About Us
Our Team
Principals:
Gary L. Ford
John Meehan
Mark Vainberg
Associates:
W.J. (Bill) Bergman
John Lackey
Izy Polishchuk
Brian F. McConville
Tim Molony
Gary Walters
Lou Cappa
Dennis Hines
John Meehan, P.Eng.
John is a recognized expert on asset management processes and has broad electric utility expertise. He is a professional engineer with a proven track record of success in business process reengineering, and management of operations and maintenance in an electrical utility setting. He has wide experience in working at all levels of client organizations, with skills that include: strategic business planning and management, process development and implementation, project management and team management.
View Extended CVProfessional Achievements
2000-Present
Principal, PowerNex Associates Inc.
- Launched PowerNex Associates Inc. with colleagues from the former Ontario Hydro. PowerNex Associates Inc. provides services to the electric utility sector including asset strategy development, end of life assessment, preparation of technical specifications, and design reviews.
1996 – 2000
Manager, Maintenance Re-engineering/Processes and Performance, Ontario Hydro Services Company
- Managed development of Transmission Asset Management and Maintenance and Restoration business processes
- Managed process re-engineering in the areas of Work Management and Materiel Management, the selection of an integrated software product to support business-wide processes, and the preparation of a business case for implementation of the new system and related processes
- Introduced the concept of Reliability Centered Maintenance to OHSC, resulting in savings of $27M over a 5-year period
1995 – 1996
Manager, Grid Stations Department, Ontario Hydro
Managed a Department with the following accountabilities:
- Development and management of major component refurbishment/replacement programs such as oil circuit breaker refurbishment program, capacitor bank replacement program, air blast circuit breaker refurbishment program
- Provision of technical expertise and standards for all aspects of station maintenance and rehabilitation
- Development, coordination, and monitoring of annual work programs
- Set policy and strategy for provision of emergency spare units and major components
- Management of field testing programs such as Doble and thermovision
- International project - Life Cycle Management of Switching Equipment (South Africa)
- CEA Project - Condition Monitoring of Substation Power Equipment
1985 – 1996
Technical Superintendent - Switchgear, Transmission Stations Department, Ontario Hydro
- Supervised section acting as primary technical resource on matters relating to HV and LV switchgear
- Developed and implemented programs for life extension of aging, unreliable equipment, and replacement of obsolete equipment
- Developed monitoring devices and systems to optimize maintenance intervals and reduce costs
- Negotiated major purchased services agreements
1980-1985
Maintenance Engineer, Transmission Stations Dept., Ontario Hydro
- Prepared maintenance/repair procedures for HV Switchgear.
- Investigated equipment failures and recommended design improvements and retrofitting of safety features
- Developed and implemented metalclad switchgear replacement program
- Prepared and delivered circuit breaker training courses
1970 – 1980
Equipment and Materials Technologist, Equipment and Materials Department, Ontario Hydro
- Prepared technical specifications for HV switchgear, GIS and other equipment. Administered contracts for purchase of the equipment and dealt with design, performance and warranty issues
Education
John served as an engineering apprenticeship with English Electric Co (UK), while obtaining a Higher National Certificate in Electrical Engineering. Upon moving to Canada John obtained additional academic qualifications to satisfy membership requirements for Professional Engineers Ontario.
John has published extensively in his area of expertise, and has been active in CEATI, (Interest Group Chairman), and Doble Client Committees. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario.
Replacement / End of Life Criteria for Distribution System Assets
Authors: J. Meehan, M. Vainberg
Publication: (CEATI Report T074700-5067)
Date:
2008
Keywords: end of life, criteria for EOL, distribution assets, financial model, NPV, asset management
High Voltage Disconnect Switch Asset Management – Information Requirements
Authors: J. Meehan, M. Vainberg
Publication: CEATI Report T013700-3036)
Date:
August 2005
Keywords: Disconnect switch, asset management, end-of-life
Survey of Existing Multi-Criteria Substation Equipment Asset Management Methods
Authors: M. Vainberg, J. Meehan
Publication: (CEATI Report T013700-3032)
Date:
August 2005
Keywords: multi criteria, substation, substation equipment, asset management, survey
The Independent Asset Management Review (view)
Authors: H. Haag, J. Meehan, G.L. Ford, B. Bergman
Publication: Presentation at the North American T&D Conference
Date:
May 2005
Keywords: asset management, independent review, decision making, asset condition assessment, circuit breakers
Practical Asset Management for Transmission and Distribution
Authors: J. Meehan, M. Vainberg
Publication: Canada Power Conference
Date:
September 2004
Keywords: asset management, transmission and distribution
Circuit Breaker Asset Management Requirements
Authors: J. Meehan, M. Vainberg
Publication: CEATI Report T013700-3019
Date:
March 2004
Keywords: circuit breaker, end-of-life, asset management
Effective Monitoring Technology For Circuit Breakers
Authors: J. Meehan, M. Vainberg
Publication: CEATI Report T013700-301
Date:
January 2003
Keywords: circuit breaker, monitoring
End of Life Decision on Circuit Breakers
Authors: J. Meehan, M. Vainberg
Publication: CEATI Report T013700-3016
Date:
January 2003
Keywords: circuit breaker, end-of-life, asset management
The End-of-Life Decision
Authors: J. Meehan
Publication: T&D Maintenance Management Conference
City: Chattanooga
Date:
October 1999
Keywords: asset management, transmission and distribution
A Value Based Methodology for Selecting On-line Condition Monitoring of Substations Power Equipment
Authors: W.J. Bergman, J. Meehan, D. Peelo, C. Yung
Publication: EPRI Substation Equipment Diagnostics Conference
City: New Orleans
Date:
February 1997
Keywords: methodology for selecting, on-line condition monitoring, substations, power equipment
On-Line Condition Monitoring of Substation Power Equipment - Utility Needs
Authors: W.J. Bergman, J. Meehan, D. Peelo, C. Yung
Publication: CEA Project 485T1049
Date:
January 1997
Keywords: methodology for selecting, on-line condition monitoring, substations, power equipment
X-ray induced partial discharge testing of full-size EHV insulators
Authors: Braun, J.M.; Rizzetto, S.; Fujimoto, N.; Ford, G.L.; Molony, T.; Meehan, J.P.
Publication: Proceedings of Transmission and Distribution Conference
Date:
1996
Pages: 197 - 203
Keywords: PD, EHV Insulator, testing
Diagnostics and Monitoring for Substations
Authors: J. Meehan et al
Publication: EPRI Substation Equipment Diagnostics Conference
Date:
November 1993
Keywords: RCM, equipment monitoring, circuit breakers, transformers
On-Line Monitoring of 115 kV Oil Circuit Breakers
Authors: J. Meehan
Publication: Doble Client Conference Boston
City: Boston
Date:
April 1993
Keywords: oil circuit breakers, condition monitoring
Improved Reliability by the Application of Diagnostic Techniques in Gas Insulated Substations
Authors: N. Fujimoto, J. Meehan, et al
Publication: 1993 CIGRE Symposium on Diagnostic and Maintenance Techniques
City: Berlin
Date:
April 1993
Keywords: improved reliability, diagnostic techniques, gas insulated substations
Oil Circuit Breaker Refurbishment
Authors: J. Meehan, J. Wood
Publication: Doble Client Conference
City: Boston
Date:
April 1991
Keywords: oil circuit breaker, end-of-life, refurbishment
Preventing Failures in Outdoor Distribution Class Metalclad Switchgear
Authors: J. Meehan, R. Van Haeren
Publication: IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-104 No. 10
Date:
October 1985
Keywords: metalclad switchgear, condition monitoring
Failure of 15 kV Metalclad Switchgear
Authors: J. Meehan
Publication: CEA Conference
City: Calgary
Date:
September 1985
Keywords: metalclad switchgear, reliability
Arc-proofing of Metalclad Switchgear - A Utility’s Viewpoint
Authors: J. Meehan
Publication: CEA Conference
City: Edmonton
Date:
September 1982
Keywords: arc resistance, metalclad switchgear