Category #Reliability   Show all

• How Automated Switches Help Reduce Power Outages

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  We can’t predict when the power is going to go out, but when it does, there are things we can do to help get the lights back on faster.

  One of the biggest improvements we can make to our distribution system is to add automation. What does that mean? That means installing automated switches that can be controlled remotely by our control room and switches that can automatically notify us when they’ve been tripped.

  When an object makes contact with a powerline, such as a tree branch hitting it in high winds, it can cause a fault, which makes a switch open up. This is similar to turning off a light switch in your house.

  Automated switches can be closed, or turned back on, automatically or by our control room. If the conditions are right, such as the tree branch is no longer on the wires, the power stays on. This can happen quickly. Without automated switches, our crews have to drive up and down the roads in the area affected looking for the cause of the outage and manually operate switches. This can result in longer power outages.

  If the switch tries to close but still senses something wrong, it stays open, but it also sends a signal to our control room. When this happens, we know where the problem is and can send our crews directly to the location. This helps speed up restoration time after a power outage occurs.

  Another benefit of automated switches is that we can use them to route power from another area so that power can be restored to most customers while we fix the problem that caused the outage.

  These switches are expensive - 2-3 times the cost of a manually operated switch. This is why we only install a small number each year but overtime, they will help make our system more reliable.

  Take our quick survey to let us know your thoughts on using automated switches to improve reliability.

  See an automated switch in action with this short video:

  Automated Switch Video
  

  
  

• Understanding Power Outages and Reliability

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  Why did the lights go out? While we make every effort to provide a reliable supply of electricity to our customers, power outages do happen. There are many different causes of power outages.

  This chart shows the power outages in 2018 by outage cause. This does not include scheduled power outages for system maintenance or upgrades.

  

  
  

  As you can see, the two largest contributing factors to power outages are Adverse Weather and Defective Equipment. In 2018, seven power outages were the result of motor vehicle accidents.

  What can we do about power outages? Some of the outages caused by Defective Equipment may be reduced through a more aggressive replacement program. This comes with an increased cost.

  With some equipment, such as power transformers, we choose a run to failure approach rather than proactive replacement since the cost of a proactive replacement program on those items would be very high.

  Other items, such as poles and porcelain insulators, we proactively replace as they age. The pace at which we replace these items can affect reliability and cost. The faster we replace these items, the greater the cost but the potential for improved reliability also increases.

  Please take a few moments to complete our survey to let us know your thoughts on proactive replacement vs run to failure.

  Click here to complete our survey
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Proactive Equipment Replacement

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  We proactively replace certain types of equipment based on age and condition. These are items where failure can pose safety hazards, could cause outages affecting many customers or could result in lengthy power outages if an emergency replacement is required.

  Other equipment is allowed to run to failure before it is replaced because the result of failure would affect fewer customers or the equipment is easier to replace.

  This graphic identifies three types of equipment we proactively replace.

  

  
  

  Do you agree that proactive replacement of aging equipment is important for safety and reliability?

  Take our quick survey and let us know: Power Outage & Reliability Survey