610 N. Whitney Way, Suite 160 Madison, WI 53705, U.S.A. Phone: (608) 238-2171, Fax: (608) 238-9241 Email: info@powline.com
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Summer 2010 Newsletter

In this issue:

1. Version 10.60 Released
2. Upcoming Classes and Events
3. Web Site Additions and Revisions
4. Current Versions

Version 10.60 released

We are proud to release PLS-CADD version 10.60 with 70 noteworthy improvements. We do not have space to describe all of them here, but a complete change log will be included with your upgrade. The improvements are spread throughout the program so that there is something for everyone whether you are a surveyor, drafter, vegetation manager, construction manager, distribution staking engineer or line designer. 10.60 also includes the initial installment of the material improvements we discussed at the 2009 User's Group Meeting. Later this year we will deliver the rest with the addition of state information (Retire, Keep, Transfer, Add), conductor specific material (variable parts), built-in labor and extensive user defined cost factors. We are looking for clients who would like to beta test these features with us. Please email us if you are interested in participating.

We enjoyed meeting with many of you at the IEEE T&D in New Orleans, but regret that the Icelandic volcano erruption prevented many European clients from attending. Fortunately, we will have a booth (#12) at the Cigre Exposition in Paris, France this August which will give "volcano proof" meeting opportunities.

Please note that all telephone extensions at Power Line Systems have changed as a result of a recent phone system upgrade. New extensions are numbered 130 or higher and simply equal the old extension number plus 30.

Classes and Events

• Design of Overhead Transmission Lines using PLS-CADD (includes 32 PDHs), July 19-23, 2010 in Madison, WI (Space still available)
• Design of Overhead Transmission Lines using PLS-CADD July 19-22, 2010 in Curitiba, Brazil. The class will be offered in Portuguese with questions accepted in Spanish. (Space still available)
• Analysis and Design of Transmission Towers Using TOWER July 22-23 2010 in Curitiba, Brazil. The class will be offered in Portuguese with questions accepted in Spanish. (Space still available)
• Design of Transmission Line Structures and Foundations November 8-12, 2010 in Madison, WI (Check availability)
• Design of Overhead Transmission Lines using PLS-CADD (Organized by the University of Wisconsin) December 6-10, 2010 in Orlando, FL (Check availability)
• Please visit with us in booth 12 at Cigre in Paris, August 22-27, 2010.

Web Site Revisions and Additions

• Technical note: Linear Elastic Cable Model With Creep Proportional to Tension describes an improved linear model for conductors
• The March 2010 edition of the PLS-CADD manual is now available for download via the Help/Check For Updated Manual command
• PLS-CADD now ships with five new distribution examples

Current Versions

The current shipping versions of our software are listed below. These versions support Windows XP, Vista and 7 (both 32 and 64 bit). Note that this will be the last version to support operating systems prior to Windows XP SP2. We recommend you run a 64 bit edition of Windows so that you may take advantage of the enormous investment we have made in the x64 Edition.

We strongly encourage you to upgrade to the current release of all the applications you own. To do so please use the Help/Download Upgrade command built into your PLS software. This would also be a good time to use the Help/Check for Updated Manual command to make sure you have the latest edition of the manuals. As always, we welcome your suggestions and comments on our software.

Staff of Power Line Systems, Inc.