The GUG kickoff roundtable discussion focused on a few specific topics which offer food for thought for those not in attendance. Among them: Can a flux probe (FP) detect pitting of the retaining rings? One user noted that FP readings showed nothing prior to an outage but extensive pitting on retaining ring inner diameter was […]
Generator users share failures, fixes, and forward planning @ GUG 2024 Read More »
A spirited Roundtable discussion among users kicked off the conference. Some of the more salient topics and concerns include: Changing maintenance strategies to reflect cycling of baseload designed units. Frequency of inspecting l-p blades for erosion from low-load operation (several say once a year, one user inspects twice annually) Incorporating drones into inspection programs (they
Focus on D11 strategies, EHC pitfalls, and skilled labor shortages @ STUG 2024 Read More »
In recent years, winterization has become a hot topic for user groups, and this year’s CCUG was no exception. One reason is that the next extreme weather event seems to challenge everything done to address the last one. During the “Extreme Weather Operation” roundtable, the user facilitator noted that “bomb cyclone weather forced us
Addressing weather resilience, risk management, and outage execution @ CCUG 2024 Read More »
The question these days becomes why wouldn’t you send as many of your plant staff as possible to the Power Users Combined Conference, comprising the Combined Cycle Users Group (CCUG), Generator Users Group (GUG), Steam Turbine Users Group (STUG), Power Plant Controls Users Group (PPCUG), and the Low Carbon Peer Group? As amply exhibited in the
Life-long learning abounds across five user group conferences @ Power Users 2024 Read More »
The Energy Information Administration reports that US electricity demand will increase by 25% within five years, requiring a significant increase in generating capacity, upgrades to existing assets, and improvements to grid infrastructure. But that’s only part of the solution: Maintaining the current fleet of generation assets in top condition is vital to meeting projected demand.
Inlet-system maintenance critical to top performance Read More »
There’s something about the number ninety-nine that makes it particularly noteworthy in the minds of many people. Perhaps because it is associated with some of the most gifted professional athletes—such as Wayne Gretzky (hockey), George Mikan (basketball), JJ Watt and Warren Sapp (football), and Manny Ramirez and Aaron Judge (baseball). Perhaps because Agent 99 (Barbara
Club 99 welcomes Clyde Maughan, generator legend Read More »
Whether you’re running legacy GE “Mark” platforms or overseeing the transition to modern digital I&C systems, the Power Plant Controls Users Group (PPCUG) is the place to gain actionable knowledge and peer-tested insights on controls reliability, cybersecurity, diagnostics, and upgrade paths. This year’s PPCUG track at the Power Users Combined Conference—August 25–28, 2025 in Washington,
Take control of your next DCS upgrade Read More »
Why Attend the 2025 Steam Turbine Users Group? From casing cracks to L-0 erosion, D-11 valve rebuilds to titanium blade retrofits—Steam Turbine Users Group (STUG) sessions at the 2025 Power Users Combined Conference are designed to confront the real-world issues facing today’s steam turbine fleets. Whether you run a legacy baseload machine or support peaking
Get your steam turbine the help it needs @ STUG25 Read More »
As fleets age and the pace of starts, cycling, and field rewinds intensifies, generator health is once again a front-line issue. Whether you’re facing stator bar degradation, thermal sensitivity, phase strap cracking, or the growing pains of an uprate, you’ll find answers, proven workarounds, and vendor insights at the Generator Users Group (GUG) sessions during
GUG 2025: Much ado about generator troubleshooting Read More »
With plant teams stretched thin and assets being pushed harder, the 2025 Power Users Combined Conference (August 25–28, Washington, D.C.) offers an unmatched opportunity to get smarter, solve problems, and benchmark with peers. The Combined Cycle Users Group (CCUG) track brings practical, plant-level insights front and center—especially for O&M leaders, engineers, technicians, and reliability staff
Plan to attend CCUG for new perspectives in O&M Read More »
