Utility Partners

WEC, Hubbell Celebrate Working Relationship

The partnership between Wiregrass Electric Cooperative (WEC) and Hubbell Inc. works both ways — WEC tests the newest technology for electric utilities and Hubbell gets boots-on-the-ground feedback.

A celebration is just frosting on the cake.

Representatives from Hubbell Inc. visited WEC headquarters in Hartford recently to celebrate their partnership. Along with a cake featuring images of Hubbell products used by the cooperative, WEC employees were treated to a meal before everyone gathered for group photos.

“There are a lot of vendors in the industry that we work with, not just Hubbell, but it’s great to have somebody come in, to be able to work with them and develop these products because they hear from us, the people who are experienced in the industry instead of just making a product on paper and pushing it out,” says Jason Thrash, WEC’s vice president of engineering, operations and information technology. “The partnership is huge.”

Hubbell Inc. specializes in products for a variety of markets, including health care, wireless communications, renewable energy and power and utilities. It was founded in 1888 by inventor Harvey Hubbell II, whose patents included a pull chain lamp socket. Today, Hubbell manufactures everything from wall plates to smart meters.

WEC Chief Executive Officer Brad Kimbro says going with the smart meter system has provided technology that helps the cooperative better serve members, especially in the areas of reliability and efficiency.

“The beneficiary of all of this is our member,” Kimbro says. “More reliability, a reliable system, better communication — our members have programs and products that allow them to have an easier way to do business with us.”

Employees, he says, have embraced technology changes in the industry. Kimbro says WEC is also fortunate that its board of trustees has supported innovations and partnerships like the 1 with Hubbell. Without trustees understanding and seeing the bigger strategic picture, Kimbro says WEC couldn’t utilize new technology to the degree it has.

“It’s all for the member — it’s all for them,” he says of the board’s support. “The board understands because they keep themselves up to speed. They know what’s occurring in the industry.”

Ashley Pearson, Hubbell’s vice president of electric utility solutions, says working with utility partners like WEC benefits the company. During Hubbell’s recent visit, engineers joined WEC employees to see how their products work in the field. That, she says, gives the manufacturer invaluable information.

“Having that feedback allows us to make sure when we go to market other utilities have the best product that they can have,” Pearson says.

The installation of smart meters a few years ago with Hubbell was one of the biggest projects WEC has undertaken, Thrash says. WEC deployed 27,000 smart meters.

“What we love about that meter system is it reports outages to us,” Thrash says. “So, the member may still call, but they don’t have to call and report the outage because we know about it. The system’s working great.”

WEC is working with Hubbell on a line defender that helps protect the cooperative’s electric system without the oil — and the risk of spills — found in other comparable products. The cooperative is also currently testing pole and conductor sensors for Hubbell, feeding the data back to the company. The pole sensor provides WEC information, such as if a pole has fallen or is leaning. The conductor sensor WEC is testing is used on power lines to report problems like a line sagging too low.

“So, as soon as we know about it, we can respond,” Thrash says. “We’re looking forward to that product, that technology, to help us make improvements.”