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DSTAR research
activities are directed by a
committee consisting of
representatives from each of the member utilities and utility
organizations. Concepts for future research topics are developed
from the needs expressed by the member utilities. The
committee selects projects to be pursued and the funding to be
allocated. One or two member representatives are chosen as the
overseer for each project, providing guidance and liaison with the
contractor. Projects review meetings are held twice per year to
update members on progress and to provide an opportunity for the
membership-at-large to direct the course of the research.
The individual
research projects sponsored by DSTAR are bundled into consecutive
research programs. Each program consists of four to six
independent research projects, covering diverse topics. The
duration of a program is approximately one and a half years.
Membership is on a program basis; participants in a given program
receive the deliverables for all projects included in that
program. In addition to providing the most leverage of the
utilities' research investment, the cooperative arrangement has
the positive result of making utilities aware of exposing
utilities to a wider range of practices and approaches to
distribution engineering challenges.
GE Energy Consulting performs the role of program manager
and prime contractor. The technical work is performed by GE or by
qualified subcontractors where appropriate. |
