THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

1
THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

• Utility Workers Union of America
• Mass. Elect. Restr. Rndtable
• May 10, 2002

2
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• Major Power Outages Hit during the Summer of 1999
• New York City suffers major outages
• Thousands of customers left in the dark
• Mayor orders an investigation into cause
• ConEd pays out 4 million for spoilages

3
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• New Yorks AG issues report on outages...
• We conclude Con Ed entered the 1999 summer
  cooling season, the time of year when demand on
  the system is highest and the effects of heat on
  the system are most pronounced, with a
  distribution system containing numerous defective
  or inadequate components.

4
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• Chicago is Hit by Power Outages during the Summer
  of 1999
• The Loop business district goes out
• Over 100,000 residents lose power for several
  days
• All from failed equipment

5
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• Department of Energy investigates the cause of
  the 1999 power outages
• DOE pulls together a group of experts to form the
  Power Outage Study Team (POST)

6
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• The POST report finds..
• In anticipation of competitive markets, some
  utilities have adopted a strategy of cost cutting
  that involves reduced spending on reliability.

7
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.
Number of employees in electric IOUs in thousands
8
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• DOEs POST Finds..
• ConEds cable condition not accurately assessed
• Harsh environment in which cables are located
  contributes to reliability problems.
• Winter salt, oil from car engines, and high
  humidity all cause problems in the vaults,
  manholes and conduits.

9
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• DOEs POST Finds..
• Chicagos Commonwealth Edison planned
  distribution system upgrades were not implemented
  on schedule.
• Maintenance management contributed to severity of
  the outages

10
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.
ComEd Substation Maintenance Expenditures in
Millions of
11
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• Massachusetts residents hit by Power Outages
  summer 2001..
• Some Boston area residents without power for up
  to two half days.
• Boston residents suffer nearly 600,000 hours of
  outages 5 weeks
• All due to infrastructure failure

12
The ProblemAging Infrastructure.

• National Grid hires Dupont to do an independent
  assessment.
• Recommend Co undertakes a detailed assessment of
  the physical condition of their assets.
• Develop a preventive maintenance plan ASAP.

13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• The establishment of a PMD will..
• reduce number of outages
• decrease response time
• restore reliability to the distribution system

16
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• To ensure its success the PMD must be an
  autonomous division with...
• separate supervisors
• separate crews
• separate equipment
• separate vehicles

17
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• This new division should focus on three areas.
• Underground
• Overhead
• Substations Vaults

18
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• In the Underground
• manholes inspected on a 3 year cycle
• a checklist of items to be examined be
  established
• unused cable removed
• load readings performed on transformers regularly

19
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• In the Overhead crews perform circuit patrols
  which include..
• Load readings
• pole testing
• conductering
• visual inspections
• padmount inspections

20
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• In the Overhead
• primary phases identified and marked on cross
  arms
• load break switches, underslungs and cut outs
  checked on a regular basis
• regular tree trimming program established

21
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• Substations Vaults
• transformers tested and overhauled if needed
• tap changer transformers checked
• maintenance on breakers performed every two years

22
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• Substations Vaults inspections include a review
  of.
• lighting
• pumps
• hatches
• a check for leaks
• cleaning of entrances

23
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• Division manager supervisors assigned to
  division with.
• a team of engineers
• clerical support
• lab personal
• garage personal

24
The SolutionPreventive Maintenance Division

• Established with
• strict accountability standards
• short long term goals
• dedicated employees, equipment vehicles
• Will help to restore the electric distribution
  system to one that is once again safe reliable.