CEE Program Committee Meeting November 29-30, 2000 San Diego, CA

Meeting Notes Transformers Breakout Session November 29, 2000

Participants 1. Jeff Harris, LBNL-FEMP (jpharris@lbl.gov) 2. Alison Lightner, DOE-FEMP (Alison.Thomas@ee.doe.gov) 3. Stephen Stinson, SMUD (sstinso@smud.org) 4. Bill Daiber, SDG&E (wdaiber@sdge.com) 5. Jim Hanna, PG&E (jbh1@pge.com) 6. Ted Jones, CEE (tjones@ceeformt.org) 7. Melissa Mastrianni, CEE (mmastrianni@ceeformt.org)

Key Points - Ted Jones of CEE gave a brief overview of CEE’s high efficiency distribution transformer initiative and described its progress since 1997. In a little over two years 17 transformer manufacturers have agreed to make ENERGY STAR transformers available. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with EPA these manufacturers agree to produce high-efficiency commercial and industrial transformers and to market them to their customers. Current ENERGY STAR Manufacturing Partners include some of the top names in the industry.

Activity among market transformation organizations has also grown. In 1998 only a handful of utilities in a couple of states joined CEE, FEMP and ENERGY STAR in promoting high-efficiency transformers. Today, over 14 states have incorporated ENERGY STAR transformers into their laws, building codes or utility programs (or plan to in the near future).

The most recent and dramatic activities are taking place in New York and California. NYSERDA is promoting greater market penetration of ENERGY STAR transformers through Energy$martSM . In the West, the California Energy Commission is ready to incorporate ENERGY STAR Transformers into its mandatory appliance standards -– Title 20. Ted distributed a copy of a PG&E Codes and Standards Enhancement Study used to advocate incorporating high efficiency transformers into California Title 20 standards. The work was prepared for PG&E under the project management of the New Buildings Institute.

In addition, Ted distributed a report from a transformer manufacturer - Square D documenting their findings on the following issues: *Level of Loading and Comparison to NEMA TP-1 Assumptions *Harmonics Associated with Loading *Best Value Transformers for Industrial Applications

Given the rapid market developments for low-voltage products, Ted offered two topics for planning and discussion: 1) development of a Tier II for low-voltage products, and 2) exploration of the medium-voltage market.

Discussion: To further market gains, Jim Hanna suggested that the initiative approach facility management corporations such as Honeywell to explore cooperative efforts on high-efficiency transformers. Honeywell could be a powerful ally since its energy automation division manages tens of millions of square feet of office space.

Jeff Harris commented that in addition to ASHRAE 90.1, adoption of ENERGY STAR transformers into the Federal Building Code offers an opportunity to further incorporate Energy Star/NEMA voluntary standards for distribution transformers. He also mentioned that ENERGY STAR /NEMATP-1 transformers are currently being considered for a DOE building that is being renovated in Germantown, MD.

Next Steps: A Second Tier for Low Voltage Products *Given the number of states and utilities adopting Energy Star/NEMA TP-1 into their programs, the breakout participants were supportive of CEE pursuing a second tier for low-voltage distribution transformers.

Medium Voltage Products *The breakout session participants were also supportive of CEE investigating the merits of setting a higher minimum efficiency specification for medium voltage products than are currently provided in NEMA’s TP-1.

*Send all participants a complete information kit on Energy Star transformers and include PG&E’s evaluation as well as the Square D paper.

Questions to address: 1. How does FEMP handle medium-voltage products? 2. How are transformers affected by self-generation? 3. How do transformers affect system peak and system reliability?

Adjourn.

-- Mahri Lowinger (mlowinger@ceeformt.org), December 26, 2000