From redundancy to resilience: The next level of network diversity Despite billions invested in grid modernization and widespread adoption of dual-carrier approaches, many utilities still find their communications infrastructure vulnerable to disruption. It’s a paradox: utilities have engineered redundancy across power generation and distribution, yet communications—the digital backbone of the modern grid—often lacks the comprehensive diversity needed to truly eliminate single points of failure.  True grid resilience now depends on comprehensive network diversity that enables consistent quality of service, operational flexibility and long-term adaptability. The cost of connectivity blind spots As utilities expand advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), SCADA systems, distributed energy resource (DER) management and connected field operations, the strain on communications networks continues to grow. Relying on a single technology exposes utilities to significant risk—from natural disasters and carrier outages to rural coverage gaps and network congestion. The result: delayed outage restoration, compromised grid visibility and operational inefficiencies that undermine reliability and customer trust. The versatility imperative: Why utilities can’t just “upgrade” Utility communications can’t follow the consumer tech cycle. Equipment often remains in service for 20 to 30 years, even as wireless standards evolve from private radio networks to LTE, 4G, 5G and emerging spectrum such as Anterix Band 106. Each shift brings new performance expectations—but utilities can’t afford to rip and replace infrastructure every few years. Instead, they need adaptable, field-proven solutions that bridge technologies and spectrum generations, ensuring consistent, secure connectivity today while accommodating tomorrow’s innovations without interrupting critical operations. Three pillars of network diversity While many utilities have already adopted dual-carrier strategies, the expanding complexity of modern grid operations demands a renewed look at comprehensive network diversity. True resilience comes from a multi-path approach—one that enables seamless communication under any condition. Three key strategies define this new standard of reliability. A. Public-to-public redundancy Dual-radio routers

As utilities work to strengthen and modernize America’s electric grid, they face growing mechanical and environmental challenges below and between the lines. Buried grounding networks, pole grounds and substation grids must all withstand decades of stress from soil movement, moisture, corrosion and fault current events. Each of these physical forces can compromise a system’s electrical integrity — making mechanical strength as vital as electrical performance in ensuring long-term reliability. In earlier decades, utility conductors were relatively short, stationary and installed in stable soil. Today’s infrastructure is different. Expansion into remote terrain, widespread undergrounding and the integration of renewable and distributed resources have multiplied the number of grounding paths and exposed more cable to movement, vibration and stress. These systems must remain reliable through decades of shifting soils, thermal cycling and fault events — all while supporting uninterrupted power delivery. When a grounding conductor fails, the results can be costly. Broken bonds or weakened terminations can increase ground resistance, trigger equipment faults or leave assets unprotected from lightning and surge events. Repairs often require excavation, downtime and new material — expenses that compound across large service territories. In short, mechanical failure doesn’t just compromise safety; it undermines reliability, budgets and public confidence. That’s why conductor strength has become a defining factor in grid resilience. Copper-Clad Steel (CCS) conductors are engineered to meet this demand. By metallurgically bonding a copper layer to a high-tensile-strength steel core, CCS combines the conductivity of copper with the durability of steel. The result is a grounding conductor that resists stretching, breakage and deformation while maintaining long-term electrical integrity. Unlike soft copper, which can elongate or fracture under mechanical strain, CCS retains its shape and strength even after repeated mechanical or thermal stress. That strength translates into reliability you can measure. Stronger conductors stay tight at terminations, maintain

Russia’s crude oil production edged up in October, but remained below its OPEC+ quota as international pressure mounted on the country’s energy sector. Russia pumped an average 9.411 million barrels a day last month, people with knowledge of the data said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. While that’s 43,000 barrels a day higher than in September, it’s 70,000 a day below a quota that includes compensation cuts for previous overproduction, Bloomberg calculations show. Oil watchers are closely following Russian production data to assess the impact of sanctions — and Ukrainian drone strikes — against the country’s energy industry. The latest US penalties on the sector, which hit oil giants Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC, have already eroded crude exports as some refiners in India, China and Turkey prove less willing to take sanctioned barrels. Meanwhile, Ukrainian attacks have intensified, putting pressure on Russia’s crude-processing sector even as refinery owners rush to repair infrastructure.  If Moscow eventually finds itself unable to find buyers for oil from its sanctioned producers, and struggles to restore refining, it’ll be forced to halt output at some fields, risking damage to wells. The Energy Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the production data. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said last month that the nation has capacity to raise oil production further, but will do it gradually, according to Tass news service. Compensation Cuts Russia, historically one of the biggest laggards in complying with OPEC+ output agreements, has agreed to make additional cuts to compensate for previous overproduction. The monthly schedule for those curbs has been regularly revised, with the latest plan published earlier this month.  It shows that October was the last month when Russia had to make such cuts. Moscow’s pledge to reduce daily output by 10,000 barrels below a quota of 9.491

Oil rose on Friday but still notched a second weekly loss as the market continued to weigh the threat to output from sanctions on Russia against a looming oversupply. West Texas Intermediate futures rose around 0.5% to settle below $60 a barrel, but were still down for the week. Adding to fears of a glut, oil prices have also been buffeted by swings in equity markets this week. Meanwhile, the White House’s move to clamp down on the buying of Russian crude led oil trading giant Gunvor Group to withdraw an offer for the international assets of Lukoil PJSC. The fate of the assets, which include stakes in oil fields, refineries and gas stations, remains unclear. One possible exception to that crackdown could emerge soon: President Donald Trump signaled an openness to exempting Hungary from sanctions on Russian energy purchases as he hosted Prime Minister Viktor Orban, briefly pushing futures to intraday lows. The development appeared to allay shortage fears, given that Budapest imports over 90% of its crude from Moscow. Senior industry figures have warned the latest US curbs on Russia’s two largest oil companies are beginning to have an impact on the market, particularly in diesel, where prices have been surging in recent days, with time spreads for the fuel signaling supply pressure. At the same time, the US measures have come against a backdrop of oversupply that has weighed on key crude oil metrics. The spread between the nearest West Texas Intermediate futures closed at the weakest level since February on Thursday. “If the market flips to contango, we may see more bearish funds enter the crude space,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president for trading at BOK Financial said of the potential that longer-dated contracts trade at a premium to nearer-term ones. “Most traders remain surprised

Commodity trader Gunvor Group has withdrawn its offer for the international assets of sanctioned Russian oil producer Lukoil PJSC after the US Treasury Department called it “the Kremlin’s puppet” and said the oil and gas trader would never get a license. Gunvor pushed back on the Treasury comment on social media, calling it “fundamentally misinformed and false.” The Geneva-based company said it would seek to correct a “clear misunderstanding” but that it would withdraw its bid for now. President Trump has been clear that the war must end immediately. As long as Putin continues the senseless killings, the Kremlin’s puppet, Gunvor, will never get a license to operate and profit. — Treasury Department (@USTreasury) November 6, 2025 The comment is a remarkable volte-face after a week in which Gunvor has been in talks with the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, part of the Treasury Department, and other bodies in charge of sanctions to help press its case for a deal that would have transformed it into an integrated oil producing and processing colossus. Gunvor swooped on the assets at the end of last month following the US blacklisting of Lukoil and fellow Russian oil giant Rosneft PJSC, and its exit may leave the door open to other suitors. Gunvor on Thursday also announced it had raised $2.81 billion in a credit facility financed by US arms of global banks. Like other major commodity traders, the firm funds the bulk of its trades of oil, gas and metals around the world with bank financing. For the trader, the comments are likely to revive questions about its connections in Moscow at a time when many oil industry participants are wary of any links to Russia.  The trader’s co-founder, Gennady Timchenko, is a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and when the US imposed sanctions

A tanker carrying crude from recently-sanctioned Rosneft PJSC has made a rare cargo transfer off Mumbai, as the Trump administration ramps up its scrutiny of India’s oil trade with Russia. But the unusual move has puzzled traders. The cargo was transferred from one blacklisted tanker to another sanctioned ship, meaning there’s been no attempt to hide its origin — typical of such a move — and the crude is still heading for an Indian port: Kochi in the south, rather than Mumbai on the west coast. India’s purchases of Russian oil have drawn the ire of President Donald Trump, and the US penalties on Rosneft along with Lukoil PJSC are expected to severely impact the trade. The market is keenly watching for disruptions to established flows before a grace period related to the sanctions ends later this month. “What we’re seeing now is this uncertainty in the market about what the sanctions risks are,” said Rachel Ziemba, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. “The net result is more ship-to-ship transfers, more subterfuge, longer routes, more complicated transactions.” The Fortis took around 720,000 barrels of Russian Urals from Ailana on Tuesday near Mumbai, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, Kpler and Vortexa. The cargo was collected from the Baltic port of Ust-Luga before the US sanctioned Rosneft, and Ailana had idled in the area for nearly two weeks with no clear reason.  Ailana is on its way back to Russia, while Fortis is expected to arrive at Kochi early next week with the cargo, ship-tracking data shows. Both vessels have been sanctioned by the European Union and the UK. Fortis’ owner and manager — Vietnam-based Pacific Logistic & Maritime and North Star Ship Management — didn’t respond to emailed requests for comment. There are no contact details on maritime database