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 |
2026 Anticipated Deliverables
| Deliverable | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Guidelines for Thermo-Mechanical Design of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems in Pipes and Ducts (reports) | This multi-year task builds on and continues EPRI’s research in laboratory verification of thermo-mechanical behavior of extruded dielectric cables in ducts, pipes, and manholes. Reports in multiple volumes include developments of a validated source of practical engineering knowledge to assist cable engineers in designing extruded dielectric cable systems with respect to their thermo-mechanical effects. The reports cover design principles, cable mechanical parameter measurements, finite element analysis modeling, engineering software tools, full-scale laboratory validation, applications at utility sites, and subject matter training. | December 2026 |
| Life Evaluation and Management of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems and Components (reports) | Volume 1 – Composite Cable Termination Long-Term Aging Tests:
Built on prior EPRI research, this multi-year effort continues to investigate the reliability of transmission extruded dielectric cable accessories. Included are technical and investigative results from accelerated aging tests at EPRI’s Lenox laboratory on terminations with composite insulating housing, material deterioration test results on field-aged cable terminations, and results from demonstrations of condition assessment tools.
Volume 2 – Cable Mechanical Bending Aging Tests & Volume 3 – Cable Thermo-Mechanical Aging Tests: Many extruded dielectric cable circuits are approaching 30–40 years in service. The industry needs an approach to study their life management and expectancy. This task starts as a series of laboratory experiments to better understand extruded dielectric cable system aging and failure mechanisms and has since expanded into three different tests: - Mechanical bending aging tests (30,000 to 60,000 cycles) - Full-scale thermo-mechanical aging tests (65, 80, 90, and 105 °C) - Outdoor accelerated aging tests (138-kV and load currents) The aging tests are to include both land and submarine cables as well as accessories of different designs at different transmission voltage levels. Volume 4 - Asset Vintage Guide and Technology Review: How an asset degrades and fails is often dependent on how the asset was designed and manufactured. This task develops and updates vintage information for component materials, design, manufacturing, and other known issues of extruded dielectric cable systems. This task also provides a state-of-art technology review to assist utility cable users in making engineering decisions for reliable and cost-effective in-service operations. The report captures evolving technologies, success and failure experiences, and lessons learned to enforce the needs for continuous vigilance during design, manufacturing, and installation processes of both cables and accessories. |
December 2026 |
| EPRI Guide on Extruded Transmission Cable System Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics (report) | This multi-year task is a continuation of study on advanced monitoring techniques for inspection of cable system condition and operational status. The task covers developments of test rigs and performs tests to evaluate the effectiveness of available technologies and to demonstrate emerging technologies. | December 2026 |
2025 Deliverables
| Product ID | Product Name | Item Type |
|---|---|---|
| 3002032839 | Guidelines for Thermo-Mechanical Design of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems in Pipes and Ducts Volume 1: Introduction into EPRI Research Results - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032840 | Guidelines for Thermo-Mechanical Design of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems in Pipes and Ducts Volume 2: Fundamentals - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032841 | Guidelines for Thermo-Mechanical Design of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems in Pipes and Ducts Volume 3: Mechanical Parameter Tests - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032843 | Guidelines for Thermo-Mechanical Design of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems in Pipes and Ducts Volume 4: Finite Element Analyses - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032844 | Guidelines for Thermo-Mechanical Design of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems in Pipes and Ducts Volume 5: Full-scale Experimental Verification Tests - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032845 | Guidelines for Thermo-Mechanical Design of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems in Pipes and Ducts Volume 6: Normalized Span Methods and Software - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032846 | Life Evaluation and Management of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems and Components Volume 1: Composite Cable Termination Long-Term Aging Tests - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032847 | Life Evaluation and Management of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems and Components Volume 2: Cable Mechanical Bending Aging Tests - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032848 | Life Evaluation and Management of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems and Components Volume 3: Cable Thermo-Mechanical Aging Tests - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032849 | Life Evaluation and Management of Extruded Dielectric Cable Systems and Components Volume 4: Asset Vintage Guide and Technology Review - 2025 Update |
Tech Update |
| 3002032850 | EPRI Guide on Extruded Transmission Cable System Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics – 2025 Update |
Tech Update |