This piece was originally published in the January 2018 issue of electroindustry.

Jonathan Stewart, Government Relations Manager, NEMA

Caption: Nameplate adjustments is one solution to SF₆ emission-reporting challenges. Photo by Karla Trost, G&W Electric

NEMA Government Relations Manager Jonathan Stewart discussed sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) emissions and pending rule changes to state reporting requirements related to it with a group of utilities in Tampa, Florida, in November.

SF₆, a highly potent greenhouse gas that has a global warming potential thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide, is used in the electrical sector to insulate medium- and high-voltage transmission and distribution equipment against electrical arcing.

In California and Massachusetts, utilities are required to report annual SF₆ emissions and face potential fines if those emissions exceed a specified threshold. California is preparing to update its rule to allow greater flexibility for reporting entities to track and report actual (instead of estimated) emissions.