2015 T&D Discussion Topic
URD Inspection and Maintenance
Practices
May 21, 2015
Webinar #1 – URD Standards and Current Maintenance Issues
Background
◼
“URD” refers to a type of electrical distribution that has the following characteristics:
 Primary cable and secondary wire are installed below grade, either directly in the
ground (“direct-buried”) or in plastic conduit.
 Equipment components such as switchgear, distribution transformers and secondary
terminals may either be installed above grade, on foundation pads, or below grade, in
an enclosure or vault.
 May be used in residential, commercial or industrial applications
 Switchgear and transformers may either be “live-front” or “dead-front” design
 Primary circuit topology to distribution transformers may either be “radial feed”, “loop
feed” or “dual feed”
 Secondary circuit topology to secondary pedestals may either be “radial feed” or “loop
feed”
◼
Appendix A in the Discussion Topic Plan that was distributed in late April provides an
overview of the different types of URD construction that can be found in North America
and the maintenance issues that are commonly associated with URD systems.
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Discussion Topic Work Plan
In order to address company interests on this topic that were
expressed by our Leaders group, First Quartile has:
1. Reviewed the core questionnaire and added several new questions in 2015
2. Developed plans and discussion guides for a series of three webinars that
will be conducted with company managers and technical experts on May
21, May 28, and June 4.
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Purpose of Webinars
 The webinars will enable us to develop a more complete
understanding of the practices of our T&D community than could be
achieved through the questionnaire alone. In particular, we want to
understand:
1. How URD design and construction standards (current and historical)
have impacted system performance and the development of company
I&M programs
2. How state/provincial regulations have impacted company I&M programs
3. More information about technologies, methods and labor resources
used on the current I&M programs
4. What KPI measures are being used to assess I&M program
effectiveness
 The webinars will provide an opportunity for company managers and
technical experts to exchange information and ideas, ask questions
and compare notes on their experiences in this area
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Discussion Topic Webinars – URD Inspection and
Maintenance Practices
Webinar #1
URD Standards and
Maintenance Issues
May 21, 2015
Webinar #2
URD Cable
Management Practices
May 28, 2015
Webinar #3
URD Equipment I&M
Practices
June 4, 2015
Issues to be discussed:
•
•
•
URD design and
construction
standards –current
and historical
Reliability trends
Problematic
equipment
•
•
•
•
Expected company participants*:
 Asset Manager

 URD Standards

Engineer
 Distribution Reliability

Data Expert
*
Trends in cable failure
rates
Cable rehabilitation
policies
Cable treatment
programs
Cable replacement
programs
Asset Manager
URD Cable Mgmt
Program Manager
Field Supervisor/
Manager
Company coordinators are asked to arrange and confirm
participation by these key personnel ahead of time
•
•
•
•
URD primary riser I&M
URD switchgear I&M
URD transformer I&M
URD secondary
equipment I&M
 Asset Manager
 URD I&M Program
Manager(s)
 Field Supervisor/
Manager
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide:
Maintenance Issues
URD Standards and
1. Please describe the following aspects of your current URD system design
and construction standards:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Primary distribution
• Operating voltage(s)
• Cable type(s) -- type of insulation*, jacketed or unjacketed?
• Cable installed in conduit or direct buried? Is an empty spare conduit installed?
• Splice type(s) – taped, heat shrink and/or cold shrink?
• Radial, loop or dual feed – what are your standard designs for different types of customers
(e.g., single family residential, multi-family residential, small and large commercial)
• Do your current standards allow installation in back yard (non-road accessible) locations?
If you are installing in backyards, how do you address the ongoing maintenance requirements?
URD Switchgear
* Common URD Cable Insulation Types
• Manufacturer(s) and type(s)
for Current Installations:
• Live front or dead front design?
XLPE – Cross-Link Polyethylene
• Installed above grade or in underground vaults?
TRXLPE – Tree-retardant XLPE
Transformers
EPR – Ethylene Propylene Rubber
• Live front or dead front design?
• Above grade or in underground vaults?
Secondary distribution:
• Wire installed in conduit or direct buried?
• Radial or loop feeds from transformers to secondary pedestals/enclosures?
• Pedestals/enclosures installed above or below grade?
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and
Maintenance Issues (Continued)
2. In what ways does your historical/legacy URD infrastructure (that which is
still in operation) differ from current standards?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Primary distribution
• Operating voltage(s)
• Cable type(s) -- type of insulation*, jacketed or unjacketed?
• Cable Installed in conduit or direct buried? Were empty spare conduits installed?
• Splice type(s) – taped, heat-shrink and/or cold shrink?
• Radial, loop or dual feed – what were your standard designs for different types of customers
(e.g., single family residential, multi-family residential, small and large commercial)?
• Were significant amounts installed in back yard (non-road accessible) locations?
URD Switchgear
* Common URD Cable Insulation Types:
• Manufacturer(s) and type(s)
Older Systems:
• Live front or dead front design?
PILC – Paper Insulated Lead Cable
• Installed above grade or in underground vaults?
HMWPE – High Molecular Weight
Polyethylene
Transformers
Newer Systems:
• Live front or dead front design?
XLPE – Cross-Link Polyethylene
• Installed above grade or in underground vaults?
TRXLPE – Tree-retardant XLPE
Secondary distribution:
EPR – Ethylene Propylene Rubber
• Wire installed in conduit or direct buried?
• Radial or loop feeds from transformers to secondary pedestals/enclosures?
• Pedestals/enclosures installed above or below grade?
Other differences? e.g., Transite pipe instead of plastic conduit?
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and
Maintenance Issues (Continued)
3. What is the overall reliability performance (SAIFI, SAIDI, CAIDI) of your
URD infrastructure?

Do your URD systems in residential and commercial developments perform better,
worse or about the same as your OVH distribution systems in similar areas?

What is the trend in your URD system reliability? (improving, deteriorating or staying
the same?)
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and
Maintenance Issues (Continued)
4. What specific categories and vintages of URD equipment are now causing
the greatest problems regarding:

Service reliability

Maintenance costs

Public safety or health risks

Employee safety or health risks
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Webinar #1 Discussion Guide: URD Standards and
Maintenance Issues (Continued)
5. Are you currently engaged in replacing any problematic URD components
other than possibly the primary distribution cable?
cable in Webinar #2)
(We’ll discuss

What specific equipment components (types and vintages) are being replaced?

What sources and types of labor are being used for this work?
 What are your timetables for completing these current replacement programs?
 What measures are you tracking to assess the effectiveness of these replacement
programs?
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Discussion Topic Deliverables
◼
Recordings and summaries of all webinar discussions
◼
Insights Conference – First Quartile presentation of webinar results and key
insights learned through the discussions
◼
Insights Conference -- Company presentations with specific practice examples
Our second webinar in this series, which will focus on URD Cable Management
Practices, will be conducted on Thursday, May 28, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Pacific
Time/ 12 noon Mountain Time/ 1:00 p.m. Central Time/ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
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Thank You for your Participation
Your Team
Dave Canon
Dave.Canon@1qconsulting.com
817-980-7909
Debi Cook
Debi.Cook@1QConsulting.com
760-272-7277
Ken Buckstaff
Ken.Buckstaff@1QConsulting.com
310-922-0783
Dave Carter
Dave.Carter@1qconsulting.com
414-881-8641
David Weiler
David.Weiler@1qconsulting.com
607-761-6778
About 1QC
First Quartile Consulting is a utility-focused consultancy providing a full range of consulting services including continuous
process improvement, change management, benchmarking and more. You can count on a proven process that
assesses and optimizes your resources, processes, leadership management and technology to align your business
needs with your customer’s needs.
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