Updates & Events
2026 Engagement Opportunities
| Meeting | Date | Location | Contact | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and Substations Task Force Meeting | February 9-12 | Charlotte, NC, EPRI Offices | Tom Zhao | Meeting Information |
| EPRI Kick Off Webcast: High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations and FACTS (P35.019, P36.008, P37.116) | March 6, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET | Webcast | Ram adapa | More information, coming soon |
| Transmission & Substations Advisory Meeting | March 30 - April 1 | Charlotte, NC, EPRI Offices | Tom Zhao | Meeting Information |
| EPRI R&D Project Update Webcast: Underground Transmission (P36) | 6/9/2026 - 1 to 2:30 PM ET | Webcast | Tom Zhao | More information, coming soon |
| Program 36 2026 Research Portfolio Rollout #1 | June 16, 1:00-2:30 pm ET | Webcast | Tom Zhao | More information, coming soon |
| EPRI R&D Project Update Webcast: High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations and FACTS (P35.019, P36.008, P37.116) | June 5, 11:00 am -12:00 pm ET | Webcast | Ram adapa | More information, coming soon |
| Program 36 2026 Research Portfolio Rollout #2 | August 4, 1:00-2:30 pm ET | Webcast | Tom Zhao | More information, coming soon |
| EPRI End of Year Webcast: High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations and FACTS (P35.019, P36.008, P37.116) | November 20, 11:00 am -12:00 pm ET | Webcast | Ram adapa | More information, coming soon |
2025 Engagement Opportunities
| Meeting | Scheduled Date | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underground Transmission Task Force - March 2025 | March 10-13 (In Person) : March 17-20 (Virtual) | Charlotte, NC | Meeting Materials |
| Underground Transmission (Program 36) New Supplemental Launch Webcast | March 31 1:00pm - 2:00pm ET | Webcast | Meeting Materials |
| EPRI R&D Project Update Webcast: Underground Transmission (P36) | June 10 1:00pm - 2:30pm ET | Webcast | Meeting Materials |
| Underground Transmission 2025 ARP Rollout #1 | June 17 1:00pm - 2:00pm ET | Webcast | Meeting Materials |
| EPRI R&D Project Update Webcast: High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations and FACTS (P35.019, P36.008, P37.116) | June 27 11:00am - 12:00pm ET | Webcast | Meeting Materials |
| Underground Transmission 2025 ARP Rollout #2 | August 5 1:00pm - 2:30pm ET | Webcast | Meeting Materials |
| Underground Transmission Task Force | August 18-22 (In Person)/August 25-29 (Virtual) | Charlotte, NC | Meeting Materials |
| EPRI End of Year Webcast: High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations and FACTS (P35.019, P36.008, P37.116) | November 21 8:00am - 9:00am PT | Webcast | Meeting Materials |
2026 Anticipated Deliverables
| Deliverable | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Underground Transmission Workstation: Functional and Technical Enhancements andDevelopments and Supporting Engineering Documents (software and reports) | The Underground Transmission Workstation (UTW) is an easy-to-use tool for cable engineers to plan, design, operate, and maintain their extruded and laminar dielectriccable systems. The project team is updating and enhancing the functionality of UTW and associated EPRI research results. In addition to the software package, various supporting engineering documents are included, e.g., EMFuser’s guide, life-cycle cost procedures, electrical safety practices, HVDC cable ratings, and thermo-mechanical force calculations. | December 2026 |
| Underground Transmission Cable System Construction and Installation (reports) | Recent advances in underground transmission have led to increased demand for best practices and innovative ways to reduce construction and installation costs. This task identifies and assesses advanced designs and innovative construction/ installation techniques that would contribute to improved operation performance and reduced overall project costs. Examples of the documents include a comprehensive practices manual, quality guidelines for grouting procedures,and primer for installation of high-voltage cable in tunnels. | December 2026 |
| Pipe-Type to Extruded Dielectric Cable Conversion—Technology, Design, and Construction Options (reports) | Reports in multiple volumes include the assessment of converting existing pipe-type cables using extruded dielectric cables and existing pipe alignments. The project task evaluates available solutions, identifies leading industry practices, presents any novel ideas for design and installation of extruded cables and accessories in steel pipes, and provides guidelines and recommendations for such conversions. Examples of the documents include feasibility assessment, pipe bursting technology, and extruded-dielectric pipe-type cable method for installation in steel pipe. | December 2026 |
| Underground Transmission Vault Inspection Using Robotic Techniques (report) | To improve worker safety and reduce circuit outage requirements, this task continues the investigation of underground transmission vault inspection techniques. Concepts and prototype robotic techniques have been demonstrated in EPRI laboratories and at member utility sites. | December 2026 |
| Underground Transmission Vault Corrosion: Inspection Assessment and Remediation (report) | This task addresses common corrosion issues within underground cable joint vaults. The report discusses corrosion mechanisms within the vaults and provides inspection and assessment results on components within the vaults. It also provides remediation recommendations based on results of field inspections and laboratory testing. | December 2026 |
| Underground Cable Fault Location Reference and Application Guide (report) | This report summarizes underground cable fault location methods and provides details in application of methods for transmission cable systems. | December 2026 |
| Performance and Failure Reports for Underground Transmission Cables and Accessories (reports) | Central to effective asset management is knowledge of the failure rate of specific components based on age, family, make, model,application, and environment. This task is a multi-year effort to gather available information on underground transmission cable and accessory performance issues, and failures of both extruded and laminar dielectriccable systems. | December 2026 |
2025 Deliverables
| Product ID | Product Name | Item Type |
|---|---|---|
| 3002032813 | Underground Transmission Workstation (UTW) v8 |
Software |
| 3002032814 | PRE-SW: Underground Transmission Workstation (UTW) v8 Beta |
Pre-Software |
| 3002032815 | Underground Transmission Workstation (UTW) Training Workshop Proceedings - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032816 | EMF Management User’s Guide for Underground Transmission Systems - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032817 | Life-Cycle Cost Guide for Underground Transmission Cable Systems, Survey Results, and Case Studies-2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032818 | Electrical Safety Practices in Underground Transmission Systems—2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032883 | Guide for High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission Cable Ratings - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032845 | Normalized Span Methods and Software - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032821 | Procedures and Functional Description for Underground Transmission Workstation Module to Support Fault Current Calculations |
Tech Update |
| 3002032823 | Underground Transmission Cable System Construction and Installation Volume 1: Practices Manual - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032824 | Underground Transmission Cable System Construction and Installation Volume 2: Quality Guidelines for Grouting Procedures for Large Casings - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032825 | Underground Transmission Cable System Construction and Installation Volume 3: Primer for Installation of High-Voltage Cable in Tunnels - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032826 | Underground Transmission Cable System Construction and Installation Volume 4: Shallow and At-Grade Installation Techniques, Operational Factors, and Rating Considerations for Remote Forested and Mountainous or Rocky Areas |
Tech Update |
| 3002032828 | Pipe-Type to XLPE Cable Conversion—Technology, Design, and Construction Options Volume 1: Feasibility Assessment of Pipe-Type Cable to Extruded Cable Conversion — 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032829 | Pipe-Type to XLPE Cable Conversion—Technology, Design, and Construction Options Volume 2: Concept Evaluation and Demonstration of Pipe Bursting for Installation of Extruded Dielectric Cables — 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032830 | Pipe-Type to XLPE Cable Conversion—Technology, Design, and Construction Options Volume 3: Retrofitting Pipe-Type Cable Pipes with HVDC Cables — 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032833 | Pipe-Type to XLPE Cable Conversion—Technology, Design, and Construction Options Volume 4: Extruded-Dielectric Pipe-Type Cable (EP Cable) for Installation in Steel Pipe —2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032834 | Underground Transmission Vault Inspection Using Robotic Techniques—2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032835 | Underground Transmission Vault Corrosion: Inspection Assessment and Remediation—2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032836 | Underground Cable Fault Location Reference and Application Guide – 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032837 | Performance and Failure Report for Underground Transmission Cables and Accessories Volume 1: Introduction and Data Records |
Tech Update |
| 3002032838 | Performance and Failure Report for Underground Transmission Cables and Accessories Volume 2: Forensic Analyses |
Tech Update |