redundancy in power distribution grid
redundancy in power distribution grid
(OP)
I live in a town that is hard hit every time there is a storm. Trees knock out power lines - often the main feeders to an entire area. I'm wondering why the utility doesn't build a little redundancy into the local grid. For example, an area can have two different connection to the main feeders in different areas, so that a tree that takes out one line doesn't cause a total failure. I'm wondering if this is standard practice or if it is never done. Technically I think this should work, am I wrong? The other suggestion people keep making is to try to get the lines buried, but that's never going to happen. It just costs far too much.






RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
The problem is the common assumption is underground cable lasts for ever. It dosen't. But over head wire lasts as long as a tree dosen't fall on it.
There are some recent NERC reports that point out that many states don't have tree trimming requirements for distribution systems. So i suggest you call up your state rep. and complain (the squeaky wheel gets the grease). Just be aware the utility will be asking for a rate increase to pay for it.
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
However if you have only one feed, the fault current is lower and one breaker operates outaging half the customers. Someone then has to go and find the fault and open switches to isolate it. Then other switches are closed to restore customers.
If you want a better quality of power, some utilities like the one I work at, will ask you to pay more for that. Few customers do ask for a redundit power feed, and are willing to pay for it. Most ask, but want it for free (you get what you pay for).
Because it costs more to provide redundit service, it is only fair that customers who are not happy with 99.999% power, and want 99.9999% should pay for it.
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
The nature of distribution doesn't allow it to operate loop-fed on a continous basis such as transmission systems do. Cranky explained it above.
If you live in rural areas of ND where I come from, a typical ND spring snow/ice storm can tear down miles of rural distribution, leaving farms and residences out for weeks (literally) at a stretch. Those customers all know it comes with the territory.
Many urban customers don't realize that electricity is really one of the most reliable sources of energy they have access too-even if they are out a few times a year, which is often a weather related issue which can't be controlled by anyone. When was the last time you were out (more than once) for seperate system failure events? And "blown transformers" don't count-thats what everyone blames their outages on. I can count on one hand the number of times I was called out on an after-hours call that was NOT nature related (or 25 yr old cable-as cranky also mentions)
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
Of these other causes the bad driver related outages seem to distress me the most. Some how cars seem to aim for those green boxes, and a few have caved in some of our underground junction boxes (they weren't ment to be driven on).
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
RE: redundancy in power distribution grid
The cable TV box near my house has been open for a better part of a year, probally also from a bad driver. The cable company dosen't seem to be concerned.