From: Bob Smith [mailto:bsmith@federalpacific.com] 

Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 4:52 PM 

To: 'Robert Berman' 

Cc: 'Phil Hopkinson'; 'Caskey, John'; Brian Coffey; 'Alex Hofmann'; 'Andrew Delaski'; Aris Marantan; 'Art 

Rosenfeld'; 'Bob Saint'; Caitlin Johnson; 'Carlos Gaytan'; 'Charlie Drexler'; 'Charlie Stevens'; 'Chris Bolduc'; 

'Silcox, Clark'; 'Creevy, Jim'; 'Dan Cohen'; 'Daniel Young'; 'Eric Peterson'; 'Freeman, Jeremiah'; 'Gary 

Fernstrom'; 'Greg Coulter'; 'Greg Rosenquist'; 'Hirsch, Bruce R'; 'James Lass'; 'Jennifer Tiedeman'; 'Jerry 

Corkran'; 'Jerry Hodge'; 'Jerry Schoen'; 'Joanna Mauer'; 'John Cymbalsky'; 'John Rossetti'; 'Katie 

Coughlin'; 'Ken Winder'; 'Mahesh P. Sampat'; 'Matt Miller'; Matthew Nardotti; 'Meg Waltner'; 'Meyers, 

Aaron'; 'Michael Hyland'; Michael Rivest; 'Millure, Dave'; 'Phil Harter'; 'Polinski, Raymond'; 'Puesh Kumar'; 

'Rick Anderson'; 'Rob Greeson'; 'Robert van Buskirk'; 'Robin Roy'; 'Ryan, Paul'; 'Scott Beck'; 'Simmons, 

Chuck'; 'Steve Nadel'; 'Steve Rosenstock'; 'Tim Ballo'; 'Tom Eckman'; 'Wes Patterson'; Zhimei Luo; 

rjstahara@centralmoloneyinc.com; 'Ali Ghafourian'; 'Ned Brush'; 'Dave Brender'; jay.ballard@schneiderelectric.com; Kenneth.Harden@schneider-electric.com; 'Tom Patzner'; 'Steve Nizinski'; 'Richard Parker' 

Subject: RE: Distribution Transformer Loading and other Analyses 

Dear Robert:

Phil’s paper utilizes a lot of good and diverse loading situations.  I believe his analysis is going to be as

accurate as we’ll find anywhere.   Tom Paztner wrote an interesting follow‐up (attached) to his

comments during the last meeting.  His comments started me thinking about another source for loading

on 600 volt dry transformers.  That source, which has not been fully utilized, includes the many

consulting engineers (Fluor, Black & Veatch, Kiewit, Burns & McDonald, O’Neal, CH2MHill, etc.) that are

specifying the power ratings of the LV Drys based on their connected loads.  I’d encourage those doing

the technical loading analysis for this committee to utilize this source.  Phil’s data; however, may still be

much more valuable, because it is empirical by measurements actually made at installations.

Robert, in the area of economics I would value greatly your listing of attributes that fall into the category

of “economically justifiable”.  For instance, in the attached note that I sent last week I expressed great

concern that the “A” and “B” values were not appropriate for our ICI customers.   What do you think?  

How do you feel about the appropriate payback period for an incremental investment by a hospital,

paper mill, or a tire plant?  I would greatly value your input on these subjects.  For I am also searching

for the right answer to the equipment efficiency question, whether it be a gasoline engine, steam

turbine or a transformer.

Going back for a moment on your concern for the loading on transformers, I think I can say with almost

perfect accuracy, that if we establish efficiency levels another 1⁄2 percentage point higher for the Low

Voltage Transformers,  the consultants and end users, as they are faced with substantially increased

pricing, will definitely start buying smaller size KVA ratings with the effect that the loading as a

percentage  of nameplate rating will exceed the assumed 35% that we are now using.  For the sake of

energy conservation I don’t think this is a good outcome.

Sincerely,     

Bob Smith, PE 

Product Manager 

Federal Pacific

601 Old Airport Road

Bristol, VA 24201 
  

TEL: (276) 645-8836

FAX: (276) 645-8212

CELL: (276) 591-6143

Email: bsmith@federalpacific.com

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From: Robert Berman [mailto:bermaneconomics@gmail.com] 

Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 2:40 PM 

To: Richard Parker 

Cc: Phil Hopkinson; Caskey, John; Brian Coffey; Alex Hofmann; Andrew Delaski; Aris Marantan; Art 

Rosenfeld; Bob Saint; Bruce Smith; Caitlin Johnson; Carlos Gaytan; Charlie Drexler; Charlie Stevens; Chris 

Bolduc; Silcox, Clark; Creevy, Jim; Dan Cohen; Daniel Young; Eric Peterson; Freeman, Jeremiah; Gary 

Fernstrom; Greg Coulter; Greg Rosenquist; Hirsch, Bruce R; James Lass; Jennifer Tiedeman; Jerry 

Corkran; Jerry Hodge; Jerry Schoen; Joanna Mauer; John Cymbalsky; John Rossetti; Katie Coughlin; Ken 

Winder; Mahesh P. Sampat; Matt Miller; Matthew Nardotti; Meg Waltner; Meyers, Aaron; Michael Hyland; 

Michael Rivest; Millure, Dave; Phil Harter; Polinski, Raymond; Puesh Kumar; Rick Anderson; Rob Greeson; 

Robert Berman; Robert van Buskirk; Robin Roy; Ryan, Paul; Scott Beck; Simmons, Chuck; Steve Nadel; 

Steve Rosenstock; Tim Ballo; Tom Eckman; Wes Patterson; Zhimei Luo; 

(rjstahara@centralmoloneyinc.com); Ali Ghafourian (aghafourian@ermco-eci.com); Ned Brush 

(Ned.efbrush@gmail.com); Dave Brender (dbrender@cda.copper.org); jay.ballard@schneiderelectric.com; Kenneth.Harden@schneider-electric.com; Tom Patzner (thomas.patzner@us.schneiderelectric.com); Steve Nizinski 

Subject: Re: Distribution Transformer Loading and other Analyses 

Richard, 

I have carefully reviewed the HVOLT analysis. Although I am not an engineer, and will not 

comment on particular engineering designs, I am concerned about a number of the assumptions 

made regarding electricity utility system economics as well as the transformer prices. The latter 

appear at odds with published market data and appear to misquote the DOE PTSD. As the 

analytical conclusions appear to be riven by the assumptions, it is important to put the 

assumptions in their proper context. Attached are my detailed comments.