A Short History of the

Combustion Turbine Operations Task Force

The Combustion Turbine Operations Task Force (CTOTF) traces it beginnings back to 1975, when a group of gas turbine operators got together to discuss problems with their General Electric Frame 7 gas turbines.  The group grew rapidly and expanded their subject areas to include Westinghouse and Pratt & Whitney / Turbo Power & Marine, followed by Siemens, and Alstom (ABB) gas turbines.  The group was briefly affiliated with the Gas Turbine Users Association in the mid 70’s, but ended the affiliation because the focus was different.

The group became affiliated with Edison Electric Institute (EEI) in 1979, as the EEI Combustion Turbine Operations Task Force.  It reported to the Steam and Combustion Turbine Subcommittee of the EEI Prime Movers Committee.  The affiliation lasted for 16 years, ending with the reorganization of EEI in 1995.  The newly formed EEI Generation Subject Area Committee eliminated the existing subcommittees and task forces that would have reported to it. However, the Combustion Turbine Operations Task Force did not disband.  Its members decided to continue to meet, as the benefit came from the exchange of information at the meetings, not from affiliation with EEI.  One concern was that a lack of affiliation may cause difficulties for some members to get permission from their management to attend the meeting.  Other organizations were considered for sponsorship, but the final decision was to go it alone.

The Combustion Turbine Operations Task Force dropped EEI from the name and met for the first time as an independent organization in Portland, Oregon, in the Fall of 1995.  The meeting was hosted by Portland General Electric, and was a huge success.  The CTOTF has since utilized the services of Wickey Elmo, now with GCSI, for conference planning and group coordination. This arrangement has worked well, significantly reducing the burden on the member company acting as meeting host.