IEEE PES Award for Excellence in Power Distribution Engineering
About the Award
The Award for Excellence in Power Distribution Engineering is presented annually to an engineer who has demonstrated one or more of the following:
- vision to see opportunities to substantially improve the effectiveness and utilization of electric power distribution and the ability to articulate and manage its fulfillment
- strong impact on the design of distribution system components, circuit configurations, or engineering and operating practices
- innovation that led to significant increases in reliability or cost reductions in the costs of engineering, installing or operating electric power distribution systems
This work could have involved any field of electric power distribution, including: voltage control, underground, overcurrent protection, metering, surge protection, connections and terminators, cables, switching, system automation, software, and transformers.
2025 Award Recipient
Curtis Wayne Carr for sustained contributions to the advancement of innovative engineering tools for electric power distribution system analysis.
Award Details
Purpose:
To recognize engineering contributions that have enhanced the quality and economy of electric power distribution.
Prize:
$1,000 USD, Plaque and travel subsidy for recipient of $1,000 USD (with review by the PES Executive Director for extenuating circumstances only) to attend the PES award meeting.
Eligibility:
Must have Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited institution, minimum of 15-years’ experience in industry and/or academia, and have been a member of IEEE/PES for a minimum of five (5) years.
Presentation:
One award is given per year. If no suitable candidate is proposed in a given year, the award will not be presented for that year.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Nomination forms must be written in English. One per year. If no suitable candidate is proposed in a given year, the award will not be presented for that year.
PES, being one of IEEE’s Organizational Units, follows IEEE Policy 4.4H:
- Eligibility and Process Limitations. Individuals serving on any board or committee involved at any stage of the recipient selection or approval process for an award shall be ineligible to receive, or act as a nominator or reference for that award. This conflict of interest limitation shall apply to all awards given by the IEEE or any of its organizational units
Past Award Recipients
2023 – Heidemarie C. Caswell
2022 – Mark McGranaghan
2021 – Thomas E. McDermott
2020 – Thomas R. Beckwith
2019 – Charles DeNardo
2017 – Daniel Sabin
2016 – John J. Grainger
2015 – Elisabeth A. Tobin
2014 – Thomas J. Tobin
2013 – John McDaniel
2012 – Richard A. Bush
2011 – Lee Taylor
2010 – Philip P. Barker
2009 – Reigh A. Walling
2008 – T.A. Short
2007 – Cheryl A. Warren
2006 – Wayne Beaty
2005 – Roger Craig Dugan
2004 – David R. Smith
2003 – Robert E. Owen
2002 – John D. McDonald
2001 – Ronald H. Stillman
2000 – Daniel J. Ward
1999 – John G. Anderson
1998 – Joseph L. Koepfinger
1996 – James J. Burke
1995 – Franco Reggiani
1994 – John R. Conrad
1993 – William E. Shula
1992 – Jack H. Lawson
1991 – Harvey W. Mikulecky
1990 – Paul L. Pearson
1989 – Sidney Rogers Gilligan