Olympia efforts to remove contaminated sediment from Capitol Lake continue

Eugene Transformer Fire Lawsuit alleges negligence by local utility EWEB after a faulty electrical transformer and misapplied transmission line load sparked a house fire; claims cite federal safety regulations, forensic investigation, and emotional distress damages.

Key Points

An Oregon case alleging EWEB negligence for a misapplied transformer and line load that caused a destructive home fire.

✅ Claims transformer violated federal safety regulations

✅ Seeks $50,000 to $1,000,000; alleges negligence and distress

✅ Forensic review cites misapplied transmission line load

A Eugene couple filed a lawsuit last month against a local utility company, alleging that a faulty transformer caused a fire that destroyed the couple’s home, a scenario echoed in utility wildfire lawsuits in California.

John and Maria Schaad filed the lawsuit June 26 against the Eugene Water & Electric Board, exactly two years after a fire destroyed the Schaads’ Whitbeck Boulevard home in Eugene’s Friendly neighborhood. The lawsuit alleges negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, as Oregon lawmakers back a wildfire-resilient grid bill in Congress. It does not specify a dollar amount, asking instead for a range of more than $50,000 but less than $1 million.

According to the lawsuit, John Schaad was sleeping and was awakened around 3 a.m. June 26, 2017, by a crackling noise and a yellow flickering light outside the window on the deck of the house. Although none of the home’s six smoke alarms were activated, Schaad realized there was a significant fire and ran to wake and rescue his wife, the lawsuit states.

As the couple fled the house, windows exploded and the fire spread inside the residence, engulfing the house “within seconds,” similar to accounts when power lines started fires in California, and destroying the property and all of the couple’s belongings, the lawsuit states. “The two barely escaped with their lives,” it states.

The fire was investigated for 18 months, and although arson was quickly ruled out, the cause of the fire was unknown, and in other cases, victims have sued utilities after catastrophic wildfires. The fire possibly started from an extension cord on the deck, but that was uncertain and undetermined, the lawsuit states.

In January, John Schaad, who is an electrical engineer, began to suspect that the cause of the fire was an unsustainable electrical load on the transformer and transmission system to the residence after he noticed “some unusual electrical behavior” on some appliances in his home and in the neighborhood, amid heightened scrutiny after PG&E’s Camp Fire guilty plea in California. According to the lawsuit, he independently investigated the system, notified his insurance company and requested a forensic expert to investigate.

Schaad’s independent investigation of the system concluded last month that the fire was caused by an “old 12 kilovolt, two-bushing electrical transformer installed and maintained by EWEB” that did not meet federal safety regulations and, amid debates over obligations during crises such as a Texas ruling that power plants are exempt during emergencies, was not designed to work with the transmission line on which it was installed.

Schaad alleges that a drop in electrical usage on the morning of the fire reduced the draw on the electrical transmission system and the misapplied transformer had to sustain the entire load of the transmission line which it was not designed to do, issues that have spurred electricity market bailout proposals in Texas after a winter storm, which caused the fire.

A spokesperson for EWEB declined to comment due to pending litigation.

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University of Kentucky Power Outage disrupts Rose Street after a transformer fire, closing Bowman, Breckinridge, Kincaid, and Bradley halls; emergency generator deployed to protect research, no injuries reported, high voltage wiring repairs underway.

Key Points

Campus closures and power loss after a Bowman Hall transformer fire; Rose Street limited during repairs.

✅ Bowman, Breckinridge, Kincaid, Bradley halls closed until Monday

✅ Emergency generator protects research equipment

✅ High voltage wiring and transformer replacements underway

Four University of Kentucky buildings will be closed due to a Thursday morning transformer fire, as utilities elsewhere have faced major power cuts affecting operations as well.

A transformer in Bowman Hall caught fire resulting in power outages in Bowman and other buildings on Rose Street amid shifting electricity demand nationwide, a University of Kentucky press release said.

According to the press release, the fire was contained to the basement of Bowman Hall. Though the fire was contained, power outages are still an issue on campus as peak power prices remain elevated this week.

Along with Bowman, Breckinridge, Kincaid and Bradley halls are also without power and will remain closed until Monday, reflecting broader changes like coal plant retirements across energy systems.

"There were no injuries in the fire, nor has there been any significant structural damage reported to Bowman Hall or the other buildings," UKPR said. "UK Physical Plant workers are working to replace the transformer, along with high voltage wiring, that was damaged, despite supply delays that can affect equipment timelines."

While UK Physical Plant workers are being brought on site to fix the transformer, an emergency generator is being brought in to protect research equipment in the affected buildings, similar to measures taken during power plant upgrades in other regions.

"Administrators with impacted programs will be contacting employees regarding work schedules for the remainder of the week, in line with broader emergency energy planning considerations for continuity," UKPR said.

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Transformer Steel Market delivers a global forecast with regional analysis, SWOT insights, key players, segmentation by material and application, and growth metrics across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LATAM, and Middle East & Africa.

Key Points

The Transformer Steel Market covers global supply-demand, key players, applications, and regional forecasts through 2024.

✅ Global forecast 2019-2024 with size and growth rates

✅ Regional analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific

✅ Segmentation by grade, application; key players profiled

Transformer Steel Market Report by Material, Application, and Geography – Global Forecast to 2024 is a professional and in-depth research report on the world’s major regional Transformer Steel Market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and the main countries (United States, Germany, united Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and China), where Europe's shift toward green hydrogen steel is influencing supply chains.

Access Global Transformer Steel Market Research Report Details at: at https://www.pioneerreports.com/report/345431  

About Transformer Steel Industry

The overviews, SWOT analysis and strategies of each vendor in the Transformer Steel market provide understanding about the market forces and how those can be exploited to create future opportunities, as low-emissions generation growth shifts grid investment priorities.

Key Players in this Transformer Steel market are:

• NSSMC
• Posco
• JFE Steel
• NLMK Group
• ThyssenKrupp
• AK Steel
• Cogent
• ArcelorMittal
• Stalprodukt S.A.
• ATI
• WISCO
• BAO Steel
• Shou Gang
• Anst

Request for Sample Copy of this Transformer Steel Market Report at https://www.pioneerreports.com/request-sample/345431

Important application areas of Transformer Steel are also assessed on the basis of their performance. Market predictions along with the statistical nuances presented in the report render an insightful view of the Transformer Steel market, as surging electricity demand strains grids worldwide. The market study on Global Transformer Steel Market 2018 report studies present as well as future aspects of the Transformer Steel Market primarily based upon factors on which the companies participate in the market growth, key trends and segmentation analysis.

Application of Transformer Steel Market are:

• Transformer
• Power Generator
• Electric Motor
• Others

Product Segment Analysis of the Transformer Steel Market is:

• 23Z
• 27Z
• 30Z
• 35Z
• 23ZH
• 27ZH
• 30ZH
• 35ZH

Look into Table of Content of Transformer Steel Market Report at https://www.pioneerreports.com/TOC/345431

Geographically this report covers all the major manufacturers from India, China, USA, UK, and Japan, aligning with IEA projections that Asia electricity use will account for half the world by 2025, which informs regional demand outlooks. The present, past and forecast overview of Transformer Steel market is represented in this report.

The report offers the market growth rate, size, and forecasts at the global level in addition as for the geographic areas: Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Middle East & Africa, where regional issues such as the UK's energy transition supply delays affect equipment lead times. Also it analyses, roadways and provides the global market size of the main players in each region. Moreover, the report provides knowledge of the leading market players within the Transformer Steel market. The industry changing factors for the market segments are explored in this report. This analysis report covers the growth factors of the worldwide market based on end-users.

Inquire for further detailed information of Transformer Steel Market Report at: https://www.pioneerreports.com/pre-order/345431

Why should you buy Transformer Steel Market Report?

• Build business strategy by identifying the high growth and attractive Transformer Steel market categories
• Develop competitive strategy based on competitive landscape
• Design capital investment strategies based on forecasted high potential segments as renewables surpass coal in global power generation by 2025
• Identify potential business partners, acquisition targets and business buyers
• Plan for a new product launch and inventory in advance
• Prepare management and strategic presentations using the Transformer Steel market data

Recent Events and Developments

For example, portfolio moves continued as Pioneer reached an agreement to sell its transformer business, with transformer business sale details underscoring consolidation trends.

In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Transformer Steel Market are as follows:-

History Year: 2013-2017

• Base Year: 2018
• Estimated Year: 2019
• Forecast Year 2019 to 2024

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Palo Alto Electrical Fires involved a PG&E downed line, East Palo Alto brush fires along San Francisquito Creek, and a transformer blaze near Baylands Athletic Center, causing a power outage; early airplane-crash reports were unfounded

Key Points

Three incidents: a PG&E line downed causing two brush fires and a transformer blaze; no injuries reported.

✅ PG&E power line fell; two small brush fires ignited

✅ Transformer fire at Baylands Athletic Center, quickly contained

✅ 322 customers lost power; no injuries; airplane-crash report false

An initial report of a possible airplane crash at the Palo Alto Airport Monday morning turned out instead to be three electrical fires, two in East Palo Alto and one across San Francisquito Creek in Palo Alto.

A PG&E power line came down in East Palo Alto, sparking two small brush fires around 11:15 a.m. along San Francisquito Creek. In the same minute, a transformer fire broke out at the nearby Baylands Athletic Center baseball field in Palo Alto, fire officials said.

Authorities said there is no indication that the brush fires in East Palo Alto are related to the transformer fire in Palo Alto, but the cause of each fire is under investigation, as utilities debate burying lines for safety and cost reasons.

One East Palo Alto fire occurred near the dead-end of O'Connor Street. The slow-burning blaze consumed vegetation in a 40-foot by 100-foot area, Fire Marshal Jon Johnston said. The fire went up about 30 feet to a home's fence line, where cool temperatures and damp conditions likely prevented flames from extending any farther, even as power utilities adapt to climate change to manage evolving risks.

Residents are urged to follow electrical safety tips when encountering downed lines during storm season, officials said.

The second fire was found at the end of Jasmine Way, Johnston said. Both blazes were extinguished in about 10 minutes.

A PG&E crew was called to respond to the scene, where a power outage affecting 322 customers was reported in the area of Jasmine Way around 11:30 a.m., PG&E spokeswoman Angela Lombardi said. As of 3:20 p.m., power was restored to a majority of the customers except for a few dozen, though events like Typhoon Mangkhut have left hundreds without electricity elsewhere. The cause of the outage is under investigation.

Across the creek, a Palo Alto fire crew was in the middle of wildland fire training near the Baylands Athletic Center baseball field where a transformer caught on fire around 11:15 a.m., interim Fire Chief Geoffrey Blackshire said. The crew quickly extinguished the blaze, which was confined to the transformer.

Despite an early report that a plane had crashed, fire crews determined no aircraft was involved, according to Johnston and Blackshire. No injuries were reported and no evacuation orders were issued for any of the fires.

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Pioneer Power Solutions Transformer Sale sees a $65.5M divestiture to Mill Point Capital, a private equity firm, via cash and a seller note, while Pioneer retains generator services, switchgear, and data center power solutions.

Key Points

A transaction where Pioneer sells transformer units to Mill Point Capital for $65.5M in cash and notes.

✅ $60.5M cash plus $5M seller note, liabilities assumed

✅ Retains Critical Power and Custom Electrical Products

✅ Focus on switchgear and generator businesses post-close

Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. (PPSI) ("Pioneer" or the "Company"), a company engaged in the manufacture, sale and service of electrical transmission initiatives such as the Transource project in Missouri and distribution and on-site power generation equipment, has announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its liquid filled and dry type transformer businesses to Mill Point Capital, a middle-market private equity firm, for $65.5 million in cash and notes.

In consideration for all the assets of Pioneer Transformers Ltd. and Pioneer Dry Type Transformer Group, which includes Jefferson Electric, Inc., Bemag Transformer Inc. and Harmonics Limited LLC, Pioneer will receive $65.5 million, including $60.5 million in cash and $5 million in a seller's note. In addition, Mill Point Capital will assume substantially all the current assets and liabilities, including payables for the acquired entities. As a result, Pioneer will retain:

Pioneer Critical Power, a provider of generators, specialized enclosures, automatic transfer switches, uninterruptible power supplies, batteries, remote monitoring solutions, including initiatives like the NYPA-GE software agreement that enhance grid reliability, and RICE/NESHAP modifications, as well as a full suite of engine generator maintenance services. Service customers include several national retailers and cellular service providers.

Pioneer Custom Electrical Products, a supplier of highly specified and engineered solutions for the electrical power generation industry with special focus on the distributed generation and data center markets, where solutions like NYPA thermal storage success are advancing efficiency.

In addition, Pioneer continues to hold 1.75 million shares and warrants to purchase an additional 1 million shares of CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK).

Nathan Mazurek, Pioneer's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our belief that our assets were worth more individually than the market valuation of our combined organization is validated by this transaction, wherein we will divest a portion of our business for approximately 1.5x our current market capitalization, while retaining two exciting businesses and our status as a publicly traded Nasdaq listed company. Following the closing of this transaction, we plan to focus on streamlining and enhancing our Titan business in Minneapolis and our switchgear business in Los Angeles. With a strong balance sheet, we should be well positioned to assess our retained businesses, potential opportunities in the energy transition, including trends in wind repowering such as the Wyoming wind farm replacement highlighted recently, and the allocation of resources to best benefit shareholders. I am excited about phase two of Pioneer."

Lincoln International acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. Pioneer management expects the transaction to close in the second half of 2019.  The transaction is subject to certain customary closing conditions and Mill Point securing financing for the transaction, reflecting wider energy financing activity such as clean coal technologies funding in the sector. Additional details are provided in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc.

Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. manufactures, sells and services a broad range of specialty electrical transmission, distribution and on-site power generation equipment for applications in the utility sector, including entities like OPG financial results in Canada, industrial, commercial and backup power markets. The Company's principal products and services include custom engineered electrical transformers, low and medium voltage switchgear and engine-generator sets and controls, complemented by a national field-service organization to maintain and repair power generation assets, as utilities pursue initiatives like the OPG-TVA nuclear partnership to modernize fleets. Pioneer is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey and operates from 12 additional locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico for manufacturing, centralized distribution, engineering, sales, service and administration. To learn more about Pioneer, please visit its website at www.pioneerpowersolutions.com.

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Global Electrical Transformer Market outlook highlights trends, segmentation, forecast growth, revenue drivers, key players, regional analysis, R&D investments, and applications across transmission, distribution, welding, voltage regulation, including oil-cooled, dry-type, single and three-phase.

Key Points

Industry overview of transformer products and regions, covering trends, drivers, segmentation, and forecasts.

✅ Segmentation by product, phase, winding, cooling, and installation

✅ Key players: Siemens, ABB, GE, Toshiba, Mitsubishi Electric

✅ Regional outlook: APAC leads; North America, Europe, MEA, LatAm grow

The latest report up for sale by QY Research demonstrates that the global Electrical Transformer market is likely to garner a great pace in the coming years. Analysts have scrutinized the market drivers, confinements, risks, and openings present in the overall market, noting moves such as Tesla entering electricity retail that could reshape utility dynamics. The report shows course the market is expected to take in the coming years along with its estimations. The careful examination is aimed at understanding of the course of the market.

Get PDF brochure of this report: https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/943131/global-electrical-transformer-depth-research-2019

Global Electrical Transformer Market: Segmentation

The global market for Electrical Transformer is segmented on the basis of product, type, services, and technology. All of these segments have been studied individually. The detailed investigation allows assessment of the factors influencing the market. Experts have analyzed the nature of development, investments in research and development, changing consumption patterns, and a growing number of applications. In addition, analysts have also evaluated the changing economics around the market that are likely affecting its course, such as Ontario rate reductions that influence industrial demand.

Global Electrical Transformer Market Competition by Players :

• Siemens
• Alstom
• GE
• ABB
• Altrafo
• Hyundai Heavy Industries
• Layer Electronics
• MACE
• Ormazabal
• SPX Transformer
• Toshiba
• XD Group
• TBEA
• Ruhstrat
• Mitsubishi Electric
• LS Industrial
• J Schneider Elektrotechnik

Global Electrical Transformer Sales and Revenue by Product Type Segments

• Step Up Transformer & Step Down Transformer
• Three Phase Transformer & Single Phase Transformer
• Two Winding Transformer & Auto Transformer
• Outdoor Transformer & Indoor Transformer
• Oil Cooled & Dry Type Transformer

Global Electrical Transformer Sales and Revenue by Application Segments

• Voltage Regulator
• For Transmission
• For Welding Purposes

Global Electrical Transformer Market: Regional Segmentation

The market is also segmented on the basis of geography. This segmentation allows the readers to get a holistic understanding of the market. It highlights the changing nature of the economies within the geographies that are influencing the global Electrical Transformer market, including regulatory debates over UK network profits that affect infrastructure planning.

Some of the geographical regions studied in the overall market are as follows:

• The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt)
• North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada)
• South America (Brazil etc.)
• Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)
• Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)
•  

Regional modernization is also evident in Africa, where Tunisia's smart grid progress underscores ongoing grid upgrades.

Global Electrical Transformer Market: Research Methodology

The analysts at QY Research have used fundamental investigative approaches for a thorough examination of the global Electrical Transformer market. The collected information has It highlights the changing nature of the economies understand subtleties accurately. Moreover, data has been gathered from journals and market research experts, with industry updates such as Ontario manufacturers' support for price cuts informing context, to put together a document that sheds light on the ever-changing nature of market in an unbiased way.

Global Electrical Transformer Market: Competitive Rivalry

Analysts have also discussed the nature of the competition present in the global Electrical Transformer market. Companies have been discussed at great length to ascertain the leading ones and note the emerging ones. The report also mentions the strategic initiatives taken by these companies to get ahead of the game, including developments like Octopus Energy's talks with Ukraine that highlight cross-border collaboration. Analysts look at potential mergers and acquisitions and policy shifts such as U.S. grid privatization proposals that are likely to define the progress of the market in the coming years.

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