2015 T&D Discussion Topic
URD Inspection and Maintenance
Practices
June 4, 2015
Webinar #3 – URD Equipment Inspection and Maintenance Practices
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
 Asset Manager
 URD I&M Program
Manager(s)
 Field Supervisor/
Manager
•
•
URD primary riser I&M
URD switchgear/junction
box I&M
URD transformer I&M
URD secondary
equipment I&M
2
Background
◼
URD equipment may either be installed above grade, on foundation pads, or below
grade in an enclosure or vault.
◼
One concern about URD equipment, whether it is installed above or below grade, is that
it is more accessible to the public than overhead equipment. This public safety concern
has lead utilities to:
1. Install locking mechanisms (often dual locks) on URD equipment cabinets
2. Perform periodic external inspections to ensure that the locks are still in place and
that the exterior cabinets have not been damaged or deteriorated to the point where
live parts are exposed.
3. Some utilities are also now using test equipment to periodically verify that no
contact voltage is present on the equipment cabinets
◼
The scope, extent and frequency of internal inspections of URD equipment vary across
utilities. The primary purpose of today’s webinar is to develop a better understanding of
the differences within our T&D community and what factors influenced our companies to
adopt the practices that they have.
◼
We also want to learn how companies are evaluating the effectiveness of their URD
equipment I&M programs from a cost versus benefit or cost versus reliability perspective
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Webinar #3 Discussion Guide -- URD Equipment
Inspection and Maintenance Practices
1. Please describe your current I&M program for URD primary risers:
a.
Program scope
• All risers or focused on specific circuits, installation types and/or vintages?
• Any specific regulatory requirements?
b.
Inspection cycle
c.
Technology used in inspection process (e.g., infrared cameras, contact voltage meters, etc.)
d.
Source and qualifications of inspection personnel
e.
Inspections targeted at what specific subcomponents and what types of defects/deterioration?
(provide 1QC a copy of your I&M form or checklist, if possible)
f.
Maintenance tasks typically performed at time of inspection
g.
Follow-up maintenance/repair tasks typically scheduled based on inspection results
h. Program effectiveness measures
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Webinar #3 Discussion Guide -- URD Equipment
Inspection and Maintenance Practices
(Continued)
2. Please describe your current I&M program for URD switchgear and
primary junction boxes:
a.
Program scope
• All switchgear or focused on specific circuits, equipment types and/or vintages?
• Any specific regulatory requirements?
b.
Inspection cycle
c.
Technology used in inspection process (e.g., infrared cameras, contact voltage meters, etc.)
d.
Source and qualifications of inspection personnel
e.
Inspections targeted at what specific subcomponents and what types of defects/deterioration?
(provide 1QC a copy of your I&M form or checklist, if possible)
f.
Maintenance tasks typically performed at time of inspection
g. Follow-up maintenance/repair tasks typically scheduled based on inspection results
h. Program effectiveness measures
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Webinar #3 Discussion Guide -- URD Equipment
Inspection and Maintenance Practices
(Continued)
3. Please describe your current I&M program for URD transformers:
a.
Program scope
• All transformers or focused on specific circuits, customers equipment types and/or vintages?
• Any specific regulatory requirements?
b.
Inspection cycle
c.
Technology used in inspection process (e.g., infrared cameras, contact voltage meters, etc.)
d.
Source and qualifications of inspection personnel
e.
Inspections targeted at what specific subcomponents and what types of defects/deterioration?
(provide 1QC a copy of your I&M form or checklist, if possible)
f.
Maintenance tasks typically performed at time of inspection
g.
Follow-up maintenance/repair tasks typically scheduled based on inspection results
h.
Program effectiveness measures
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Webinar #3 Discussion Guide -- URD Equipment
Inspection and Maintenance Practices
(Continued)
4. Please describe your current I&M program for URD secondary equipment
(enclosures/pedestals, service wire and connections):
a.
Program scope
• All equipment or focused on specific equipment types, applications and/or vintages?
• Any specific regulatory requirements?
b.
Inspection cycle
c.
Technology used in inspection process (e.g., infrared cameras, contact voltage meters, etc.)
d.
Source and qualifications of inspection personnel
e.
Inspections targeted at what specific subcomponents and what types of defects/deterioration?
(provide 1QC a copy of your I&M form or checklist, if possible)
f.
Maintenance tasks typically performed at time of inspection
g.
Follow-up maintenance/repair tasks typically scheduled based on inspection results
h.
Program effectiveness measures
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Discussion Topic Deliverables
◼
Recordings and summaries of all webinar discussions
◼
Insights Conference -- 1QC presentation of webinar results and key insights
learned through the discussions
◼
Insights Conference -- Company presentations with specific practice examples
1. Are there any specific topics/subtopics that we should ask companies to
discuss?
2. Are there any companies that will volunteer today to make a presentation?
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Possible Topics for Company Presentations
1.
Why or how have some companies achieved successful outcomes with direct buried
construction over the long term and others have not? (panel discussion)
2.
What data collection and analysis tools/systems are being used to optimize and
support the processes (for both cable management and equipment inspection,
maintenance and replacement)?
3.
How are companies scheduling and coordinating the system isolation, diagnostic
testing, cable treatment, cable replacement and equipment inspection and
maintenance/replacement work to maximize efficiency and minimize customer
inconvenience?
4.
What are the plusses and minuses of the IMCORP versus CableWISE diagnostic
testing techniques, and what specific results and benefits have companies achieved
through such testing?
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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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