Electrical Industry News Week Cooper Industries
Published by Kerrwil Publications Limited with support from the EFC
Volume 3 • Issue 26

Message From The Editor

Ready or not, change is coming

Change is much easier to accept when we’re the ones making the decisions. But change that is imposed on us — by disruptive new technology, economic uncertainty, evolving customer expectations, to name just three outside influences — can leave us bewildered. Even frightened. EFC’s insightful new report, 20/20 Vision: The Future of the Canadian Electrical Contractor, can help us all make sense of what many of you are starting to experience. Kerrwil thinks this work is so important that we helped out with the research. Elsewhere in this issue: power correction factor — an overlooked opportunity to use less energy, and cut costs and CO2 emissions. Plus, a profile of Jeff Koller, a new and outspoken advocate for electrical contractors.

Line Goyette
Managing Editor
linegoyette@kerrwil.com  
EIKO

Changing Scene

CSA Group's Top Award Hubbell Canada's Keith Rodel Earns CSA Group's Top Award
CSA Group has honoured Keith Rodel, Codes and Standards Manager for Hubbell Canada LP, with the 2016 John Jenkins Award, CSA Group's most prestigious honour. CSA Group presented the John Jenkins award and awards of merit to electrical industry members and others at its recent annual conference in Vancouver…
Alberta Power Justin Helps Keep BC-Alberta Power Line Idea Alive
A proposed $1-billion B.C. power line into Alberta received a little boost earlier this month when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed earlier comments from the federal government that it would consider a funding proposal from Western Canada. The project would help BC improve the economics of its $8.8-billion Site C hydroelectric project, and help Alberta reduce its dependence on coal and natural gas…
Waterloo Streetlights No Smart Streetlighting in Waterloo — for Now
City of Waterloo council members have universally voted against adding smart technology to an LED streetlight conversion project, based on a recommendation from city staff. The technology offers potential energy and cost savings by giving municipalities the option to dim streetlights...
  • EVS29 Electric Vehicle Symposium Draws 2,000 Attendees
    The EVS29 conference, an international event held in Montréal from June 19 to 22 that drew over 2,000 attendees, showcased rechargeable electric vehicles of all kinds as well as Quebec's Electric…

  • Lumen Opens Moncton, NB Branch
    Sonepar Canada's Lumen division has continued its expansion into Atlantic Canada with a branch in Moncton, NB…

  • Elemental LED Expands Into Canada With Focus Electrical Sales
    Elemental LED, a U.S.-based engineering and technology company that manufactures LED lighting solutions, has partnered with Atlantic Canada's Focus Electrical Sales Inc., which will introduce its award winning Diode LED product brand into the country…

  • Recall: Litetronics HR16 50 W/120 V Halogen Lightbulbs
    Shanghai Haifeng Electric Lighting Co. has recalled the Litetronics HR16 MR16 EXN/A Halogen, sold from April 2015 to April 2016 under the catalogue/model number L-3750. Almost 10,000 units were sold in Canada…

  • NECA Names Thomas & Betts 2016 Partner of the Year
    In January 1996, the National Electrical Contractors Association created an award to recognize individuals or organizations allied with the electrical construction industry whose decisions, actions, or cooperation with NECA contribute to the industry's success. This year's winner is Thomas & Betts...

  • NEMA and ASHRAE Develop Smart Grid Standard and User's Manual
    ANSI/ASHRAE/NEMA Standard 201-2016, Facility Smart Grid Information Model, provides a common basis for electrical energy consumers to describe, manage and communicate about electrical energy consumptions and forecasts. The standard is packaged with a user's manual…

  • Leviton's Rhino-Hide NEMA Wiring Devices Named Product of the Year
    Leviton's line of Rhino-Hide NEMA wiring devices has been named a 2016 Product of the Year Category Winner by Electrical Construction & Maintenance magazine for connectors and terminating devices. The wiring devices are a series of industrial grade NEMA configured plugs, connectors and receptacles specially designed for extreme environments…


A sleek linear LED style within your budget

Philips Ledalite FloatPlane LED suspended and wall mount luminaires offer great performance in a sporty, low-profile design. FloatPlane's sleek minimalism (only 1.2"h x 8"w) blends seamlessly into your unique layout, and the distribution options of 70% up, 75% down and 100% down give you further flexibility. FloatPlane's astounding performance offers outputs up to 129 LPW. Now you can have the distinct energy savings of LED, with the affordability of fluorescent luminaries. Read More


Research Report

EFC'S 20/20 Vision: The Future of the Canadian Electrical Contractor

Electrical Contractor Emerging technology, demographic shifts, volatile economic conditions, and changing customer expectations have all created new challenges and opportunities within Canada's electrical industry, notes Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) in its just-released research report, 20/20 Vision: The Future of the Canadian Electrical Contractor. "All players within the electrical industry will be challenged to adjust their business strategies to keep pace with new market demands." The report examines changing trends from the perspective of the organization's largest customer segment — electrical contractors. Among the findings… Read More

Power Management

Power Factor Correction: An Overlooked but Powerful Tool for Delivering Energy Efficiency and Savings

By Joy Silber
Power Factor Correction Amid all the talk about how to reduce CO2 emissions and limit climate change, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar often take centre stage. But there's another technology poised to deliver energy reductions of 10% or more that gets far less attention: power factor correction (PFC). To date, it's been a largely overlooked method of reducing energy consumption, costs and CO2 emissions, and achieving sustainability. But PFC is actually far more effective than many "green" alternatives because it effectively enables companies to get more power out of the same amount of utility electricity. Read More

Peers & Profiles

Jeff Koller — A Man of Strong Convictions

By Corenne Taylor
Jeff Koller Jeff Koller was recently named the new Executive Director for the Electrical Contractor Association of Ontario (ECAO), and is tasked with advocating on behalf of his members for fair and above-board practices within the electrical industry. Electrical Industry News Week had the opportunity to speak with Koller about his role with the ECAO and issues he feels are pressing concerns for the industry. As an advocate for electrical contractors, Koller has particular concerns about two pieces of legislation: Bill 112 and the Construction Lien Act. Read More

Economy

April New Housing Construction Spending Up 8.4% YOY

April 2016 New Housing Stats Spending on new residential construction totalled $4.2 billion in April, up 8.4% from the same month a year earlier. Nationally, the increase was driven by higher investment in apartment and apartment-condominium buildings, which rose 20.8% to $1.5 billion. Higher spending on row houses (up 14.2% to $433 million) and single-family dwellings (up 2.1% to $2.1 billion) also contributed to the advance. At the provincial level, five provinces recorded advances in new housing construction spending. Ontario led, followed by British Columbia and Quebec. Read More

Survey Says

Survey Says National Hourly Rate Date

Hourly Rates by Job Title

Among seven titles, electrical foremen lead. At the bottom: apprentices.

Read More

Survey Says From Recent Issues

New Products and Solutions

Hammond Steel Enclosures

Easy access HWHK Type 4/IP66 Harsh Environment Wall Mount Steel Enclosures From Hammond

The HWHK Series from Hammond Manufacturing is a family of easy-to-open yet secure wall mount enclosures designed to house electrical and/or electronic equipment in harsh industrial environments. Available as standard in 30 sizes in six heights from 24 to 60 inches, five widths from 16 to 36 inches, and five depths from 6 to 16 inches, the range is specifically engineered for use in heavy industrial plants, utility, outdoor municipal or other locations where the enclosure sits in harsh conditions and is frequently opened for internal equipment access. Read More
Eaton Ephesus All Field

Eaton's Ephesus All Field LED Lighting Series: A Retrofit Solution for Municipal Sports Fields

The Ephesus All Field LED series provides high schools, colleges, municipalities and other venues with a high-quality, cost-effective, versatile and controllable outdoor LED sports lighting solution that is engineered to satisfy the specific lighting needs of facilities of all sizes. The self-contained electrical junction box and easily deployed lighting control system help dramatically reduce installation costs. Read More
Espen LED Retrofit

Espen Technology Launches New Line of LED Linear Retrofit Kits

The retrofit kits for troffers and 1'X8' strip lights are available in both 2'X2' and 2'X4' sizes. Both size troffer kits feature full end-to-end centre baskets. Most competitor retrofit centre baskets don't extend full end-to-end. Each troffer kit contains Espen drivers and modules, ensuring high quality, service life, and end user ROI. The troffer retrofits come completely assembled as a lensed kit, requiring only one minute to install, reducing labour costs. Read More
Liteline Dim To Warm

Create the Perfect Colour Palette with Liteline's Dim to Warm Technology

Liteline has introduced two new A-Line track-lighting systems featuring DTW technology. At full capacity, the lights maintain a neutral bright light (2750°K) that can be decreased to a warmer tone (2000°K). Dim-to-warm (DTW) technology is a great way to create mood and ambiance in a space. As the light dims, the colour temperature warms. This delivers an experience closer to incandescent lamps but with all the benefits of LED, making it perfect for hospitality spaces and residential designs. Read More

From Our Last Issue

From Our Last Issue
  • Electrical Worker Killed, Company Fined $110,000
    A Kingsville, Ontario-based electrical business specializing in power generation, controls and energy systems has been found guilty and fined $110,000 after a worker was electrocuted while working on a solar farm construction project. The company had been contracted to provide electrical switchgear equipment, controls and communication equipment in a prefabricated electrical building on the construction site. While one of the workers was installing a door interlock in a high voltage section of the building…

EIN's Training & Events Calendar

Calendar

Training, networking and professional development opportunities for members of Canada's electrical industry.

2016 ECAO Industry Conference
September 21-25
Minett, ON

BCEA Energy Industry Breakfast Meeting
September 27
Burnaby, BC

Alberta Safety Codes Council: Alberta Electrical Utility Code
September 28
Red Deer, AB

View all Events

Current Copper Prices

Monitor daily and 6-month $US prices for copper — the preferred electrical conductor for most categories of electrical wiring.

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The Electrical Stock Market

Track the stock market performance of 25 publicly traded electrical equipment suppliers and electrical wholesalers. Updated weekly.

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Electrical Industry Newsweek is published by Kerrwil Publications Limited with support from the EFC
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