab and mobile GIS

Monday, March 17, 2025

 

8:30 – 8:45 a.m. :: Introductions

8:45 – 9:00 a.m. :: Welcoming Remarks

Jim Stage, Engineering Technical Consultant, Dominion Energy

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. :: Gas Insulated Substations (GIS): Specifications, Technical Design, and Commissioning Insights

•  GIS Overview and Applications: Highlights GIS as a compact, reliable alternative to AIS, ideal for high-voltage urban and extreme environments.
• Key Specifications: Includes critical systems like Disconnecting Switch Cameras, Gas Density Monitoring with Partial Discharge Detection, and gas zone weight limits to ensure safety and operational efficiency.
• Technical Design Features: Covers Interlocking, Gas Tripping, Breaker Fail systems, and Local Control Cabinet (LCC) panels for enhanced control, monitoring, and safety.
• Installation & Commissioning Essentials: Emphasizes PD & HI-POT testing, transition systems for overhead and underground cables, and safety protocols to ensure seamless integration and operation.
• Operational Best Practices and Insights: Focuses on reliable maintenance, HI-Pot testing of connected cables, easy GIS component access, and environmental safeguards for long-term sustainability.

Binyam Yeshitla, P.E., Principal Engineer (GIS SME) – T&S Standards & Equipment Engineering, Pepco Holdings

9:45 – 10:30 a.m. :: Medium Voltage GIS Projects

This presentation will review Dominion Energy’s medium voltage GIS projects covering multiple projects in different phases with details on some challenges along with solutions learned on implementing them successfully. Relatable differences and similarities between medium voltage GIS and high voltage GIS will be reviewed as well.

Bobby Rich, Consulting Engineer, Dominion Energy

10:30 – 11:00 a.m. :: Networking Break

11:00 – 11:45 a.m. :: Initial Venture into GIS Projects – An Electric Utility Viewpoint

What are the steps for utility staff to take when engaging in GIS projects for the first time? This discussion will review what was learned by CenterPoint Energy when doing just that.  They had not done GIS for over 10 years and with most people involved in that project no longer with the company, that experience was gone. This presentation will give an overview of what was learned during this experience.

Walter Castillo, Manager High Voltage Planning & Support – Substation Capital, CenterPoint Energy

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. :: Transition to GIS Options

This overview will discuss two types of transitions involving GIS. First, the process and steps involved with transitioning from AIS to GIS will be discussed with a case study for increased resiliency and reliability. That transition will be followed by one for converting existing SF₆ GIS to SF₆ free options.

Vaibhav Singh, Sales & Marketing Manager, Hitachi Energy

Thomas Schulz, Strategic Product Marketing Manager – Switchgear – North America, Hitachi Energy 

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. :: Group Luncheon

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. :: Mixed Gases – Strategies, Considerations and Applications

SF₆ has been an essential dielectric fluid for Transmission and Distribution switching equipment and high voltage switchgear for decades.  Despite all the technical advantages of SF₆ there is one shortcoming, that being environmental impact.  This presentation will provide an update on the status of ongoing research and development of new gases, gas mixtures and vacuum interrupter technologies, that have similar electrical properties and functionality to SF₆-filled equipment.  This presentation will also provide strategy considerations and impacts that SF₆ equipment users should understand, and it will discuss the application of these alternative technologies on the electric system.

George Becker, Principal Substation Engineer – GIS Expert, POWER Engineers

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. :: A Compact GIS Solution 72.5kV – 50kA Clean Air GIS

In this presentation, we will talk about Clean Air GIS. As a very compact 72.5kV-50kA solution, the benefits of Clean Air GIS will be reviewed and compared to other GIS options.

Paul Roskilly, GIS Engineering Manager, Siemens Energy

3:00 – 3:30 p.m. :: Networking Break

3:30 – 4:15 p.m. :: Driving Utility Sustainability Goals: Clean Air High Voltage GIS

In this insightful presentation, we will discuss implementing an urban located non-SF₆, 145kV, 63kA GIS. An overview of Clean Air High Voltage GIS developments and a comprehensive refresh about the solution will also be demonstrated by the speakers.

Cesar Castillo, Sr., Engineer Equipment Standards, ComEd (Invited)

Francisco Campos, Business Development Manager, Siemens Energy

4:15 – 5:00 p.m. :: Completion of Capital Grid – Mt. Vernon Substation and the Start of Champlain Substation Rebuild

This session will review construction of the Mt. Vernon 230kV GIS substation and in-servicing as part of Pepco’s 10 miles of underground transmission network through the District of Columbia.

• Beginning the last phase of the Capital Grid with the start of construction at Champlain substation, which will have both 230kV and 69kV GIS.
• Capital Grid consists of one greenfield substation, rebuilding two existing substations, and converting an existing substation from 138kV to 230kV. All four substations utilize gas insulated switchgear and set up the framework for rebuilding our transmission system in the city.  

Sunit Mitra, Sr. Manager – Substation Engineering, Pepco Holdings

 

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

 

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. :: GIS for Increased Reliability

The session will review what Arizona Public Service has accomplished with increased reliability for their customers through GIS projects and where they stand moving forward. Case studies and lessons learned will be reviewed.

Steve Barbera, Apparatus Engineer, Arizona Public Service

9:15 – 10:00 a.m. :: GIS Designs to Meet Urban Needs

Nashville Electric Service has completed three, 69kV GIS ring bus applications with a fourth under construction today. Each project has been unique architecturally and designed as a GIS substation that is easy to maintain and provides commonality across other NES substation designs.

• Building architecture 
• City official involvement 
• Land management 
• GIS Design Specifications 
• Project Execution 
• Project Challenges 

Dray Moultrie, C&E Engineering Manager, Nashville Electric Service

Johnny Brown, System Control Supervisor, Nashville Electric Service

Baiju Gajjar, Senior Project Executive, Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc.

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. :: Networking Break and Load onto Bus for Tour

10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. :: Tour of Dominion Energy’s High Voltage Lab and Mobile GIS

Wrap-up this conference with an on-site tour of Dominion Energy’s high voltage lab and one or two mobile GIS units outside.

10:30 a.m. :: Bus Leaves for Tour

11:15 a.m. :: Tour arrival

11:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m. :: Tour

1:30 p.m. :: Return to Conference Location

You must sign up for the tour separately when registering so an accurate count is provided for transportation as this is a bus tour.  

No PPE is required for the tour.

1:30 p.m. :: Return from Tour and Conference Concludes

Steve Barbera, Apparatus Engineer, Arizona Public Service

George Becker, Principal Substation Engineer – GIS Expert, POWER Engineers

Johnny Brown, System Control Supervisor, Nashville Electric Service

Francisco Campos, Business Development Manager, Siemens Energy

Cesar Castillo, Sr., Engineer Equipment Standards, ComEd (invited)

Walter Castillo, Manager High Voltage Planning & Support – Substation Capital, CenterPoint Energy

Baiju Gajjar, Senior Project Executive, Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc.

Sunit Mitra, Sr. Manager – Substation Engineering, Pepco Holdings

Dray Moultrie, C&E Engineering Manager, Nashville Electric Service

Bobby Rich, Consulting Engineer, Dominion Energy

Paul Roskilly, GIS Engineering Manager, Siemens Energy

Thomas Schulz, Strategic Product Marketing Manager – Switchgear – North America, Hitachi Energy

Vaibhav Singh, Sales & Marketing Manager, Hitachi Energy

Jim Stage, Engineering Technical Consultant, Dominion Energy

Binyam Yeshitla, P.E., Principal Engineer (GIS SME) – T&S Standards & Equipment Engineering, Pepco Holdings

Please Note: Confirmed speakers do not need to register and are encouraged to participate in all sessions of the event. If you are a speaker and have any questions please contact our offices at 1.303.770.8800

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Gas Insulated Substations Conference

March 17-18, 2025 | Richmond, VA

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RELATED WORKSHOPS:

Tour of Dominion Energy’s High Voltage Lab and Mobile GIS

March 18

Individual attendee(s) - $ 50.00 each
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Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before February 14, 2025 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this conference

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day, be in attendance for the entirety of the conference to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Case studies, PowerPoint presentations, panel discussion, site visit

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 11.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Live
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend

• Transmission and distribution executives and managers
• Substation and distribution engineers
• Project managers involved in substation design, modification, and installation
• Utility asset managers
• Construction firms involved in GIS projects
• Transmission and distribution planners
• Utility environmental managers